Hanalie NWR Hawaii April 13 & 14, 2019

My families last two days in were April 13 & 14 on Kauai. This is a beautiful Island and we enjoyed traveling around it and enjoying it's many sites and activites.

I did get to do some birding on our travels as we visited the Hanalie NRW.  The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge on the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. It is located within the Hanalei River Valley along the island's northern shore. The Refuge was established on 30 November 1972 for the conservation of endangered plants and animals, especially the Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian gallinule and Hawaiian duck.(see link below).

 Hanalei NWR

We arrived at Hanalie around 9:30am and started our tour of the area. I was searching for Hawaiian Duck that had eluded me so far on the trip. One of the first species we saw was a Scaly Breasted Munia -  another lifer to my life.

Scaly breasted Munia

We continued our exploration of the area and observed 17 species other species including the target species - Hawaiian Duck. Actually, it looked very similar to the Mallards I see back home in Pennsylvania.

Hawaiian Duck

We left the NWR with a total species count of 17 and my life list for trip standing at 44.

We did continue to explore the island, and revisited Kilauea Point NWR were I added the last lifer for the trip - the Great Frigatebird.

I ended my Hawaiian vacation with a total of 45 lifers and my overall life list at 550.

Great Frigatebird

Our last day in Hawaii was April 14, we had an early flight to SF - unfortunately no birding was done except what we saw on the way to the airport.

I can't wait to return the Hawaii Islands sometime in the future.

Until next time.

Hawaii - Kauai birding - April 12, 2019

After arriving in Kauai and picking up our rental car we traveled https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea_point/ Kilauea Point NWR in search of off shore waterfowl in particular the Laysan Albatross, Red Tailed tropicbird  and Red Footed Booby.

We paid our entrance fee and found a parking spot at the near full lot and walked a short distance to the overlook and were stunned and amazed at the site before us.

There on the cliffs where over 600 Red Footed Booby's. I was speechless at the site. I have heard stories but never expected what I saw...it was a birders paradise.

Red Footed Booby

Red Footed Booby

After recovering my senses, and a many minutes of observation, we moved on in search of our other target birds. We didn't have to go far before we spotted a Laysan Albatross & Wedge Tailed Shearwaters.

The Laysan Albatross where taking off from the so called 'albatross hill' and watching them making the running start before taking flight was an amazing experience.

Laysan Albatross - lifer 542

Laysan Albatross

Laysan Albatross in flight  - and amazing wingspan

The wedge tailed Shearwaters where nesting in the sands right along the walkways...quite and amazing site.

Wedge Tailed Shearwater - lifer 541

Shearwater's in flight

As we moved toward the lighthouse, we spotted both Red & White Tailed tropicbirds - all our target birds in less than 1 hour...amazing.

We spend the next 2 hours there (until they closed and we had to leave) and planned on returning before leaving and the 14th.

In addition, I added a Warbling White Eye to my life life...which now stood at 545

Warbling White Eye lifer - 543

I have already added 41 species to my life list - how many more would I add before leaving in two days...the next post will hi-light the birds I saw on our last two days in Hawaii.

Until next time - good birding.

 

Hawaii - Maui birding - April 12, 2019

After packing and eating a quick breakfast - it was off to the airport for a short shuttle ride to Kauai...but first as we where passing the https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kealia_pond/ Kealia Pond NWR we decided to make one last stop.

As it turned out the stop proved rather productive as we added a Chestnut Munia and Java Sparrow to my life list.

Chestnut Munia

Java Sparrow

As we left Maui my life list was a 537.

We boarded the plane at 11:30am and arrived in Kauai at 12:45pm and after picking up luggage and rental car we headed for https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea_point/ Kilauea Point NWR on the northern end of the island arriving at 3;30pm. My search for the Laysan Albatross was about to begin.

More on this on the next post.

Until then good birding.

Hawaii - Maui birding - April 10, 11, 2019

We arrived in Maui after a short flight from the Big Island and after picking up the rental unit drove to our hotel - the Grand Wailea  Grand Wailea hotel - Maui . After checking in, we decided to drive to the nearby Wai'Anapanapa State Park - where I observed two more life birds - a White Tailed Tropic bird and a Black Noddy. As it was getting late, we returned to the hotel for dinner and plan the next day's activities.

