The Numbers Game #48

The lava cone and lake at Kilauea Volcano in late 2021 — Activity at Kilauea Volcano in November of 2021.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 169. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A grasshopper blocks the way — A bold grasshopper.

A Leafcutter bee on a zinnia violacea flower — A bold grasshopper.

A Red-masked parakeet at Kohanaiki Beach Park. — A Red-masked Parakeet.

Early morning lights at the port of Kawaihae, Hawaii — A Red-masked Parakeet.

It’s a fish eat fish world

A Crocodile Needlefish attempts to eat a Hawaiian White-Spotted Toby

I know this fish as a Crocodile Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus), a name explained by looking at the jaws and teeth. Elsewhere, it’s known as a Houndfish. When I first saw it, I thought it might have a bit of fishing gear hooked into its mouth. It was working its jaws up and down, as if it might be trying to dislodge something. But when I got closer, I saw it had a fish in it’s mouth.

The unlucky fish looks like a toby, probably an Hawaiian White-spotted Toby. Except the unlucky fish might be the needlefish because the toby has clearly inflated itself, as they do. Not only that, but the skin of these tobies is highly toxic. My fish book tells of a diver who found a frogfish with one of these tobies inflated in its mouth. The frogfish was dead, though whether suffocated or poisoned he couldn’t tell. He freed the toby, which swam away none the worse for wear!

Getting down with brown

A House Sparrow drinking in Hawaii — A House Sparrow takes a drink.

This month’s Sunday Stills color challenge is ‘Auburn or Brown.’ See more responses here. Captions on the photos.

The aftermath of a flood in Hawaii — The aftermath of floods in Kawaihae earlier this year.

The exterior of a rusty water valve in Hawaii — The aftermath of floods in Kawaihae earlier this year.

A huge puddle on a dirt road in Hawaii — Drive with care! A dirt road on the Kohala coast after rain.

Arc-eye Hawkfishes on a coral head in Hawaii — Drive with care! A dirt road on the Kohala coast after rain.

Work in progress

An unfinished spider web in the rain in Hawaii

On a recent rainy morning I saw this web outside the window. The spider was hunkered down in the center and did not appear much interested in finishing the job. Perhaps it was holding a tiny unseen placard demanding better working conditions.

Spotted Dove

A Spotted Dove, in a Mock Orange tree, sporting a customary caffeinated look.

The dawn’s early light

Early morning at Hapuna. A couple more hours, and the beach will be a lot more populated.

It’s a cat’s life

A cat in a yard n Hawaii — There’s an intruder in my territory. I’m on high alert.

The neighbor’s cat had a foray into our yard the other day. It wasn’t a long stay, but it seemed like a very representative cat experience. Captions on the photos.

The Numbers Game #47

A smokey sky colors the waters of Kawaihae small boat harbor — Late afternoon sun over Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor with smoke in the air.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 168. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A hibiscus tiliaceus at the Golden Ponds of Keawaiki on The Big Island of Hawaii — Hibiscus tiliaceus flowers.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii