Tag Archives: Hawaii ‘Amakihi

A walk for the birds

An I'iwi on the Pu'u O'o Trail on the Big Island, Hawaii — A native I’iwi.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Wild Animal or Bird of the Month.’ See more responses here.

Pu’u O’o Trail is a few miles east of the saddle between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, on the south side of the main cross-island highway. It’s all above 5,000 feet and can be cold, wet, and windy, but I’ve had good luck picking warm, sunny days. These photos are from a couple of recent hikes I took up there. Captions on the photos.

A view of the Pu'u O'o Trail on the Big Island, Hawaii — The trail enters a kīpuka.

The trail crosses old lava flows from Mauna Loa, but there are kīpukas, areas of old-growth forest missed by the lava, which are home to several kinds of native birds.

An Apapane on the Pu'u O'o Trail on the Big Island, Hawaii — An ‘Apapane.

An Io or Hawaiian Hawk flies above the Pu'u O'o Trail on the Big Island, Hawaii — An ‘Apapane.

On my last visit, I was lucky enough to see an ‘Akiapola’au, an endangered native species, which is only found on this island these days. This one was high up in the trees with the sun behind it. While my photos weren’t great, I was still able to see this industrious bird foraging for a meal. The shorter lower mandible is used to drill into branches and then the curved upper mandible digs out the grubs hiding within.

An 'Akiapola'au on the Pu'u O'o Trail on the Big Island, Hawaii — An ‘Akiapola’au.

These native birds make this trail popular with birders, but it’s a good hike for anyone. A 9-mile loop is possible, but I usually do an out-and-back hike through the first two or three kipukas, which totals about five miles.

Hāpu’u Ferns (Cibotium menziesii) on the Pu'u O'o Trail on the Big Island, Hawaii — Hāpu’u tree ferns (*Cibotium menziesii*) grow alongside the trail.

Also posted for Jo’s Monday Walk. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #126

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 743. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Also posted for Terri’s Flower Hour. See more responses here.

A Phalaenopsis Minho Princess orchid at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden — A Phalaenopsis Minho Princess orchid.

A pink ginger flower grows up between the leaves of a joey palm at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. — A Phalaenopsis Minho Princess orchid.

A Hawaii Amakihi in Hawaii — An Hawaii Amakihi during its morning workout.

Tropical foliage illuminated by a shaft of sunlight — An Hawaii Amakihi during its morning workout.

The Numbers Game #73

This Gold Dust Day Gecko snagged a moth for lunch.

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 194. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Rust on a water tank — A rusty water tank.

Favorite flowers in Hawaii

Flexibility is important in nature, as this mourning gecko demonstrates while drinking from a bird of paradise flower. — A Mourning Gecko takes a drink from a Bird of Paradise flower.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Favorite Flowers.’ Here are some of mine. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here

Maiapilo flowers in Hawaii — Maiapilo flowers start out white and change to pink as the day wears on,

Yellow and pink Hibiscus tiliaceus flowers in Hawaii — Maiapilo flowers start out white and change to pink as the day wears on,

A Wasp in an Ohia flower in Hawaii — A wasp in an Ohia Lehua flower.

Raindrops on Plumerias in Hawaii — A wasp in an Ohia Lehua flower.

And finally some photos from the Hilo Orchid Show last year. I’ve definitely become an orchid fan since moving here.

An Epidendrum Pacific Pastel orchid at the Hilo Orchid Show in Hawaii — Epidendrum Pacific Pastel.

A Paphiopedilum St. Swithin orchid at the Hilo Orchid Show in Hawaii — Epidendrum Pacific Pastel.

The Numbers Game #20

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 141. Captions are on the photos.

You can see more responses here.

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Move Forward, Reconstruct, Renew, and/or are Burgeoning. See more responses here.

Feed me

A baby bird calling for food in Hawaii — A baby African Silverbill cries for food.

A Nutmeg Mannikin feeds on cane grass seeds in Hawaii — A Nutmeg Mannikin stuffing itself with cane grass seeds

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Feed the Birds.’ See more responses here.

I don’t feed the birds here, but they seem to have no trouble feeding themselves, with the notable exception of the one in the top photo. Here’s a selection.

A Hawaiian Stilt snags a meal in Hawaii — An Hawaiian Stilt prepares to eat a tasty morsel fished form the water.

A Hawaiian Amakihi feeds at a mamane flower in Hawaii — An Hawaiian Amakihi feeds at a Mamane flower.

A cattle egret catches an anole in Hawaii — An Hawaiian Amakihi feeds at a Mamane flower.

Hawaii Amakihi

A Hawaii Amakihi rests in a tree fern alongside the Pu’u O’o Trail off Saddle Road.

Hawaii Amakihi feeding

An Hawaii Amakihi feeds on a mamane flower

I saw this endemic Hawaii Amakihi on the slopes of Mauna Kea, feeding at Mamane flowers. The Hawaii in the name refers, not to the state, but to the island of Hawaii, otherwise known as the Big Island. There are different species on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii