HAWAI'I BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR 2003

JULY - DECEMBER

JULY

2nd	SAFFRON FINCH	2	Northern outskirts of Hilo, Hawai'i.	Both young birds.	DL
3rd	SAFFRON FINCH	2	Downtown Honoka'a, Hawai'i.	Two adult males sitting on power lines.	DL
5th	O'AHU 'ELEPAIO	1	Aiea Trail, O'ahu.	Also 'Apapane, O'ahu 'Amakihi and selection of introduced species.	PD
23rd	LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER	1	Koheo wetland, Moloka'i.	Non-breeding plumage. Also 77 Hawaiian Stilts and 2 Wandering Tattler. Nearby at Ohiapilo Wetland: 4 Hawaiian Coots, 109 Hawaiian Stilts and 2 Black-crowned Night Heron. (Note that not all sites listed may be open to the public).	ADY
23rd	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	1	Nene O Molokai, Moloka'i.	Also 14 Hawaiian Stilts and 9 Ruddy Turnstone. Nearby at Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant: 6 Hawaiian Stilts, 211 Hawaiian Coots and 1 Ruddy Turnstone. (Note that not all sites listed may be open to the public).	ADY
23rd	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	7	Molokai Sea Farms (shrimp farm, Palaau), Moloka'i.	Five adults and 2 juveniles. Also 10 Hawaiian Coots, 33 Hawaiian Stilts, 4 Ruddy Turnstone, 13 Wandering Tattlers (11 non- breeding, 2 in breeding plumage fighting each other relentlessly), 13 Black- crowned Night Heron and 20 Wild Turkey. (Note that not all sites listed may be open to the public).	ADY
24th	WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER	+++	Kealaikahiki, NW end of Kaho'olawe.	Between 1:30-2:00 pm, a rough estimate of at least 1000+ seen flying offshore. The birds were seen flying from approx. 0.25 - 1.5+mi from shore. The direction of their flight patterns were both east and west and appeared to have been hanging around off the nw end of the island.	LT
25th	LEAST TERN	1	Honouliuli unit of Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu.	Also 21 Cattle Egret, 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 14 Mallard X Koloa (brood of 5 ducklings), 114 Hawaiian Coot (3 orange headed chicks probably from 2 different broods), 62 Hawaiian Coots outside refuge on the harbor.	PD
25th	BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER	2	Honouliuli unit of Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu.	Also 54 Pacific Golden-Plover, 26 Hawaiian Stilt (6+ fledglings), 4 Wandering Tattler, 14 Ruddy Turnstone and 50 Red Avadavat.	PD
25th	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	1	Honouliuli unit of Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu.	Bird has a deformed leg, and is presumably the bird seen on O'ahu last year and earlier this year.	PD
25th	COOK'S PETREL	1	Pelagic between Kaua'i and Lehua.	Possible bird seen. For full trip list Click Here.	DK
26th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	5	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 38 Hawaiian Stilt (several fledglings, no new chicks), 151 Hawaiian Coot, 23 Hawaiian Moorhen, 5 Black- crowned Night-Heron, 24 Mallard X Koloa,1 female Rosy-billed Pochard, 21 Cattle Egret and 9 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD
26th	HAWAIIAN STILT	40	Kuilima STP, O'ahu.	Twenty-four on grass around ponds. Also 130 Hawaiian Coots and 7 Cattle Egrets.	PD
27th	BLACK NODDY	30+	Pauwalu Point Sanctuary near Keanae, Maui.	Nesting on offshore island cliffs. Also 4-5 Great Frigatebird,1 Red-tailed Tropicbird, 1 White-tailed Tropicbird, 2 Hawaiian Stilt (calling persistently; possible nest in the old Hawaiian fishpond area wetland), 1 Ruddy Turnstone and 3 Hawaiian sea Turtle.	LT
28th	GRAY FRANCOLIN	5	Diamond Head, O'ahu.	Two adults and 3 juveniles.	SL
29th	PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER	3	Ohiapilo, Moloka'i.	First returning migrants: (1 with missing left leg); also 211 Hawaiian Stilts and 8 Hawaiian Coots.	ADY
31st	BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER	1	Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.	One in non-breeding plumage. Also 14 Cattle Egret, 10 hybrid Mallard X Koloa,19 Hawaiian Stilt (many subadults, no new chicks),115 Hawaiian Coot (including 56 in harbor and at least 3 downy chicks), 43 Pacific Golden-Plover, 16 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD
31st	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	1	Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.	Lame bird still present. Nearby at Pouhala Marsh: 31 Hawaiian Stilt, and at Waiawa NWR 34 Pacific Golden-Plover, 34 Hawaiian Stilt (many fledglings but no new chicks) and 29 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD

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JULY

In what was to be a fairly quiet month for reports, Peter Donaldson took a hike along the Aiea Trail (O'ahu) on July 5th and reported the following: 1 O'ahu 'Elepaio, adult bird close by to right of trail heading in from upper trailhead about 1 mile from junction with ridge trail. Possibly more than one bird, but only one seen. Fifteen Red-whiskered Bulbul, several seen well; 20 Red-vented Bulbul, several seen well; One Japanese Bush-Warbler, heard only. Eight White-rumped Shama, only 1 seen well. One Hwamei, heard singing down in valley near upper trailhead. Thirty Red-billed Leiothrix, several seen well; 8 Japanese White-eye, rather quiet. Only a few seen. Twelve O'ahu 'Amakihi, several seen well. Good views of grayish-green female with bold double wingbars and two bright yellow-green males with no wingbars. One very dull bird with no wingbars. One 'Apapane heard only near junction of ridge trail. O'ahu 'Elepaio, O'ahu, Hawaiian Islands. Photograph © by Jack Jeffrey. At least eight Bristle-thighed Curlew were found over-summering on Moloka'i during July, a trend which has become more frequent on the Island in the last few years. Also on Moloka'i during July were a Long-billed Dowitcher and many small groups of Turnstone and Wandering Tattler (Arleon Dibben-Young). (Note that not all sites listed may be open to the public, Eds.). Bristle-thighed Curlew, a scarce wintering bird in the Main Hawaiian Islands, a few now over-summer on Moloka'i and sometimes on O'ahu. David Kuhn reported the following from Kaua'i: "I went out Sunday evening July 13 to observe and record seabirds in the head of Nualolo Valley. Descending the 1400' of Awa'awapuhi trail, recording crickets and birds along the way, I arrived about 8 pm, just 10 minutes before I heard the first Band-rumped Storm-petrels arriving, and set up to record the ambient sound of a major nesting colony. Already to dark to see, but hundreds of Newell's calling, a lot of Band-rumped's, and I also heard at least 3 Hawaiian Petrels in the hour and a half I was there. This Nualolo/Awa'awapuhi nesting site was observed and reported last year by Laura Arnold, see the Band-rumped Storm Petrel paper posted in the Hawaiian Articles section. The cacophony in this presumably ancient nest site was dramatic and spine-tingling. With Shearwaters flying by within a few feet, I could hear the thrum of wings slicing the air and see white flanks flashing. This is a better site to listen and record than Waimea Canyon, as it's in the lee protected somewhat from the trades, and definitely harbors a lot more birds than the Waimea Canyon site. Of course it's harder to get to as well. I hiked up by the full moon, arriving back at the trailhead about midnight." It should be noted that overnight camping is not permitted in the Alaka'i except at the registered sites and must be booked in advance, Ed. Band-rumped Storm Petrel photograph © by Jim Denny. Latest Kaua'i pelagic news from David Kuhn: "Friday July 25, 2003, Another great day on the water with the Blue Dolphin II's Port Allen-Na Pali-Lehua-Port Allen trip, variable trade winds and very little swell, partly cloudy. Good close looks at local breeders. Many small rafts of Wedgies, but no big flocks encountered; in fact I haven't seen, let alone gotten close to, a big feeding flock this season. SEABIRDS SEEN: (I don't attempt to count the birds on Lehua, but will note all species seen) Hawaiian Petrel 1,Wedge-tailed Shearwater ~300, Christmas Shearwater 1, same place I saw one a month ago, just off Lehua, apparently molting inner primaries, Newell's Shearwater 1, Bulwer's Petrel 2, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel 4 solitary, White-tailed T'bird 10, Red-tailed T'bird ~ 30 on/over Lehua; 2 at sea, Red-footed Booby ~150, mostly on Lehua and a few at sea, Brown Booby 10 at sea, ~30 on/near Lehua, Great Frigatebird ~120, many immatures; counted >100 in a kettle over Lehua, Black Noddy ~150 in Lehua sea cave, ~50 in sea cave near Honopu, Sooty Tern 4 at sea--always pleasing to see these graceful flyers, Mystery: at ~100 m., pale above (didn't see underparts), wings held straight out, fast exaggerated swooping flight, like small gadfly petrel-- possible Cook's Petrel. Other birds: Pacific Golden Plover 3 on Lehua in basic plumage. Other creatures: Monk Seal 2 near Lehua, Spinner Dolphin many; off Barking Sands and the Pali, and at Lehua, Green Sea Turtles ~20 off Na Pali at Nualolo Underwater-- I usually snorkel for a while before lunch, and this time, since there was no current, hung above "the Wall", a vertical 200 foot cliff. 80 foot viz, many fish in great abundance, e.g. ~200 Moorish Idols in view. Satoko Lincoln reported the following scarce sighting on O'ahu: " I decided to report the following Gray Francolin sighting only because Pratt says they are seldom seen on O’ahu. July 28, 2003, 6:30 PM. As I walked, I inadvertently “flushed” a group of 5 Gray Francolins (2 adults, 3 juveniles) on Diamond Head. They all had similar, buffy plumage. The young ones were about 3/4 of the body lengths of the adults. Under the shady Be Still tree where they had been, there were three fresh-looking holes about 2 inches deep and 8 inches in diameter. I wonder if they made the holes to cool off in to seek relief from the unusually muggy weather we had been having. Visiting the BH website after several weeks of absence was refreshing, and I really enjoyed reading the recent trip reports. Things change all the time even in familiar birding sites, and each birder’s viewpoint and experience are different from the others’. I renewed my appreciation of the fact that the stories can be shared thanks to you. Aloha, Satoko". The following interesting Hawaiian Wildlife news items were published this month: Oahu gets EPA grant to restore marsh (Associated Press): The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the state a $75,000 grant to restore wetlands at the Hamakua Marsh on Oahu, officials said earlier this week. The grant is part of $1.5 million being awarded to Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada and the Pacific islands for the protection of wetlands. The state will use the funds for work at the Hamakua State Wildlife Sanctuary in Kailua to re-establish habitats for native Hawaiian water birds and migratory shorebirds. The program will also get the local community involved in caring for the wetlands, develop monitoring techniques to understand the biological health of coastal Hawaiian wetlands and establish a native wetland ecosystem. "It is important to EPA to restore wetlands such as Hamakua Marsh and thus provide habitat for native Hawaiian species," said Alexis Strauss, director for the EPA Pacific Southwest Region's Water Division. "The information gathered from monitoring the wetland will provide a better understanding of what components are needed to sustain this Hawaiian ecosystem." Congressional bill may expand Kauai wildlife refuge’s acreage (Honolulu Star-Bulletin): Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai could grow by up to 219 acres under a bill introduced in Congress recently by U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D-Rural Oahu, Neighbor Islands). The proposed expansion area is at the eastern boundary of the refuge and would provide habitat for endangered Hawaiian water birds including the Koloa duck, Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian stilt and Hawaiian moorhen. It includes taro terraces and an estuary ecosystem at the lower reaches of Kilauea Stream. The refuge, established in 1985, is at the northernmost tip of Kauai and currently encompasses 203 acres. It provides habitat for native seabirds, including the Laysan albatross, the red-footed booby and the wedge-tailed shearwater and also the endangered nene. Case said the bill is meant to help ensure "the survival and recovery of Hawaii's unique endangered and threatened species and to preserve the remaining unspoiled natural treasures of our beautiful islands for future generations."

