Tag Archives: Pueo

Pueo, on the way to work

A Pueo, or Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, perches on a rock in North Kohala

I was on my way to work yesterday, whizzing along only a smidge over the speed limit, when I noticed a familiar image out of the corner of my eye. ‘That’s a Pueo,’ I thought. It was standing on a rock alongside the highway. By the time the thought registered, I was past it, so I drove on a bit until I could turn around and head back.

Sure enough, on my return, the bird was standing in the same place. I stopped a little way beyond it, got out, and snapped the photo above. The Pueo started watching me the moment I got out of the car and, as I edged towards it, it took off and disappeared toward the ocean.

I crossed the road to the spot where it had been perched, then walked a bit farther to get a view down the gully it had disappeared into. I didn’t really expect to see it again, but then I spotted it, clamped to a tree branch, head swiveling 360° as it searched for breakfast. It spotted something, took off in pursuit, and glided from view behind some trees.

I see Pueos occasionally on this stretch of road, but always in flight, usually passing in front of my car at windshield level, which makes me cringe. This is the first time I’ve seen one perched here as this one was.

A Pueo, or Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, perches on a branch in North Kohala

The Numbers Game #31

A pueo snags a meal. A favorite encounter of mine, the original post ran here.

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

The Numbers Game #15

Dark pink plumeria flowers in Hawaii — A dark pink plumeria.

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 136. Captions are on the photos.

You can see more responses here.

In Kailua Kona, this electronic sign flashes “Emergency Water Restriction” and “Stop Sprinkler Use.” — I saw this sign in Kailua Kona during a downpour. Original post here.

The plumage of birds at rest often has a wonderful layered look to it. This zebra dove is no exception. — The lovely plumage of a zebra dove.

A pueo looks watchful in Hawaii — The lovely plumage of a zebra dove.

How green are my valleys?

A view of the Valleys of Kohala Mountain in Hawaii — Valleys and waterfalls of Kohala Mountain.

This week’s Sunday Stills monthly challenge is ‘Green.’ See more responses here. Captions on photos.

A Green Anole on a green Ti leaf in Hawaii — A Green Anole on green Ti leaves.

A pueo flies over the pastures of North Kohala in Hawaii — A Green Anole on green Ti leaves.

Tropical Foliage and shadows in Hawaii — Tropical foliage creates strong shadows…

A view of Pololu Valley in Hawaii — A view up Pololu Valley in Kohala

Pueo on the wing

A pueo flies over pasture land in Hawaii

I was driving home from Waimea when I noticed a movement off to my left. I thought it looked like a Pueo, the Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, endemic to the islands. Sure enough, it proved to be one, gliding over the pastureland, looking for an evening meal. I watched it for some time, going back and forth over the pasture looking for movement and a meal below.

Unlike most owls, Pueos are active during the day, and so are easier to spot. The bottom photo is an older photo that’s run before (here), but gives a clearer view of the bird and what it eats!

Posted for Bird of the Week LI. See more responses here.

Old Saddle Road

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Road Trippin’.’ See more responses here. Since there aren’t any road trips, in the usual sense of the expression, here on the island, I thought I’d focus on a stretch of road that is one of my favorite drives here.

Old Saddle Road is an 11 mile stretch of the old highway that connected the west side of the island to the east side, through the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. These days, people take the new road, which is wide and smooth and allows drivers to zip along at 80 mph even though the speed limit is 60 mph. I like this highway, too, but the best part of any cross-island trip is always the old highway, which is up and down, winding, and dotted with one lane narrows where culverts pass under the highway (they’re not bridges) to channel the copious amounts of rain away from the road.

This stretch of road is bordered by ranch land, with horses, cattle, and sheep to the fore. There’s also a good variety of wildlife that can be seen in this area. And the weather can be anything from stunning to biblically awful, sometimes within the hour. So here are a few scenes that give an idea of that short, but special drive.

A ranch off Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — One of the ranches on Old Saddle Road.

Old Saddle Road on the Big Island of Hawaii. — Old Saddle Road undulates down towards the junction with the new highway.

View of Hualalai from Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — A view of Hualalai from Old Saddle Road, showing the new highway winding down towards Kailua Kona.

Two goats off Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — Goats can often be seen alongside Old Saddle Road.

A pueo off Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — O;d Saddle Road is a great place to see pueos, the endemic Hawaiian short-eared owl.

A pueo catches a mouse off Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — Sometimes I’m lucky enough to see a pueo catch a meal.

Mist in the trees off Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — Old Saddle Road can be shrouded in mist…

A view of Mauna Kea from Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — …or glow in the evening sun…

Sunset from Old Saddle Road on the Big Island, Hawaii — …and it’s a great place to take in the sunset.

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!

Countdown

Ten sheep, and ten cattle egrets, in Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘A Numbers Game.’ See more responses here. I put all my fingers and thumbs to work for my response, starting with ten Sheep in formation (and ten Cattle Egrets, too, as a bonus).

Next we have nine Spinner Dolphins playing, eight Wild Pigs foraging, seven Cattle Egrets heading to work.