Honolulu County, O'ahu, Hawaii

April 8-12, 2019

When Glenda Jones asked me to join her for some birding on O'ahu, I was quick to say "Yes." We worked as a team on planning; I did the bird research and she mapped out the best routes to reach our destinations.

Honolulu is the largest city in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with over a million people living there.

At the height of a bad chest cold when we departed last Monday, Glenda recovered quickly once we arrived and started birding.

Since we didn't see a great number of species (especially coastal birds due to high winds, I think), I'll not do a daily report but rather share pics of the birds we saw just about every day.  And, were they special!!

The WHITE TERN (FAIRY TERN) topped our list as a bird to see.

WHITE TERN also called FAIRY TERN - light, swift and beautiful

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER were on our list from just about each of the 19 locations visited. They will soon be taking off for their Arctic breeding grounds where they arrive in late April/early May. So, we were lucky to have seen them in their full breeding plumage including that white racing stripe from the base of its bill, over the eye and down along the wings and flanks. Handsome bird, indeed!

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER  

Yellow Hibiscus or Alamanda?

RED-CRESTED CARDINAL was another favorite and frequent species.

RED-CRESTED CARDINAL

In foreground, with picnic left-overs

In the Phoenix area, in addition to Rock Dove, we enjoy four species: Mourning Dove, Eurasian-collared Dove, White-winged Dove and Inca Dove. On O'ahu, we had just two species (besides Rock Dove): ZEBRA DOVE and SPOTTED DOVE.

ZEBRA DOVE - striped nape, chest and belly (more petite than SPDO)

SPOTTED DOVE - large, with pinkish hue on face, chest and belly. Spots on nape.

Photo by Glenda Jones

Action on the Pacific

ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET (above & below)

These parakeet were abundant, zipping loudly overhead at Iolani Palace, the grounds of which we visited on our arrival day.

Photo by Glenda Jones

A new species for both of us, the COMMON WAXBILL foraged in large flocks on grass and weedy areas. 

From a distance they appeared to be a flock of sparrows or finches

So small we could hardly see them before flushing them into the air, they never flew far; just waited for us to pass. We wised up and observed before walking ahead.

COMMON WAXBILL
Red bill and eyestripe

Both above photos by Glenda Jones

All of these sightings took place in public parks where flowering trees and plants were also abundant.  Cook Island Pines were plentiful as were Banyan trees with their wide spreading limbs and canopy. The 'Ohia tree (Myrtle family) was in constant bloom; pink Plumeria, yellow Acacia intrigued me by their layered appearance with blooms on the flat top.

RED JUNGLEFOWL - everywhere!

Junglefowl chick

COMMON MYNA (Indian Myna) were also abundant - seemingly everywhere.

COMMON MYNA at nest 

I was surprised to see this species on our trek up to Kaena Point on Day #2. Usually favoring human habitat, here they were out on the rocks above the Pacific. When not eating human scraps, they live on insects and invertebrates (worms, snails flies). Thus, there was food at their Pacific habitat.

This Myna was taking a shower in the spray of breaking waves!

We spent most of Wednesday (Day 2) climbing from a parking area up to Kaena Point to visit with the LAYSAN ALBATROSS nesting there. Kaena Point is the most western tip of Hawaii and has two access points. Our original plan may have been the better choice (flatter but longer trail). At the last minute, we decided to drive up the north coast to the parking area from which it is a two-mile hike up to the State Park preserved area. Sounds easy but with Glenda still recovering from a chest cold, the lungs needed to work even though the elevation at the Point was only about 18 feet above sea level.

Glenda making her way up to Kaena Point SP Preserve

As you can see, the trail is not exactly flat (as it was on the other side) and was rocky with loose gravel. Couldn't walk and bird at the same time. But we both made it to the Point and while Glenda rested (and got good birds) I walked the inner loop roped off through the nesting area.

High on a ridge above me, a LAYSAN ALBATROSS on nest.

Young LaAl trying out its wings 

Adults watching their young!

Hard to photograph due to their speed.  Many flew low to the ground and right overhead.
 Photo above shows the Laysan Albatross specific underwing pattern.

Length of Layson Albatross body: 32"  Wingspan: 77-80"

While I was out in the Preserve, Glenda was collecting some other important birds, including a BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS!

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS

A BROWN BOOBY, out at sea was captured in photograph by Glenda, too.

BROWN BOOBY

We were thrilled with our time at the Kaena Point State Park nesting area but eventually headed back down the trail.

Saw some local thrill-seeking young men out on a rock. They showed off for us.

Hiking back down at mid-day, we worked up the only sweat of our trip during which ambient temperatures were consistently between 70s & 80sF. 

One of the birds I really really wanted to see had the odd name of RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX [LYE-O-THRIX]. I had found a place we might luck out and did!

But could I get a photo of those quick little birds? No!  Over two visits to the lucky place, Glenda nailed some awesome photos in this dense rain-forest-like habitat.

RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX (good photo out of good-sized flock) - by Glenda Jones

Second Visit: Smaller flock, good profile photo -- by Glenda Jones

Another small bird I hadn't counted on seeing was the YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY...picking up green reflection from tree leaves  It's very yellow.

YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY - two above photos

Another species' favorite for me was the SAFFRON FINCH:

The RED-VENTED BULBUL was easily spotted in various places.

RED-VENTED BULBUL (vent is lower than belly, between the legs - look closely and you'll see the color

 Much more difficult was this RED-WHISKERED BULBUL:

Photo by Glenda Jones

Another hoped-for sighting was the BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW. Before leaving home, I discovered the J. Campbell Wildlife Refuge - the most likely place to find them - would be closed to visitors due to the nesting of the endangered HAWAIIAN STILT. A ranger suggested we check out the public golf course nearby. Glenda wondered how that would work. Well, we're in Hawaii now. An attendant suggested where we might find them and where to walk.

Glenda at Kahuku Golf Course

BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW

Left bird shows its very tan-colored tail and rump

And, I could go on and on. Everyone was quite friendly and helpful. Intermittent rain and high winds followed us on Thursday so we re-arranged our schedule to a botanical garden and the more sheltered by nature sites we had already visited.  One benefit:

Saw several of these extensive rainbows on Thursday

One evening when I birded Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park behind our hotel, I watched the sun set on this rose/pink building in Honolulu.

Tripler Army Medical Building

And watched the outriggers take off and return to shore.

Flags caught my attention at a historical religious site:

Sunset

From visiting 19 locations (a few, twice), Glenda saw 26 Life Birds (first time seeing them) and I added 13 Lifers to my list.  

Team work gave us a fantastic visit and birding trip.

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