Rain in the mountains

After visiting Hanalei NWR I decided to make my way around the island and up Waimea Canyon to Koke'e State Park to reach some higher elevations.  These high elevation sites include much more native vegetation and host some of the more rare endemics that can be found in Hawaii.

The drive up was beautiful.






But of course, by the time I reach my destination the rain had started and birding was not really an option.  I did scurry around in the rain until it became a downpour, spotting my one and only Apapane, a beautiful red, black and white honeycreeper.




I decided to spend the night up in the mountains, hoping rain would subside by morning.  It did not.  So I missed out on some great species and headed down hill to the coast again.  Along the way I did score some crappy pictures of these two species!

Erckel's Francolin


Nutmeg Mannikin

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge

Not far from the treacherous Napali Coast hike I explored the Hanalei NWR.  I essentially just drove a few miles up and down a road, but was able to see most of the native waterbirds.



My first Nene/Hawaiian Goose.


Hawaiian Duck


Hawaiian Moorhen (though I think it's just called a Common Gallinule now?)


Hawaiian Stilt


Pacific Golden-plover

Napali Coast

After an initial day on Oahu, a few of us made the very quick flight to Kauai.  The plan was for everyone but me to hike the Napali Coast, camp for a night or two while I birded around the island, and meet up again before heading back to Oahu.


Things generally followed that plan, but the rain threw a wrench in everyone's plan. The hike they were doing required a few stream crossings, but as the rain kept coming, the streams turned to rivers and complicated things quite a bit.

Before the rain really came down I was able to explore a bit along the northern coast of the island.




Here I spotted my first Red-crested Cardinals.



As well as the melodious White-rumped Shama

Zebra Doves

Along with Common Myna, House Finch, House Sparrow and Spotted Dove these seemed to be the most common birds on both Oahu and Kauai.

Back from Hawaii

Eleven days gone, lots of frisbee watched, 42 species of birds seen, first time snorkeling, pounds of raw ahi eaten, but nice to be home. 

I was pretty excited to find the Oahu Amakihi on the 'Aiea Loop Trail yesterday.  They were easily heard, but it took me a while to actually see and take some crappy pictures of one.

SNOW!!!!!!

For some reason I'm unable to add a video too, but this was a very nice bird, perched about 20-30 meters away.  One of five seen that day at plum island.

Male Anna's