HAWAI'I BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR 1998



Birds highlighted in RED denote official rarities. Species in BLUE are endemic species. Species in GREEN are introduced species or regular indiginous breeding species in Hawai'i. Species in light BLUE are non-avian species seen at sea. Italics denotes escaped species not currently established. M=Male, F=Female. All records are unsubstantiated and so no responsibility is taken for incorrect or inaccurate reports.

JANUARY
1st RING-BILLED GULL 1 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i. 1st Winter.
3rd WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER 2 Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kaua'i. Probables.
10th LAUGHING GULL 1 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i. 1st Winter.
13th WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 Lesser Yellowlegs and 4 Pintail.
17th CHRISTMAS SHEARWATER 1 Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kaua'i. 1 Probable flew SW.
23rd CANVASBACK 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Female. Also 6 Ring-necked Ducks (4 M), 2 W.F. Geese still and 2 Male Shovler.
23rd PIED-BILLED GREBE 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.  
29th BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 1 Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kaua'i.  
29th WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Course, Kaua'i. Different to Hanalei birds.
30th CANVASBACK 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 6 R.N. Ducks still, 2 W.F. Geese, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs and 30 Pintail.
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FEBRUARY
1st BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 7 Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kaua'i. Also 10 Laysan Albatross, 1 prob. Newell's Shearwater and 3 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters.
1st LAUGHING GULL 1 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i. 1st winter still present.
3rd CANVASBACK 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 6 R.N. Ducks.
3rd WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Still present.
11th MALLARD 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Pair. Also 1 Snipe.
16th PIED-BILLED GREBE 1 Aimakapa Pond, Hawai'i. Also 32 Lesser Scaup, 1 American Wigeon (M), 1 Eurasian Wigeon (F) and 1 Greater Scaup (M).
16th TUFTED DUCK 1 Aimakapa Pond, Hawai'i.  
17th LESSER SCAUP 20+ Kealia Pond, Maui.  
25th WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i. Still present.
27th WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i. Still present.
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MARCH
4th RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Only the second or third record for Hawai'i.
5th RING-NECKED DUCK 1 Kalihiwai Reservoir, Kaua'i. Female.
9th PIED-BILLED GREBE 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 1 Ring-necked Duck (F).
16th WHITE-FRONTED GEESE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i.  
16th SOOTY SHEARWATER 1 Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kaua'i. Also 51 Black Noddy and 100+ Wedge-tailed Shearwaters.
17th GREEN-WINGED TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Female-type.
23rd EURASIAN WIGEON 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Male.
24th BLUE-GRAY NODDY 1 Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kaua'i. Flew NE at 6.06pm. Very rare away from breeding islands. Also 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 prob. Christmas Shearwater.
24th WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i. Still present.
25th RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i.  
25th WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons, Kaua'i.  
25th WHITE TERN 2 Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kauaa'i. Unusual away from NW Chain or O'ahu. Also 4 Sooty Terns, 2 Gray-backed Terns, 6 Sooty Shearwater, 400+ W.T. Shearwater and 1 Short-tailed Shearwater.
31st RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i.  
31st EURASIAN WIGEON 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Male still present.
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APRIL
1st EURASIAN WIGEON 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Male still present.
2nd RING-NECKED DUCK 15 Pu'u O Hewa Reservoir, Koloa, Kaua'i.  
2nd NEWELL'S SHEARWATER 2 Makahuena Point, Po'ipu, Kaua'i.  
6th RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i.  
8th WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons G.C., Kaua'i  
9th LAUGHING GULL 2 Kawaiele Sanctuary, Kaua'i. 2nd year and 3rd year. 3rd year picked up dead on 18th.
18th POMARINE JAEGER 1 Pelagic from Port Allen, Kaua'i to Lehua Rock, Ni'ihau. Also 1 Red Phalarope, 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Newell's Shearwaters, 1 Black-footed Albatross, 1 Arctic or Common Tern, 1 Christmas Shearwater & 1 Short-tailed Shearwater.
