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.