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AUGUST

2nd	LITTLE or LEAST TERN	1	Ki'i Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Juvenile or sub-adult bird. Also 1 Short-eared Owl, 25 Cattle Egrets, 11 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 39 Mallard X Koloa Hybrid, 23 Hawaiian Moorhen, 143 Hawaiian Coot & 1 female Rosy-billed Pochard.	PD
2nd	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	5	Ki'i Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 35 Pacific Golden-Plover, 37 Hawaiian Stilt (Many sub- adults but no new chicks), 3 Wandering Tattler and 60 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD
3rd	FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER	1	Pelagic Kaua'i - Lehua.	Possible bird seen, also 16 Band-rumped Storm-petrels. For full trip-list click here.	DK
4th	CANADA GOOSE	11	Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i.	11 "large" Canada Geese, along with the now resident "Aleutian" type at Waikea Pond in Hilo	RD
5th	PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER	++	O'ahu, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i.	Small groups of birds returning throughout the Hawaiian Islands.	mo
8th	WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER	100	N. Kihei Rd just past Kealia NWR, Maui.	About 100 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters 25-100m off the beach flying in a somewhat loose flock.	LT
12th	BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER	1	Honoluliuli Unit, Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu.	Also 3 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 7 Gray Francolin, 59 Hawaiian Coot (5 subadults), 178 Pacific Golden Plover, 31 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Wandering Tattler and 9 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD
12th	RUDDY TURNSTONE	23	Waiawa NWR, O'ahu.	Also 43 Hawaiian Stilt (at least 8 fledglings), 4 Wandering Tattler and 215 Pacific Golden Plover.	PD
12th	GREATER YELLOWLEGS	1	Kuilima STP, O'ahu.		MO
12th	PECTORAL SANDPIPER	2	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 3 Bristle-thighed Curlews and 83 Pacific Golden Plovers.	MO
13th	LESSER YELLOWLEGS	1	Kuilima STP, O'ahu.	Also 1 juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, 150 Hawaiian Coot, 16 Pacific Golden Plover, 98 Hawaiian Stilt and 7 Wandering Tattler.	PD
13th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	9+	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 109 Pacific Golden Plover, 119 Hawaiian Stilt, 9 Wandering Tattler, 72 Ruddy Turnstone, 1 Sanderling and 2 Pectoral Sandpiper.	PD
13th	HAWAIIAN MOORHEN	24	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 13 Cattle Egret, 7 Black-crowned Night- Heron, 31 Mallard X Koloa and 118 Hawaiian Coot.	PD
18th	BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER	1	Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.	Also 17 Cattle Egret, 2 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 47 Hawaiian Coot, 200 Pacific Golden-Plover, 16 Hawaiian Stilt and 20 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD
18th	HAWAIIAN STILT	38	Pouhala Marsh, Oahu.	Also 2 Black-crowned Night- Heron, 18 Pacific Golden- Plover and 1 Wandering Tattler.	PD
20th	LEAST/LITTLE TERN	1	"Ming Dynasty" section of the former Amorient prawn farms, Kahuku, O'ahu.	Also a "leucistic" Hawaiian Moorhen at the prawn ponds. It had many white feathers on the back, wing coverts, and head. (This is presumably a partial albino rather than leucisitc, Ed.)	EV
20th	LEAST SANDPIPER	1	Waiawa NWR area, O'ahu.	Juvenile bird. Also 240 Pacific Golden-Plover, 51 Hawaiian Stilt, 12 Wandering Tattler, 34 Ruddy Turnstone and 13 Sanderling.	PD, RM
20th	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	1	Waiawa NWR area, O'ahu.	Lame bird in alternate plumage stil present. Nearby at the Waipio Soccer Complex 15 Cattle Egret and 155 Pacific Golden-Plover.	PD, RM
20th	LEAST/LITTLE TERN	1	Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.	Also 6 Black-crowned Night-Heron and 59 Hawaiian Stilt. 5	PD, RM
20th	BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER	2	Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.	Also 45 Pacific Golden-Plover, 5 Wandering Tattler and 10 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD, RM
29th	LESSER YELLOWLEGS	1	Old Kaunakakai Stream Estuary, Moloka'i.	Also several Bristle-thighed Curlew over-summering on Moloka'i. Click Here for details.	ADY