18th PILOT WHALE 1 Pelagic from Port Allen, Kaua'i to Lehua Rock, Ni'ihau. Also 1 Manta Ray, 20 Spinner Dolphin, 10 prob. Bottle-nosed Dolphins and 1 small Moth sp. in mid channel!
21st PIED-BILLED GREBE 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.  
21st WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 2 Kaua'i Lagoons G.C., Kaua'i.  
28th TURNSTONE 86 Kukui Grove, Lihue, Kaua'i.  
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MAY
9th NORTHERN SHOVELER 8 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.  
10th FRANKLIN'S GULL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Summer plumaged adult. Seen twice, once in morning and once in afternoon.
17th NEWELL'S SHEARWATER 50+ Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Offshore in evening.
19th BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Drake.
25th MASKED BOOBY 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Adult in evening.
28th BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Drake still present.
28th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Flew East past Point in evening.
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JUNE
1st BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Drake still present.
1st BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Landed briefly at Point in evening before continuing East.
5th MASKED BOOBY 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i.  
8th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW   Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Flew East past Point in evening.
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JULY
11th KERMADEC PETREL 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Dark-phase bird.
26th KERMADEC PETREL 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Still present in evenings.
27th BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. (Eclipse) Drake still present. (Late date.)
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AUGUST
3rd KERMADEC PETREL 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Still present in evenings.
10th PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER 150+ Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Probably included many early returning birds.
25th BULWER'S PETREL 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Picked up dead. Also a further 5 picked up dead at this site this month.
28th KERMADEC PETREL 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Still present in evenings, although sometimes going missing for several days at a time.
31st TURNSTONE 10 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i.  
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SEPTEMBER
3rd SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also still present on 4th.
4th KERMADEC PETREL 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i.  
4th BLACK TERN 1 Kinikini Ditch, Kaua'i.  
4th SPOTTED SANDPIPER 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Small number of spots on underparts. Also seen on 5th, 6th and 7th.
8th SPOTTED SANDPIPER 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Last seen on this date.
18th KERMADEC PETREL 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Seen every day between 4th and 18th in evenings and on the mornings of 15th and 19th.
20th WHITE TERN 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Possible flew East over Point in morning (high up).
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OCTOBER
31st BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Drake.
31st LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Juvenile bird. Also 2 American Wigeon (F), 25 Northern Pintail and 10 Northern Shoveler.
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NOVEMBER
2nd GUAM SWIFTLET 1 Pacific Palisades, O'ahu.  
3rd BLUE-WINGED TEAL 4 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 G.W. Teal (F), 2 American Wigeon (F), 20 Pintail (1M) & 8 Shoveler (F).
3rd MALLARD 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Drakes. Wild origin?
6th GREEN-WINGED TEAL 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Female-types.
8th TURNSTONE 110 Kukui Grove, Lihue, Kaua'i.  
9th AMERICAN WIGEON 6 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. 4 or 5 Females. Also 2 GW Teal still.
10th CINNAMON TEAL 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Eclipse Drake and a female.
16th LAUGHING GULL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.  
16th BELTED KINGFISHER 1 Waiakea and Loko Waka Ponds, Hilo, Hawai'i. Female bird. Mobile and elusive.
16th GREATER YELLOWLEGS 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Morning only. Also 1 juv. Pectoral Sandpiper there.
17th LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher and 1 Greater Scaup (F).
22nd LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also Lesser Yellowlegs still.
23rd CANADA GOOSE 2 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 1 Greater Scaup (F), 1 Eurasian Teal (M), 4 Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal, 4 American Wigeon (2M) and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper.
23rd MALLARD 5 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Three drakes. Probably wild origin.
24th CANADA GOOSE 3 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Now three birds present.
24th LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 1 Lesser Scaup (F), 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 American Wigeon (F), 1 GW Teal (M).
25th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i Eclipse drake. Also 3 Canada Geese still.
28th DUNLIN 1 Kekaha Mill Pond, Kaua'i. Winter plumaged adult.
29th POMARINE JAEGER 1 Honolulu Waterfront, O'ahu. Adult.
29th HERRING GULL 1 Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 American Wigeon (M), 3 GW Teal (F), 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Blue-winged Teal (M) and 1 Bufflehead.
29th LESSER SCAUP 2 Kuilima STP, O'ahu.  
29th GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Juvenile bird. Also 4 GW Teal (F), 3 Lesser Scaup (F), 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher and 2 Snipe.
29th WHIMBREL 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. North American race. Also 11+ Bristle-thighed Curlews.
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DECEMBER
1st CINNAMON TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Eclipse Drake still. Also 8 GW Teal, 3 American Wigeon and eclipse drake Blue-winged Teal.
1st BRANT 1 Laysan Island. No public Access.
3rd CANADA GOOSE 3 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Still present.
4th GREATER SCAUP 1 Wailua Reservoir, Kaua'i. Drake, also 2 Lesser Scaup (pair) and 8 Ring-necked Ducks (4M).
6th PECTORAL SANDPIPER 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 American Wigeon, 30 Pintail, 20 Shoveler and 6 Mallard (4M).
7th HOODED MERGANSER 1 Kaunakakai WTP, Molokai. Drake. Also seen on 16th. Less than 5 previous State records.
8th BRANT 1 Bayfront Park, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also on 9th.
8th BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i.  
10th MALLARD 4 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Two drakes, 2 Females. Also 3 American Wigeon (pair + F)
10th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Eclipse Drake. Also eclipse Drake Blue-winged Teal there.
11th BUFFLEHEAD 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 Mallard (pair).
12th GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 1 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i.  
12th BRANT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.  
12th TUFTED DUCK 1 Loko Waka Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Drake.
13th BUFFLEHEAD 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 3 Canada Geese still.
13th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Eclipse drake. Also Blue -winged Teal still.
16th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 3 Canada Geese, 1 Snipe, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, Bufflehead and 5 Green-winged Teal (1M).
19th SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER 1 Kekaha Mill Pond, Kaua'i. Also Dunlin still present.
19th GREAT-BLUE HERON 1 Nu'upia Ponds, O'ahu.  
19th KILLDEER 1 Nu'upia Ponds, O'ahu.  
20th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Drake now in full plumage. Also Drake Blue-winged Teal, 7 GW Teal (1M) and Bufflehead.
20th O'AHU 'ELEPAIO 2 South-eastern side of Ko'olau Mountains, O'ahu.  
24th RUFF 1 Kealia Pond, Maui.  
25th BRANT 3 Kinikini Ditch, Kaua'i.  
27th BUFFLEHEAD 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 3 Canada Geese still.
28th AKIAPOLA'AU 1 Hakalau Forest NWR, Hawai'i. Also 30 Hawai'i 'Akepa, 20 Hawai'i Creepers, 3 'Omao, 200+ I'iwi, 200+ 'Apapane and 50+ Hawai'i 'Amakihi.
29th WHITE-FACED IBIS 2 Kona STP, Kona, Hawai'i. Also Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Ring-necked Duck (M), 2 Greater Scaup (F) and 1 Lesser Scaup.
29th AMERICAN WIGEON 2 Aimakapa Pond, Kona, Hawai'i. Pair. Also 2 Lesser Scaup (F).
29th BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. 1st winter. Also 1 RB Gull, 1 Canada Goose, 1 WF Goose (unknown origin), eclipse drake BW Teal, 2 Eurasian Wigeon and 5 American Wigeon.
30th KILLDEER 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.  
30th PIED-BILLED GREBE 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 3 Canada Geese still.
30th BUFFLEHEAD 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also drake Blue-winged Teal still.

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