Saturday, April 21, 2018--Keauhou, HI--Well the group of six friends and briders left us yesterday after concluding what was a great trip.  In total we saw 71 species, a very good number for Hawaii and the Big Island.  During their visit we experienced a pelagic trip, a visit to the Palila Trail and Hakalau Forest Preserve on Mona Kea, and did some sightseeing as well.  The women even took the opportunity to do some snorkling and to swim with the Manta Rays.  Kevin and Carol played some golf as well.  My last blog only took us through the second day of our trip.  Since then there has been little time for me to spend writing this blog, so today will be a catch up special.

On Saturday, April 14, we joined 8 other birders on a pelagic trip off the Kona Coast.  On this trip we had 13 pelagic species almost all of which were life birds for this group of birders.  In my case I added 5 new species to my Hawaii, two of which were new life birds--Hawaiian Petrel and Brown Noddy.  The most common species which we encountered off the coast was certainly the Wedge-

The Group

tailed Shearwater.  This species as its name implies has a tail that is wedge shaped.  

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Another two species which seems to be relatively common to this area off Kona is Bulwer's Petrel and Black Noddy.  And for the first time I was able to get a relatively decent picture of Sooty Tern.

Sooty Tern

Bulwer's Petrel

Black Noddy

The five new Hawaiian species which I added to my list were two jaegers--Pomarine and Long-tailed, and the Arctic Tern which I have seen on numerous occasions on my Alaska trips.

On Sunday we headed north up the coast for primarily a sightseeing day.  Our first stop was at the Pololu Valley overlook for a glimpse of the beautiful Hawaii coastline.  While I am setting here

Pololu Valley

writing this blog a pair of Kalij Pheasants just walked up to our feeder. This beautiful bird I saw and photographed for the first time in its native environment in Thailand.  They are imported into Hawaii and can be seen on numerous places here on the island.  Well I can't find a picture of the pheasant right now so I will post one later.  From Pololu we went to a park nearby, Keokea Beach Park, to do some scanning for pelagic species.  From our vantage point we were able to discern some shearwaters and a few noddys way out but not near enough to identify.  However, we were treated to a fly over by a beautiful White-tailed Tropicbird.  Unfortunaely, I did not get a picture.  We then went to Hawi where the group enjoyed some shopping and Tropical Dreams ice cream.  I opted for another cup of coffee.  Then back to Kawahae for some burgers at Kohala Burger and Taco, and I must say one of the best burgers I have ever had.  Following lunch we headed to Hamakua Nut Company to sample and purchase some macadamia nuts in various flavors.  The group seemed to really enjoy this spot.  After our visit here we headed back to the condo.  The women had decided to go swim with the Manta Rays this evening and needed to be back by four to get ready.  Deb has been out to do this

Video of swimming with Manta's

before with a different company but she was very impressed by the trip with Bite Me.  We, the men, stayed home and rested up for the next day.

On Monday we headed up to the Palila Trail for some birding and hopefully to find the Palila, a species found only on the Big Island and only in this dry forest populated by Mamane Trees whose green seeds provide 90% of this species food.  And we were not disappointed.  Our friend Mike Myers gave me some excellent directions as to where to best find and photograph this bird.

Palila

This turned out to be one of my favorite birding areas on the island.  We were also treated to several other species, California Quail which we heard calling, Hawaii Amakihi, Hawaii Elepaio, Erkel's Francolin, Japanese Bush Warbler heard calling and seen breifly, and it was a beautiful clear day on Mona Kea.  When we returned to Old Saddle Road we took a drive searching for the Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl) and we were successful.  We also were treated to several Wild Turkey and heard but could not call out a Black Francolin.  When we returned to Highway 190 opted to head to see the

Hawaii Amikihi

Pueo

Wapi'o Valley.  This is another breathtaking view of the Hawaii coast line.  After lunch at

Waipi'o Valley

a BBQ place Deb and I discovered the last time we were here, we headed to Waimea and the wonderful Tropical Dreams factory to get some of their ice cream to take back with us.  On the trip there we experienced a major thunder storm.  It was raining so hard I had difficulty seening the road so I had to drive slow.  To top it off lighting was striking all around us, sometimes so close it shook the car.  We got our ice cream and headed home.

On Tuesday we were treated to a day in Hakalau Forest Preserve.  We met our local guide, Lance Tanino, at the roadside rest on the new saddle road.  Brent Otego, Daniel Hodges and I joined Lance for our drive up the road and the rest of the group stayed with Deb in the other vehicle.  The road up Mona Kea is difficult and requires four wheel drive.  The refuge is a restricted area that only designated guides have access to.  Before driving up one must clean its shoes with a brush and the have the sprayed with alcohol to rid them of any fungus which might damage the Ohi trees, a problem which is occuring across the Hawaiian Islands.  It is called sudden Ohi death.  Ohi is one of two endemic trees, the other is the Koa Tree.  The trip up takes about an hour and is 11 miles from payment.  Along the way we say numerous Erkel's Francolin, a dozen Nene (Hawaiian Goose), many European Skylarks, some Yellow-fronted Canary and a Ring-necked Pheasant as well as Wild Turkey.  Several Japanese Bush Warblers could be heard calling as well.  Once we arrived at the locked gate Lance used his combination to enter.  We parked just inside the gate and began our hike in.  Target birds on this roughly 2 mile walk one way were the following--Omao (Hawaiian thrush), Red-billed Leiothrix, Apapane, I'iwi, Akiapolaau (Akia for short), Hawaii Creeper, Hawaii Akepa, and Hawaii Elepaio.  We ended the day with all the target birds but the Akia, and elusive bird that is 

Our Group

only found on Koa trees.  This species uses it short lower beak to peck somewhat like a woodpecer and its long decurved beak to search benith the bark of insects to feed on.  I was able to get good pictures of two of the target birs here--Omao and I'iwi (a species which has alluded my lens up to this point).  We finished the day around 3:30 with all but one of the target birds.

Erkel's Francolin

Omao

Hawaiin Creeper

Akaka Falls

On Wednesday we did another primarily sightseeing day with some minor birding and headed to the other side of the island to the Hilo area.  Our first stop of the day was at Akaka Falls State Park.  This is a true tropical rain forest, and it did rain on us most of the time.   With all the rain which has been occuring the falls were very impressive. After Akaka we traveled to Hilo and Rainbow Falls.

Rainbow Falls

We then visited Big Island Candy where we sampled various choclate covered macademia nuts and the group really enjoyed this stop.  Afterwards we had lunch at Ken's Pancake House, a local tradition before heading to Wailoa River State Park for a little birding.  There we found Canada Goose, Cackling Goose,  Muskovy (domestic) and a number of NeNe.  Then we went to Reeds Bay before heading back to Keauhou.

On Thusday some of the group went snorkling before we headed we headed to Volcano National Park.  Along the way we visited Hawaii Local Buzz for some more choclate covered macademia nuts and Kona coffee.  There some also visited their hyponic gardens operation.  Then on to South Point (the most southern point in the US) where people who don't have good sense jump off a 200 foot cliff into the ocean below.  Not something that interest me! From here we headed to Punalu'u Bakery--home of Hawaii sweet bread--for lunch.  Again there was an open market next door so I need not say where the ladies went after lunch.  At Volcano NP we most of the group walked through the lava tube before we drove out Crater Rim Drive to the ocean seeking looks at a Great Frigetbird.  I'm sorry to report we missed.  Then back to the Volcano resturant for supper before the two hour drive back to the condo.  Unfortunately, the caldron view was marred by a heavy vog (fog mixed with volcano smoke) so we did not have a very satisfactory look this time.

Friday we did some local sightseeing.  We visited Pu'uhonau Honaunau NP.  This place is know as the Place of Refuge.  If you committed a crime and made it to this place you were safe from the punishment.  It is also a great place to snorkel, but none of our group participated.  Then on to The Coffee Shack for a great lunch with great deserts.  In addition to good food, this place has a magnifican view.  After lunch we visited Donkey Balls (yes this is another place for choclate covered macademia nuts.  You might guess choclate covered macademia nuts were a big hit with the group.

The Coffee Shack

Friday ended with the groups departure and the end of the birding and scenic tour. Aloha!