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AUGUST

Early August (Sunday 3rd) pelagic sightings from David Kuhn: "Another birding day on the Blue Dolphin II's Port Allen-Na Pali- Lehua - Port Allen trip, strong trade winds (12-18) and little swell, partly cloudy. A few sparse flocks encountered. Many Band- rumped's (16), in fact the second highest count for this route (18 were observed June 29 2000). Most intriguing bird was an all-dark shearwater encountered mid-channel on the outward leg, flying with a loose flock of Wedgetails. It was flying downwind so didn't offer much in the way of flight pattern, but seemed to fly slower than Wedgies, and seemed a little larger than a Wedgie. It didn't have wings kicked forward at the wrist like a Wedgie, and as this for me is the most useful diagnostic for a Wedgetail, I dismiss dark-morph Wedgie. I didn't get an impression of bill color, but bill was shearwater- like, not petrel-like. Outer primaries appeared notably darker than rest of wing. I'll put it down as a possible Flesh-footed Shearwater, which (ref. Harrison) disperses post-breeding to N Pacific in the Austral winter. SEABIRDS SEEN:(I don't attempt to count the birds on Lehua, but will note all species seen): Wedge-tailed Shearwater ~500, Newell's Shearwater 2, Possible Flesh-footed Shearwater 1, Bulwer's Petrel 7, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel 16, in one's and two's, White-tailed T'bird 10, all over Na Pali, Red-tailed T'bird ~ 30 on/over Lehua; 2 at sea, Red-footed Booby ~150, mostly on Lehua and a few at sea, Brown Booby 10 at sea, ~30 on/near Lehua, Great Frigatebird ~30 over Lehua, 10 at sea, a couple were commanding bird piles. Black Noddy ~150 in Lehua sea cave, ~20 in sea cave near Honopu, ~ 50 at sea. Other birds: Pacific Golden Plover 2 on Lehua in basic plumage, Ruddy Turnstone 1 on Lehua. Other creatures: Monk Seal 1 near Lehua, Spinner Dolphin many; off Barking Sands and the Pali, and at Lehua, Rough-toothed Dolphin, a large (100-150) pod on the outbound leg, Green Sea Turtles 4 off Na Pali at Nualolo." Reginald David observed eleven Canada Geese at Waiakea Pond in Hilo, Hawai'i on 4th. Although a small group has been present on and off for several months, this is probably the peak number so far. Most were of the larger races (there is one Aleutian Canada Goose) and due to the date, location and length of stay, it is assumed that they are of dubious origin, and are likely to have escaped or been released from a nearby collection. Canada Geese at Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i, August 2003. Part of a flock of eleven birds of dubious origin. Photograph © Reginald E. David Lance Tanino reported an interesting shearwater sighting from Maui on 8th August: "This morning at 8:30 am while driving north along N. Kihei Rd past Kealia NWR, I noticed seabirds gliding and banking over the water less than 50m from the beach. After pulling off the road I walked out to the beach and saw about 100 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters 25-100m off the beach flying in a somewhat loose flock. After a few minutes they moved further north along the beach and the flock got tighter and I thought I saw some splashes made by a few of them, perhaps some feeding going on right off the beach. The trades were blowing steadily. I've never seen so many wedge-tailed shearwaters flying in large numbers so close to shore like what I saw this morning in Hawai'i and especially on Maui and of all places, Maalaea Beach. I guess it just goes to show, you just never know with birds and this is just one instance of what makes birding so much fun." It appears from other birder's observations that this occurrence may have been as a result of hatching of fish which had appeared from an adjacent freshwater channel which runs into the sea, and had caused the birds to gather to feed on the shoals of fish, Ed. Peter Donaldson reported the following unusual encounter on 12th: "Yesterday evening after I got back from birdwatching, I was putting stuff away and my wife was cooking supper when she said "there's a bird in the house!". I was surprised to see a Shama flying around the kitchen. The bird did not seem panicked as it flew around. I opened up all the doors and windows and herded the bird until it found an opening and flew outside. Guess I'll have to remember to close the door behind me when I'm unloading my birding gear." A juvenile Least/Little Tern was seen on 20th at the "Ming Dynasty" section of the former Amorient prawn farms. Eric VanderWerf comments: "We saw it twice- first sitting on the mud at the edge of a pond, then flying around several ponds. The sitting view was distant, the flying view was brief and not in good light, and we were not able to get a good look at the tail. It also appeared to be molting- it was missing the outer tail feather on one side. It gave several sharp "k-deek" calls." David Kuhn's second pelagic of the month aboard the Blue Dolphin II's Port Allen-Na Pali-Lehua-Port Allen trip produced the following highlights in strong trade winds (12-20) and little swell with partly cloudy skies. "A few sparse flocks encountered. Of the three montane nesters only Band-rumped was spotted this trip. SEABIRDS SEEN:(I don't attempt to count the birds on Lehua, but will note all species seen): Wedge-tailed Shearwater ~500; Christmas Shearwater 1 at sea; Bulwer's Petrel 2 at sea; Band-rumped Storm-Petrel 2 at sea; White-tailed T'bird 10 over Na Pali, one at sea; Red-tailed T'bird ~ 30 on/over Lehua; 4 at sea; Red-footed Booby ~150, mostly on Lehua and a few at sea; Brown Booby 10 at sea, ~30 on/near Lehua; Great Frigatebird ~30 over Lehua, 10 at sea, a couple were commanding bird piles. Black Noddy ~150 in Lehua sea cave, ~20 in sea cave near Honopu, ~ 50 at sea. Other birds: Pacific Golden Plover 2 on Lehua in basic plumage; Ruddy Turnstone 3 on Lehua; Wandering Tattler 3 on Lehua. Other creatures: Monk Seal 4 near Lehua; Spinner Dolphin many; off Barking Sands and the Pali, and at Lehua; Green Sea Turtles 4 off Na Pali at Nualolo. David Kuhn also reported the following forest trip details. "I went out to the end of Alaka`i Swamp Trail yesterday morning (August 25), to Kilohana Overlook at Wainiha Pali. I'm sure many of us know this route, with the spectacular views of Kaua`i North Shore from Kilauea to Haena. The boardwalk was completed to the end a few years ago, making an easy day-hike out of what was an all-day slog. First surprise was to hear a Puaiohi singing well down (~150m.) the Pali from the overlook. Winds were light so I heard it clearly, no mistake. That location would be at least a half mile to a mile, probably more, from a "suitable" stream-bank nest site on the plateau. Either this bird wandered farther from good habitat than I thought likely, or it lives on the Pali. Coming back mid-morning, I took a break at the beautiful small shallow gulch (~30 feet deep at the trail crossing) at about the 3-mile marker, which I have always found a birdy place compared to the open plateau bogs. There appeared a juvenile 'Akikiki, foraging and chattering away. It's a sleek little bird, with more white in the face than I've seen, extending well over the forehead. Heard an adult but did not see it. This sighting extends the limits of the area in which I look for, not to say expect to find, 'Akikiki. And this at a time when I expect (and observe) that area to contract." 'Akikiki or Kaua'i Creeper, the population of this Kaua'i endemic seems to be continuing to decrease at an alarming rate, however observations of juveniles in new areas in recent years gives hopes that the species will make some sort of recovery. Photograph © by Jim Denny Jeff Foster, a biologist who worked on the Puaiohi project commented on David's sighting "Several of the released birds from the release program in the past several years ended up along the Wainiha Pali and another enjoyed an extended stay in Kalalau Valley. In fact, one of the release birds was found just below that that Kilohana lookout. While hiking along the pali from Kilohana to points deeper in the swamp I have heard a few Puaiohi down along the edge (none of which are likely to have been release birds). Your guess is as good as mine as to how far down they are found. In short, Puaiohi are found there, just not in any good numbers and are only heard easily in light winds. Just how recent this potential recolonization has occurred is unknown." Tom Snetsinger, who worked on Puaiohi in the Alaka'i in the 1990s has also commented: " In the spring of 1998 while working on the Puaiohi recovery project (before the release of captive-bred Puaiohi) I received a report (via the Kokee Natural History Museum) of a Kamao along the trail just above Kalalau Valley a hundred meters before the trail turns to head down to the junction with the Alakai Swamp Trail. I spoke with the observer and his description actually was quite good for Puaiohi (better than for Kamao). He had dismissed Puaiohi as a candidate not based on field marks (he did not observe the leg color) but based on the fact that distributionally he noted that Puaiohi were from the interior of the swamp and the Kamao was more common out toward Kokee (in his quick reading of his reference he did not grasp that the Kamao was either extinct or at least much rarer than the Puaiohi). I followed up on his sighting over several days, but never heard or saw the bird. Later that year we, along with Erik Tweed, heard a singing wild bird off the Alakai Swamp Trail. Even before that evidence, the observer had convinced me that he had probably observed a Puaiohi right along the edge of the pali. I think it is likely that their population probably extended naturally along this edge to the Wainiha Pali and back to the interior of the Alakai, where they frequently were observed with the use of telemetry and heard over the edge of the pali. In the 70s and 80s the ridge across the Wainiha Valley (the name escapes me now) from the Alakai Plateau held what sounds like a significant population of Puaiohi. I don't know if any surveys have taken place since Iniki. We attempted to coordinate a survey with the National Tropical Botanical Garden to the area but ran out of time before we left for the mainland." Puaiohi or Small Kaua'i Thrush, Alaka'i Swamp, Kaua'i © by Jim Denny. Click on the photograph for a sound recording of the Puaiohi's song recorded by David Kuhn © in 2002. Moloka'i resident Arleone Dibben-Young reported the following shorebird sightings at the end of the month (29th): "Immediate Kaunakakai area: "Duke" Park (This softball field was created a few years ago and is located just east of town on the mauka side of the highway. Shorebirds can usually be found, and quite often roost in small flocks, except during night games) 5 Kolea (Pacific Golden Plover), 1 Kioea (Bristle-thighed Curlew) (juvie) (This bird arrived four days ago and spends daylight hours on the pitchers mound and immediate vicinity. According to the resident across the street (an akamai elementary school teacher), has not left, even at night). Koheo wetland (just east of town) 2 Ae'o (Hawaiian Stilt) (the night before the adjacent resident reported 117 Ae'o arrived within a 30-minute period and spent the night). Malama Park (This is a small park with very little human activity located on the beach on the way to the wharf, just mauka of the canoe hale.) 1 Kioea (juvie), 2 Kolea. Old Kaunakakai Stream Estuary (just west of the yacht club in front of the harbor channel lights, just west of Malama Park) 13 Ae'o, 3 Kioea (2 ads, 1 juvie), 2 Ulili (Wandering Tattler), 2 Kolea, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. Kaunakakai Stream Estuary 3 Kioea (juvies). Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant 210 'Alae ke'oke'o (Hawaiian Coot), 2 Kioea (Ads), 4 Kolea and 12 Ae'o." Florence of Alberta, Canada, sent the following great shot of a Black Witch Moth. She says "In my part of Canada, I photographed a Black Witch Moth (female) at my home August 14/03. I live in Alberta, Canada. I have to assume that the changes in the weather patterns this year caused the Black witch moths to migrate to my part of Canada." In Hawai'i this species is a failry common introduction, although despite their large size they are not seen that frequently.

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SEPTEMBER

6th	HAWAIIAN PETREL	1	Fishing trip off Kona Coast, Hawai'i.	Also many Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters, with many light- phase birds, 2 White- Tailed Tropicbirds, 2 SootyTerns and 1-2 Christmas Shearwaters.	DL
6th	SHEARWATER sp.	1	Fishing trip off Kona Coast, Hawai'i.	Also a large brown shearwater not identified with certainty. It associated with Wedgies and was about their size. The underwings and lower body were pale, but the brown of the head also included the chin and throat. The brown faded into the pale with no clear borders. Mooted as possible Pink-footed Shearwater.	DL
6th	LESSER YELLOWLEGS	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 88 Hawaiian Stilt, 228 Pacific Golden-Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 103 Ruddy Turnstone and 14 Sanderling.	PD
6th	PECTORAL SANDPIPER	3	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 52 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 1 female Rosy-billed Pochard, 23 Hawaiian Moorhen and 85 Hawaiian Coot.	PD
6th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW		James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	At least 2 on refuge and 6 seen together on dunes, probably more than 8.	PD
7th	HAWAIIAN COOT	18	Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.	Also 2 Black-crowned Night- Heron, 120 Pacific Golden- Plover, 17 Hawaiian Stilt, 3 Wandering Tattler, 25 Ruddy Turnstone and 2 Sanderling.	PD
7th	LEAST/LITTLE TERN	1	Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.	Non breeding, possibly subadult. Also 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 58 Pacific Golden-Plover, 19 Hawaiian Stilt, 5 Wandering Tattler and 1 Ruddy Turnstone.	PD
7th	LESSER YELLOWLEGS	2	Waiawa NWR, O'ahu.	Also 305 Pacific Golden- Plover (including several juvs), 105 Hawaiian Stilt (including several birds of the year), 3 Wandering Tattler, 25 Ruddy Turnstone and 14 Sanderling.	PD
9th	NORTHERN SHOVELER	2	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.		MS
14th	NENE	2	Waimea Baseball field, Kaua'i.	Unusual on this side of the island.	JD
15th	AFRICAN SILVERBILL	++	Waimea Hospital, Kaua'i.	Feeding in parking lot on the makai side in grass. Still present on 19th.	JD
16th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	5	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Immature types.	BZ
16th	SKUA sp.	1	Pelagic between Kaua'i and Lehua.	Click Here for full trip list.	DK
18th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	5	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Immature types still present.	JD
20th	NORTHERN SHOVELER	2	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 Pectoral Sandpiper.	PD
20th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	15	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	In dunes behind refuge.	PD
20th	PECTORAL SANDPIPER	3	Kuilima STP, O'ahu.		PD
21st	BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER	1	Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu.	No public access to this site.	PD
21st	LEAST/LITTLE TERN	1	Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.	Sub-adult still present.	PD
21st	RED-VENTED BULBUL	1	Mauna Lani Resort, Kohala coast, Hawai'i.	Present in the parking lot at 6.20pm. Extreme "vagrant" to Hawai'i from O'ahu, with only a few records from outside of O'ahu in the Islands.	RD
21st	RED-CROWNED AMAZON	50	Pacific Palisades area of Pearl City, O'ahu.	One flock of 50 and one flock of 10 flying west over the Pacific Palisades area, about 20 minutes before sunset. The parrots fly over daily, usually in smaller groups. They seem to fly in large flocks mostly from late summer through mid- winter.	PD
25th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	1	Kualapuu Reservoir, Moloka'i.	Also 5 Northern Shovelers (Staff said that they flew in about two weeks ago) and 29 Hawaiian Coots.	ADY
28th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	1	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	One bird in taro loi by the bridge. Also c.20 Hawaiian Stilt and 8 Nene.	KP
28th	RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD	2	Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i.	Also 11 Nene. Nearby Ruddy Shelduck on pool east of Kilauea village and 2 Koloa.	KP
28th or 29th	STEJNEGER'S PETREL	1	Kahalui, Maui.	Bird picked up on board a cruise ship off Maui.	FD

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SEPTEMBER

Satoko Lincoln sent the following report of a "house tick": "Friday, September 12, 2003. 8 AM. Every day I look at Diamond Head and surrounding areas through my spotting scope. I love watching graceful forms of White Terns and Great Frigate Birds. This morning, as I began looking, several White Terns and a larger white seabird with black wing tips in flight came into view over Kapiolani Park. I thought the larger one might be a R-F Booby. But when it could be seen against dark blue sea, then dark brown Diamond Head, the bird’s long, thin, white streamer could be seen clearly. This meant that I was having my first real sighting of the White-tailed Tropicbird on O’ahu without leaving my house! The bird was flying slightly below my eye level of 500 feet above ground." White-tailed Tropicbird, Hawai'i. Photograph © by Christian Melgar On 16th September five immature Ibis, presumably White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) arrived at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i (Brenda Zaun). This is the second record for Hanalei NWR, and the fourth record for the island. This is also the largest flock ever recorded in the Hawaiian Islands, with most previous records being of either single birds or pairs, although a group of three was recorded in the 1930s. The birds are presumed to be White-faced Ibis, rather than the similar Glossy Ibis (P. falcinellus), as the latter has yet to be recorded in the Hawaiian Islands, however in immature plumage it is impossible to tell the two species apart, and it would only be possible for the birds to be fully identified to species once they have completed their first winter, when White-faced Ibis exhibits a red iris and Glossy Ibis a brown iris. Once they attain adult plumage further differences will become apparent, such as face, leg and bill colour. The birds remained until at least 18th, with at least one still on 28th.. Presumed immature White-faced Ibis at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i, 18th September 2003. Photograph © by Brenda Zaun/USFWS Presumed immature White-faced Ibis at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i, 18th September 2003. Photograph © by Jim Denny David Kuhn's latest pelagic report: September 16th 2003: "On the Blue Dolphin II's Port Allen-Na Pali-Lehua-Port Allen trip, moderate trade winds and little swell, partly cloudy. One small flock(~200 birds) encountered. Of the three montane nesters only Newell's Shearwater was seen this trip. SEABIRDS SEEN: I don't attempt to count the birds on Lehua, but will note all species seen). Wedge-tailed Shearwater ~300; Christmas Shearwater 2, 1 at sea on return leg, 1 near Lehua; Newell's Shearwater 1, on outbound leg, in flock of Wedgies; White-tailed T'bird 5 over Na Pali, one at sea; Red-tailed T'bird 6, 4 on/over Lehua; 2 at sea; Red-footed Booby ~150, mostly on Lehua and a few (mostly imm.) at sea; Brown Booby ~30 at sea, ~30 on/near Lehua; Great Frigatebird ~20 over Lehua, 5 at sea; Black Noddy ~150 in Lehua sea cave, ~20 in sea cave near Honopu, ~ 30 at sea; Skua sp., One birder on board says he got a picture and will get it back to me, to help ID this one. Other birds: Pacific Golden Plover 2 on Lehua; Ruddy Turnstone 3 on Lehua; Wandering Tattler 1 on Lehua. Other creatures: Bottlenose Dolphin 20 on outbound leg; Monk Seal 2 near Lehua; Spinner Dolphin many; off Barking Sands and the Pali, and at Lehua; Green Sea Turtles 2 off Na Pali." Peter Donaldson reported the following from O'ahu on September 20th: "I went up to the north shore of Oahu yesterday, Saturday Sep 20 2003 and did a little birding and helped with the beach cleanup behind James Campbell NWR. Today, Sunday Sep 21, 2003 I visited the Pearl Harbor area. The birding wasn't too exciting. The refuges at Kii, Waiawa and Honouliuli have a lot of dry ponds. On Saturday, about 1/2 hour after sunrise there were lots of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and several Red-footed Boobies flying by Laie Point but nothing unusual. At Kii, there were 2 Northern Shovelers, the first migrant ducks I've seen so far this season. Mike Silbernagle reported seeing 2 shovelers (perhaps the same birds) Sep 9. There was 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at Kii and there were at least 15 Bristle-thighed Curlews on the dunes behind Kii. I haven't seen the Whimbrel which has wintered at Kii since 1997. I'm afraid the bird won't be back. A weak juvenile Red-footed Booby was picked up along the shoreline behind Kii. I believe the bird was taken to Sea Life Park. I had only a brief look at the birds at the Kuilima STP before it was locked up and found 3 Pectoral Sandpipers. The only unusual migrants I found around Pearl Harbor were a Black-bellied Plover and a subadult Least/Little Tern at Pouhala Marsh. At Honouliuli I checked out a disturbance among the landbirds in the trees at the edge of the refuge and flushed an owl -- I believe it was a Short-eared Owl -- but I didn't get a good look." Hawai'i resident Reginald David reported this interesting extra-limital record of Red-vented Bulbul, an introduced species usually confined to O'ahu: September 21st: "I was distressed to first hear and then see a Red-vented Bulbul just east of the parking lot at the Mauna Lani Resort on the Kohala coast yesterday evening at 6:20 pm. I went back today, and was unsuccessful in re-sighting the bird. I was amazed at the level and intensity of development ongoing in the area - I counted more than 60 "Matson" full truck type containers in just one small area. One would suspect that it's not long before all of the alien avian species known in the state, are truly state wide...." Red-vented Bulbul, O'ahu, Hawaiian Islands. An introduced exotic to O'ahu the species is occasionally reported from other islands, including Hawai'i and Moloka'i. With the increase in shipping in the State will this, and other introduced species, soon be found on all the Main Islands? Photograph © by Christian Melgar Dan Lindsay sent the following bird reports: "I just finished leading an Elderhostel birding trip to Kaua'i and Hawai'i, and here are the results. I list first sightings for the trip only, unless otherwise indicated. KAUA'I: 16 Sep 03 Coconut Beach Resort, Kapa'a: Pacific Golden Plover, Western Meadowlark, House Sparrow, Rock Dove, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, Java Sparrow, House Finch, Common Myna, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling. 17 Sep 03 Hanalei NWR: White-Faced Ibis (2 or 3, flying at the northwest corner of the reserve), Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Common Moorhen, Koloa, Cattle Egret, Japanese White-Eye, Chestnut Mannikin, Black- Crowned Night Heron. Kilauea Pt. NWR: Red-Footed Booby, Red-Tailed Tropicbird, White-Tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby (one, sitting on the island), Great Frigatebird, Wedge-Tailed Shearwater, Nutmeg Mannikin, Nene. Kalihiwai Beach: Wandering Tattler. Alekoko Fish Pond: Northern Cardinal, Red-Crested Cardinal. Huleia NWR: Melodious Laughing Thrush, White-Rumped Shama.18 Sep 03 Koke¹e St. Pk, Kaluapuhi Trail: 'Apapane, Kaua'i Elepaio, Anianiau, Kaua'i 'Amakihi, 'Akeke'e. Park headquarters: Red Junglefowl, Akeke'e (sitting in a small tree right over a picnic table!). Sand Mine: Semipalmated Plover O'AHU: 19 Sep 03 Honolulu Airport: Red-Vented Bulbul. HAWAI'I: 19 Sep 03 Wailoa St. Pk.: Canada Goose (Lesser only; the small birds were not around). Greater White-Fronted Goose, Mallard. 20 Sep 03 Volcano NP: 'Oma'o (on the Nahuku Lava Tube trail, at one point hopping around on the trail 15 feet ahead of us), Black Noddy. 21 Sep 03 Keanakolu Rd.: Skylark, Chukar, Erckel's Francolin, 'Io, Pueo, Common Pheasant. Hakalau NWR: (weather very foggy, occasional rain, very poor visibility) 'Apapane, Hawai'i Amakihi, I'iwi, Akiapola'au (juvenile "beacon" call heard by quarry, but no birds located visually), 'Akepa (one gorgeous male near the banding shed). 22 Sep 03 Pohakuloa Unit of Mauna Kea St. Pk.: California Quail, Gambel¹s Quail. Pu'u La'au: Pale-Headed Elepaio, Palila (several singing males, all within half a mile above the R-15 "Y" in the road), Yellow-Fronted Canary. W. Saddle Rd.: Turkey. Big Island Country Club (watercourse completely dry, so many birds missing): African Silverbill, Saffron Finch, Yellow-Fronted Canary, Java Sparrow, Nutmeg Mannikin, Erckel's Francolin, Turkey, Nene. Kipuka 21: 'Apapane, Oma'o, I'iwi." Arleone Dibben-Young on Moloka'i reported a possible outbreak of botulism on the island at the end of the month: "I went to count this morning (24th) and discovered that there is a potential botulism outbreak at the Kualapu`u Wastewater Settling ponds. Dead found in various stages of decay are 6 coots, one stilt, one kolea (the first casualties appear to be the kolea and one coot - about a week dead). I've got two coots hangin' on with electrolytes, but both are in poor shape. This site is the "hub" for bird movements between the shrimp farm, the reservoir, Ohiapilo, and the K`kai WTP. Stilts banded on Maui have been sighted at this location, as well as stilts that frequent my wetland. I will do a check of all the other locations tomorrow, and an am/pm check daily at Kualapu`u for the next few weeks." Peter Donaldson reported on a pelagic out from O'ahu at the month's end: "Dick May was kind enough to invite me along on a boat trip out of Keehi Lagoon on the Kekahi captained by Sonny Rivera. We left well before sunrise, around 445AM, this morning, Tuesday, Sep 30, 2003 and returned about 5PM. We went around Kalaeloa to Kaena Point and back, stopping by the "BO", "S", "R" and "V" Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs). The winds were calm till about 10AM and less than 10 miles an hour after that with a small southeast swell. Perhaps the weather was too nice. We had only a small variety of seabirds and caught no fish. Most of the birds were around the FADs, especially buoy R. Wedge-tailed Shearwater 170, White-tailed Tropicbird 1 (No tail streamers), Brown Booby 26 (Mostly on or near buoys), Red-footed Booby 13, Brown Noddy 5, White Tern 14." Dr. Fern Duvall II sent the following report of Stejneger's Petrel from the Main Islands at the end of the month: "On 30 September, 2003 we had a cruise ship turn over a bird that went on board off of Maui, while heading into Kahului on 9/29 or even 9/28...they were not sure. It was a Stejneger's Petrel. Tail's 2 outer retrices were grey with only speckling of white; cap and cape of head were black, not grey." Stejneger's Petrel is a rare vagrant in Hawaiian waters and almost unknown from the Main Islands. Stejneger's Petrel picked up on board a cruise ship off Maui, whilst heading into Kahalui on 28th or 29th September 2003. Photographs © Dr. Fern Duvall II Stejneger's Petrel picked up on board a cruise ship off Maui, whilst heading into Kahalui on 28th or 29th September 2003. Note the small amount of black at the wrist, this is shared only with Cook's Petrel in Petrels of this size. Photographs © Dr. Fern Duvall II Dr Fern Duvall II commented on the bird's plumage: "The tail was fully grown out with no active feather growth; the tail shape was "slightly rounded square" so, yes, the central retrices were marginally (1/3" - 1/2") longer when folded closed. The feather coloration of the two outermost feathers of each side was complex and a feather from the top (dorsal side) was two-toned with one side of the feathers vane lighter than the other. These four outer retrices (two per side) were dorsally light-pearly-gray with fine white speckling-splotching, especially with the one-half of the tail feather's webbing to the outside of the rachis being lighter or more speckled. Ventrally the the outer four appeared consistently very light gray [i.e they looked "whiter" from below] almost a whitish, and had no two-toned quality. Important is that the white undertail coverts were longer by almost 1/2" than the central four tail feathers - so, with the tail closed there appeared to be a 'white tip to the tail'. And the undertail coverts extended laterally past the tail margins of the at-rest folded tail - so the tail appeared to have pure white margins. Underwings were immaculate white with only the one "black smear line" at the wrist (as illustrated in the image)- the entire ventral surface of the bird, too, was immaculate white."

