Tag Archives: Cardinals

Birds at the watering hole

Birds gather for a drink of water in Hawaii

At my local swimming spot, there’s a row of big rocks to prevent anyone driving off the edge of the parking area into the ocean. Before anyone says ‘No one would be that dumb,’ there’s a raft of examples I can offer that prove the contrary.

One of the rocks has a good-sized depression on the top and this has become a watering spot for the local bird population. People clean it out and top it up with fresh water on a daily basis. Most of the birds seem to get along and don’t appear to mind the many wasps that avail themselves of the opportunity for a drink. There are feral cats in the area though, so the birds are always looking around, never able to relax completely.

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

It’s here somewhere

A Northern Cardinal at Spencer Beach Park at Kawaihae, Hawaii

I saw this Northern Cardinal at Spencer Beach Park as it worked its way along a low wall and onto a picnic table. It looked like it had lost something important, but I suppose it was just checking out its territory to make sure no one else was trying to muscle in.

Winging it

A Great Frigatebird flies off the Kohala coast in Hawaii — A Great Frigatebird glides over the ocean off the Kohala coast.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Wings.’ See more responses here. Let’s start with the birds.

A Northern Cardinal Juvenile launches off a branch in Hawaii — A Northern Cardinal juvenile coming to get me!

A Hawaiian Nene spreads its wings — A Northern Cardinal juvenile coming to get me!

There are many winged insects too.

A Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly perches on a stalk in Hawaii — The delicate wings of a Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly.

Two Passion Vine Butterflies flying in Hawaii — The delicate wings of a Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly.

You can also find wings in the water

Three eagle rays swim in the ocean off Hawaii — A trio of Eagle Rays cruise through coastal waters.

A coastal manta ray swims in the ocean off Hawaii — A trio of Eagle Rays cruise through coastal waters.

And there are other wings too.

A pair of metal wings on the ground in Hawaii — A broach of emblem found lying in the grass.

A UPS plane flies overhead in Hawaii — A broach of emblem found lying in the grass.

I’m red, white and blue for you

A sign on a business in Kailua Kona Hawaii — The sign above the ABC Supply Company building in Kailua Kona. These letters always make me think of Elvis Costello’s song, Brilliant Mistake, which includes the lyrics: ‘She said that she was working for the ABC News. It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use.’

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Red, White, & Blue.’ See more responses here.

Here’s my selection this week with captions on the photos.

A Ring-necked pheasant in Hawaii — A Ring-necked Pheasant.

A Yellow-billed cardinal in Hawaii — A Ring-necked Pheasant.

An inflatable snowman outside a store in Hawaii — It’s not too early, is it?

St Augustines Episcopal Church in Kapaau, Hawaii — It’s not too early, is it?

Wash, rinse, repeat

A Juvenile yellow-billed cardinal bathing in a shallow pool in Hawaii

This juvenile Yellow-billed Cardinal took full advantage this popular pool of water being temporarily unoccupied to have a thorough bath.

Well red

A red windsock at Upolu in Hawaii — The windsock at Upolu Airport with Maui in the background.

This month’s Sunday Stills Color Challenge is ‘Red.’ See more responses here. A variety of subjects for this one!

A red pencil sea urchin in Hawaii — A Red Pencil Urchin in the shallows off Kohala.

A portrait of a chicken in Hawaii — A Red Pencil Urchin in the shallows off Kohala.

The eyes have it

A Yellow-billed Cardinal is fascinated by his reflection in a car window — Who’s that?

Recently, for some reason, a couple of yellow-billed cardinals have taken a liking to my car. I thought they were attracted to their reflections in the mirrors, though I later realized it was their reflections in the windows that they noticed more.

The downside of their activities was the all bird poop I had to clean off the side of the cart. So I decided I needed a deterrent. It seems to work. At least I haven’t seen them since!

Yellow-billed cardinal and a coconut

A Yellow-billed cardinal feeds on a coconut

This yellow-billed cardinal found an opened coconut on a beach and tucked in to the tasty remnants left behind.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii