They’re baaaaack

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Earth Day.’ See more responses here.

What’s more earthy than pigs. Of course, these piglets aren’t really back. The last litter is now much larger and correspondingly less cute. The ones in this photo are the latest batch. There are seven of them and they’re still in the ‘Everything is new and exciting’ phase. They root around in the dirt with such vigor that their back ends sometimes fly into the air. However, they haven’t yet learned that, while they’re doing this, they need to retain awareness of their surroundings. When something or someone, such as myself, can approach within five feet without them noticing, that might not end well. If mom’s around, she’ll warn them. If not, they’re easy to surprise.

In these photos, the piglets found something in the base of the palm and were clambering over each other to get a piece of it. I could have tapped one on the shoulder and it would probably have ignored me!

Then dad came along.

Time to head for the cane grass.

Wait for me!

Lapakahi sunset

The sun sets off the old Hawaiian settlement of Lapakahi on the North Kohala coast.

Ask me the question grasshopper

I found this grasshopper (Schistocerca nitens) sunning itself on a blue table top. It didn’t move, but kept a careful eye on me. A short while later, it was gone.

Red anthurium

This anthurium positively glowed in a little patch of sunlight.

Green Hover Fly

I caught this Green Hover Fly doing what it does best, which is hover. It kept coming back to the same area, hovering for reasons that weren’t immediately apparent, but I wasn’t complaining. I’m a big fan of creatures that remain in place when I’m trying to take photos. Are you paying attention dragonflies?

Alakahi Stream

There are two streams that tumble down the hillside in Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. This one is Alakahi Stream and the section in the photo is known as Boulder Creek Falls for fairly obvious reasons.

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

Arc-eye Hawkfishes

How many Arc-eye Hawkfishes can you fit in a head of Cauliflower Coral? I count six here, though there could be more, and who knows what else besides. Corals like this offer vital shelter for small fish and other creatures seeking to avoid the many predators out hunting.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds

This week’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge is ‘White and Pastels.’ See more responses here.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds are also known as Peach-faced Lovebirds and they have a lot of color variations. I have yet to see a rosy face in Hawaii outside of tourists who’ve seen too much sun. Instead, the local birds tend towards pastel shades whether they’re dining or simply hanging out.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii