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!

April 13, 2018--Keauhou, HI--So the bird trip has begun.  Our first stop yesterday was at the sewer treatment plants for shorebirds and waterfowl.  In addition, we picked up some land birds as well.  On our walk out to the plant we heard the distinct call of a Black Francolin but we were never able to locate where he was calling from.  Besides the usual zebra dove and house sparrows we quickly located a number of black-crowned night herons.  They were sitting on the fence and along the banks of the settlement ponds.  There were also many ruddy turnstones, sanderling and the bonus Hawaii

Black-crowned Night Heron 

Heron in flight

species I have seen here in spring and fall, wandering tattler.  Tbere were other shorebirds which

Wandering tattler

I did not take a picture of at the ponds--sanderling and ruddy turnstone, as well as the ever present house sparrow and zebra dove.  We did observe a francolin pair fly off but could not be sure of their identity.  There were lesser scaup, northern shouveler, mallard, and Hawaiian coots a plenty.  We did have a least tern and a laughing gull, the only gull I have seen on the island.  In all we left the ponds with a list of 23 species.

From the ponds we headed up into the cloud forest to spend some time at Mike and Jenny Myers, new friends we have made here in Kona.  They live at 4700 feet up the mountain.  Here we were able to find several species which inhabit the higher altitudes--apapane, amakihi, japanese bush warbler, and kalij pheasant.  In addition, we were able to hike around the 2 acre plot and observe the many trees and plants that provide the habitat for these birds.

apapane

saffon finch

amakihi

We then headed back to the condo to rest before heading to Honokahou harbor for some late afternoon birding and watch the sunset.  There we found sanderling, wandering tattler, Hawaiian coot, and beautiful pacific golden plover.  From the picture you can see why they are called "golden".

pacific golden plover

Hawaiian coot

spotted dove

sunset

I was also able to the the above picture of a spotted dove with a very nice background.

Today we headed up to the Palila Trail on Mona Kea.  We were not disapponinted.  We foud our target bird the Palila as well as looks a more amakihi, an elapiao, japanese bush warbler and a quick look at a red-billed leiothrix.

palilia

Then on our way down we traveled Old Saddle Road and wer able to see the Pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl).  

pueo

From there we travelled to the Waipie Valley, a beautiful scenic loaction to show our guest.  Then through a terrible lightening and heavy rain storm we drove to Waimei for some local ice cream, then headed home.  It is late as I write this so I am not going to check it for errors.  We have to leave here in the morning at 5:30 to get to our pelagic trip in the morning.

April 10, 2018--Keauhou, HI--On Sunday evening we had our new friends, Mike & Jenny Myers over for dinner.  Mike is a great photographer and Jenny is an artist.  In our conversation we learnde of a new trail which we had never explored.  The Palila Trail is found by taking and a 4 wheel drive only road 4  miles up from Old Saddle Road (OSR).  Interesting OSR in Texas refers to Old Spanish Trail.  So being as we had a jeep we decided to explore this new area.   We decided to take the OSR which is  also a good birding road.  Shortly after we turned off Highway 190 on to OSR we heard the unmistakable call of a Black Francolin.  This is a bird that has been very difficult for me to find and get a picture of and today I got the best yet, though not what I hope to get. As you can see

Black Francolin

this shot was very far off.  Further along OSR we saw a female Black Francolin, Yellow-breasted Canary, Wild Turkey and an Erkel's Francolin.  This is one of the three francolins found on the Big Island.  The real treat came when a Hawaiian Owl (an Hawaiian subspecies of the short-eared owl). 

Erkel's Francolin

This owl was very cooperative allowing me to walk within 10 feet as he sat on a fence post looking for something to eat.

Hawaiian Owl

Hawaiian Owl

We finally made it to the cutoff for the Palila Trail and began our trip up Mona Kea (the largest mountain in the world).  We soon encountered the Mamane Tree which is the food source that provides 90% of food of the very endangered Palila, the enedmic honeycreeper of the Big Island.  There only about 2000 of these birds left and they inhabit this dry forest habitat.  This is the only place the Mamane Tree is found.  Unfortunately I only had a brief glimpse of an immature one and no picture to share.  We will be taking the group there on Friday and spend half a day so hopefully I can get one then.  We did find an Amakihi which I was able to get pictures of .

Amakihi

Amakihi

It began to rain hard so we headed back to the jeep and made our way down to the highway.

Later this evening two of our group arrived so we headed to the airport to greet them Hawaiian style--with a lei for each.  Daniel & Dianna Hodges were the first to arrive.  A stop at Bubba Gump's Restaurant in downtown Kona for dinner before heading for the condo and bed.

April 7, 2018—Keauhou, HI—very frustrating morning. I did the entire blog on the Blogger page and suddenly it disappeared.  I had saved what work I had done but couldn’t find it, so here we go again.  However, this time I am doing in it MS Word and will copy and paste to the blog page.

I’m trying to get over my frustration as I set here on our lanai.  This morning we woke to a light rain and it is supposed to last throughout today and tomorrow.  Rain on this west side of the island is not as common as on the eastern Hilo side where it is much more like a rainforest.  The Kailua-Kona region is in the rain shadow of the extinct volcano Hualalai, thus their rainfall totals are much lower than those of the other side of the island.

On Thursday, April 5, we spent the morning and early afternoon doing some personal shopping before heading to Home Depot to purchase new outdoor blinds for our lanai.  The blinds currently in use are very old and need replacing.  As we entered the store a dining room set caught Deb’s eye.  We have been looking to replace the old one currently in the condo.  This is really a patio dining set but we believe it will look great in our place.  In addition to being new, it will offer seating for 6 instead of the current table which can only seats 4.  While at Home Depot we checked on what was available to 

 

refinish a fiberglass shower pan.  The one in our unit needs some tinder loving care.  We did find a fiberglass paint that will work and after applying the first of two coats we are extremely pleased with the results.  We also purchase a kit to refurbish the tub in the master bedroom.

On Friday we opted to do some scouting for the upcoming birding expedition.  We left the house about 7:15.   We headed up Kamehemeha III Road and in less than a mile we pulled into the scenic outlook which overlooks the area.  That is where I took the panorama picture attached here.  The was a beautiful, clear morning so it worked out well.

Today we were heading to a Hawaii Birding Trail hotspot, Pu’u Wa’awa’a Halapepe (good luck with this pronunciation).  The traffic at this time of day is terrible and we decided quickly that any of our birding trips in this direction would have to begin long before 7 am.  We traveled up Highway 190 to the birding site entrance (didn’t want to re-write the above again).  We have been here on a previous trip but spent very little time, so we wanted to spend the morning exploring the area.  At the entrance we opted to take the right fork and proceeded up the road.  A short distance up the road we got out to look around and were met with a very loud and strange call.  After the bird flushed I knew it was a francolin but was not sure which of the three found here.  We searched and searched but could never get an eye on the bird.  All around we could hear Saffron Finch and Yellow-breasted Canary’s singing.  We even had a couple of Hawaiian Goose (locally know as Nene) flyover. 

Hawaiian Goose

As we continued up the road we continued to hear that strange call mentioned before.  Once again we got out of the vehicle.  This time we tried a tape to attract what we had since determined was a Black Francolin.  There were at least two calling but we could get neither to show itself.  Finally, at a distance I saw one at the edge of the road but it quickly ran into the bush as a car approached.  There had been a steady line of cars coming up this road.  We soon learned they were on their way to native plant society meeting.  Since it was by invitation only, we were not able to attend.  In addition to the francolin, there were numerous Cattle Egrets and Pacific Golden Plover seen in the adjacent field. 

Up ahead we passed through a cattle guard and soon learned it was a private road and ranch.  However, while there we were able to see a male turkey strutting to attract one of the three females present.  From what we observed he was not successful.

Wild Turkey

As we headed back down toward the entrance we stopped to take pictures of two trees in bloom.  The first has a beautiful purple flower shaped like a trumpet.  This is the jacaranda tree (mimosifolia).  It really catches your eye with its striking beauty.

Jacaranda Tree

The other flowering tree turned out to be a Spray-of-Gold.  

This tree sports many yellow flowers.

Spray-of-Gold

Our final bird sightings of the day were a Kalij Pheasant with a bad foot and a Erkel’s Francolin.

Kalij Pheasant

Erkle's Francolin

On our return home the party was over and it was time to go to work.  In the afternoon I put the first coat of paint on the shower pan and then painted the three new doors we had installed when we were here in September.  That was enough for one day.

April 4, 2018-Keauhou, HI--Deb & I arrived about 7:15, got our rental vehicle (a jeep), made a quick stop at Costco for coffee etc., and headed to Keauhou JADE (our condo) arriving there a little before 9 PM.  The 5 hour time change between Austin and Kona does require some adjustment to your body clock.  I have noticed I don't sleep well the first night, waking up at 4 AM (9AM in Austin) and being unable to get back to sleep.  At 5 AM we decided to get up and prepare coffee, sit on the lanai and listen to the early morning chorus.  Already Mina's and Zebra Doves can be heard heralding the new day.  Daylight begins a little before 6 with sunrise around 6:15 and by then there were two dozen Java Sparrows and Zebra Doves at the feeder we purchased in September.  Our neighbor below soon came out and replenished the seed in the feeder.  Java Sparrows and Zebra Dove spend the entire day at this feeder.  We frequently observed this years hatch of Java Sparrows begging their parents for food.

Java Sparrow

Meanwhile, the dozen or so Zebra Dove scoured the ground below the feeder for the seed spilled by the very greedy Java Sparrows.  This activity continues through out the day.  Occasionally a Spotted

Zebra Dove

Dove will fly in to join the group Zebras.  The ground feeders were soon joined by a pair of resident

Spotted Dove

Gray Francolins which we have seen from the lanai every time we have been here.  In fact, the resident manager of our condo informed me that this pair had raised 8 chicks on the property this spring.

Gray Francolin

Following our morning coffee from the Lanai, we finished the unpacking, straightened up the condo, dressed and headed to check out the local sewer treatment plant for birds.  We have not visited this place in our previous visits, so I contacted their office to find out the protocol for visiting.  I was advised to park at the entrance gate and walk the quarter of a mile in to the berm which we did.  There we found a nice group of birds which included Black-crowned Night-Herons, Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstones, more Zebra Dove, a couple of Sanderling, Hawaiian Coots, a lone Northern Shouveler, and two Wandering Tattlers.  Since this was just an opportunity to check out the place I didn't take either my camera or scope.  For sure we will do so next time when the group of friends arrive next week to do some serious birding.

Following our checking out the sewer treatment we stopped by a local chocolate factory to see what it had to offer.  Needless to say the chocolate samples were great.  Definitely we will take our guest there in the future.  We did purchase two chocolate Easter eggs at sale prices before heading to Costco to do some serious shopping.  After Costco we headed back to the condo to get some rest.  Today I am still a little tired from not sleeping well the night before, so I spend the afternoon lying on the futon on the lanai and surfing the web.  I have set up Ebird alerts for the island to see what other birders are reporting and the list looks very good.  Evidently there is a Wings Birding group on the island as I recognized the name of the leader.

Later in the afternoon we observed several other species showed up.  Among them the often hated House Sparrow.  Actually this time of year, breeding season, the male is not a bad looking bird.

House Sparrow

In addition, one of my favorite species for the island showed up, Saffron Finch.  This small, bright yellow finch with a reddish head and throat joined the ground feeders.  What I have failed to note 

Saffron Finch

up to this point is the stunning fragrance of the blooming Plumeria blossoms just beyond the lanai.

 

So our first day here in paradise was one of resting, relaxing and doing a little scouting for the upcoming birding expedition.