White Tailed Tropic Bird

Black Noddy

After breakfast we drove the the Kelia Pond NWR in search of the endemic Hawaiian Coot. We arrived shortly after 7am and were no sooner there when we spotted our taget bird: the Hawaiian Coot - another life bird for the trip #24

Hawaiian Coot

While at Kealia Pond NWR I also added Pacific Golden Plover, Wandering Tattler and African Silverbill before leaving for Homers Grove and Haleakala Natl Park. Haleakala Natl Park 

African Silverbill

As it was raining and very foggy we really didn't get to see much at the top of the volcano, although they told us the view is spectacular -maybe next time -  but we where there!

On the way back from the top of the volcano, we stopped at Homers Grove and I picked up two more lifers: Maui Alauahio and a Red Crested Cardinal #29 for the trip. 

Red Crested Cardinal

We returned to the hotel (after some stops a few beaches & lookoutd) for dinner and while walking around the grounds I spotted a Gray Francolin - lifer #30 for the trip.

Gray Francolin

After two days in Maui my life list now stands at 535.

The next post will look at our last half day in Maui and our first afternoon in Kauai and my search for a Laysan Albatross.

Until next time - good birding.

Hawaii - Big Island Birding - part 2

after we finished lunch on our guided tour of the Hakalau Forest NWR forest, we continue to travel along the downward trail continuing to see some of the same species as in the morning. There was still four endemic that I need to see to complete my target list: the Iiwi, Hawaii Akepa, Akiapolaau, and the Omao.


We saw several more  Hawaiian Creeper and the Hawaiian Goose or Nene.

We kept looking for the needed species and finally heard a Omao calling. We searched for the calling Omao for about 25 minutes before it finally showed itself...a rather secretive bird. I now only had 3 more endemics to go.

After watching the Omao for several minutes our guide heard another trget bird calling the Iiwi - and again we started our search. The Iiwi didn't prove to be as elusive as the Omao and we found several rather quickly. This quickly became one of my favorite birds for the entire trip - as you will see.

We watched to Iiwi feeding in the tree tops for several minutes and then continue our quest for the last 2 endemic species. We first heard and then a  Akepa while we where still watching the Iiwi's - a nice site watching them both in same view. The Akepa is a striking orange color and a species you willnot soon forgot after seeing them.

  We now only have 1 more endemic species to go and it would prove to be the hardest to find. We continue walking down and then ack up the trail several times over thec ourse of abut 2 hours...hearing Akiapolaau calling on several occasions but not being able to see them. 

Finally the guide found a pair and we all quickly rushed over to get some great looks at what because the #1 bird species for the day and maybe the entire trip. The Akiapolaau are absolutely stunning to see and watch. The needle beak is until anything have I ever seen...simple stunning! 

the finding of the Akiapolaau capped off a great day of birding and with some regret we started the trek back to our vehicle and the return trip. I must say it was one of the most interesting days of birding I have had and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Big Island. 

We arrived back at the guides vehicle with a total species count of 28 - not a particularly high count - but we had found al the endemics and the was the main purpose of the trip.

My next post will be on the birds I observed in Maui


Until then - good Birding

Hawaii - Big Island Birding

I traveled to Hawaii on a family vacation from April 4 - 13 and visited the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. while the intend of the trip was a family vacation - I did find some time to do a little birding.
On Monday, April 8 I had a guide hired for a day of birding in the Hakalau Forest NWR forest - the intend was to look for and find all the endemic honeycreepers on the Big Island.
I met the guide at 8am and we proceeded to the forest - a rather interesting drive over some unimproved dirt roads that took us over an hour to travel about 15 miles. But as you will see, it was worth the drive and wait. Here is a link to the refuge: refuge/hakalau



As we arrived at the restricted gated tract forest - you could only be impressed by the site of the native trees and plants and the work that we being done by a group of dedicated people to preserve the area.



After a short intro about the area, we started our walk and had not gone 100 yards when we spotted our endemic species - a Hawaiian Creeper (actually several at very close views). we also saw several other species with one of my favorites being the red-billed-leiothrix

Red Billed Leiothrix

Hawaiian Creeper

After watching the Creepers , we continued our walk toward the Old Barn Area and encountered a several more endemic species including: Apapane, Hawaii Amakihi (Hawaii),  and Hawaii Elepaio (Hilo coast), and Hawaiian Hawk.

Apapane - #1 target bird for the trip

Hawaii Amakihi

Hawaii Elepaio - Hilo

As we where taking a short rest break - a Hawaiian Hawk flew over - and we had apanane in the tree tops...does it get any better than that.

Hawaiian Hawk flying overhead 

We moved further down the trail and as 1pm approached we decided to stop for lunch. We ended our morning with 18 species.

The next entry will be on the afternoon of birding we had, and the many more species we saw and one that was rather difficult to find and took us almost 2 hours till we finally got some good looks at it.

Until then - good Birding