On my recent walk along the coast to Hapuna (here), the trail passed through a residential area where there were some structures with a kind of thatched roof. I saw this Gray Francolin resting on one of them and liked how it blended in with the thatch. I thought the sprinkler could offer it a little refreshment, though I suspect if it went off the bird would have taken off like a bat out of hell.

Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).

I liked the color and markings on the lip of this Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes Truncata) at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. Almost made me want to jump in. Almost.

For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.

It’s not unusual to see offerings of one sort or another at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. These flowers were on the edge of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, scene of the current eruption. In Hawaiian tradition, Halemaʻumaʻu Crater is considered to be home of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.

For more information about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, go to nps.gov/havo/.

A boat heads along the coast as sunset approaches at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, north of Kailua Kona.

A year or two ago, when I was snorkeling, I spotted an enormous eel resting in a recess in some rocks. I took a few photos, but couldn’t get anything very good because it was so tucked away. I pointed the eel out to some other snorkelers in the vicinity and they checked it out. One of the other snorkelers is much better than I at getting close to subjects so she was able to get better photos despite the surge around the rock. I joked with her that I was fine hanging back, and that I was waiting to get a photo of the eel attacking her!

The eel in question was a Viper Moray Eel so since that time the spot has acquired the name Viper Rock. My fish book describes these eels as “evil-looking” and “one of the largest and potentially most dangerous of Hawaii’s eel.” It’s been an on-and-off resident of that little cave since ever since and I’ve taken photos when I’ve had the opportunity. None have been great, but these are a couple that give an idea of the spot and its inhabitant.