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OCTOBER

5th	SEMIPALMATED PLOVER	3	Aimakapa Reef, Kona, Hawai'i.		RD
5th	PECTORAL SANDPIPER	2	Kona Sewage Treatment Plant, Hawai'i.	One of which is missing it's right leg.	RD
5th	LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER	1	Kona Sewage Treatment Plant, Hawai'i.	Also 11 Northern Pintails. The pintails are the only migratory ducks seen by this local observer in Kona this season so far.	RD
6th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	8	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Incredible flock of 8 birds now present on the refuge!	BZ
10th	AMERICAN WIGEON	1	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Also 30 Northern Pintail.	BZ
13th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	10	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Flock has now risen to 10 birds!	RD
c.13th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	3	Old Kaunakakai Stream Estuary, Moloka'i.	Also 2 Pacific Golden Plover, 7 Hawaiian Stilts and 1 Wandering Tattler.	ADY
c.13th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	1	Duke Park, Moloka'i.	Also 6 Pacific Golden Plovers. Nearby at Koheo wetland: 3 Pacific Golden Plovers, 2 Wandering Tattlers and 3 Ruddy Turnstones.	ADY
c.13th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	4	Malama Park, Moloka'i.	Also 2 Pacific Golden Plovers. Nearby at Kualapuu Oxidation Ponds, Moloka'i: 14 Hawaiian Coots, 9 Hawaiian Stilts, 7 Pacific Golden Plovers, 2 Wandering Tattler, 2 Northern Pintail and 2 Northern Shovelers.	ADY
c.13th	EURASIAN WIGEON	3	Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moloka'i.	Also 211 Hawaiian Coots, 6 Hawaiian Stilts, 3 Wandering Tattlers, 4 Pacific Golden Plovers and 3 Northern Pintails.	ADY
c.13th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	1	Kualapuu Reservoir, Moloka'i.	Also 58 Hawaiian Coots, 6 Northern Shovelers and 7 Pacific Golden Plover.	ADY
15th	NORTHERN SHOVELER	1	Kukae Opae Ditch, Kaua'i.	Female bird.	JD
16th	LEAST/LITTLE TERN	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 2 Northern Shoveler, 17 Northern Pintail and 1Wigeon sp.	KP
16th	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	3	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 4 Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Long-billed Dowitcher and 5 Bristle-thighed Curlew.	KP
c.17th	LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER	1	Ponohawai Street on bayfront in Hilo, Hawai'i.	In puddle on a soccerfield. No sign on 18th.	PH
18th	BLACK-WINGED PETREL	1	About 3 miles SW of Ka'uloa Point, Hawai'i.	For more species seen on this trip, click here.	RB
18th	NORTHERN PINTAIL	c.24	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Also 1 female Northern Shoveler.	BZ
21st	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	5	Ki'i Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 7 Long- billed Dowitchers, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 5 Bristle-thighed Curlews, 1 Short-eared Owl, 6 Northern Shovelers, 10 Northern Pintails and 1 Green-winged Teal.	PD
22nd	CASPIAN TERN	1	Kanaha Pond, Maui.	Near the Hana Highway side of the pond where the bulrush used to grow. Described as orange- billed, black legs, gray mantle, grayish cap, black eye stripe.	MN
23rd	SEMIPALMATED PLOVER	1	Ki'i Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Heard calling. Also 1 Dunlin, 4 Long-billed Dowitchers (heard calling), 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 25 Bristle-thighed Curlews (apparently gathering to roost near sunset) and 2 Short- eared Owls swooping around each other.	KP, PD
25th	EURASIAN WIGEON	1	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Either a female or an eclipse male. Also 25 Northern Shoveler, 15 Northern Pintail and 4 Green-winged Teal.	PD
25th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	15	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 Semipalmated Plover, 3 Pectoral Sandpiper, 10 Sharp- tailed Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin and 5 Long-billed Dowitcher.	PD
25th	NORTHERN PINTAIL	2	Kuilima STP, O'ahu.	Also 175 Hawaiian Coot, 79 Pacific Golden-Plover, 59 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler, 20 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Sanderling.	PD
25th	NORTHERN SHOVELER	7	Punamano NWR, O'ahu.	Also 3 Cattle Egret, 2 Black- crowned Night-Heron, 10 Mallard x Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 1 Hawaiian Coot, 4 Pacific Golden-Plover and 6 Hawaiian Stilt.	PD
28th	SOOTY TERN	1	Kahului Harbor, Maui.	Heard calling last night at 9:58pm somewhere over or near Kahului Harbor.	LT
28th	TUNDRA SWAN	3	Near Kahalui Airport, Maui.	Three juveniles. 2nd Hawaiian Islands record.	USDA
30th	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	1	Hanapepe Saltpond, Kaua'i.	Feeding together on a mud flat on the western edge of the pond.	JD
30th	DUNLIN	1	Hanapepe Saltpond, Kaua'i.	Feeding together on a mud flat on the western edge of the pond.	JD
30th	LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER	7	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also at least 3 (probably more) Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper and at least 4 (probably more) Bristle-thighed Curlews. Three Pueo, including 2 circling around each other high above the refuge.	KP, PD
30th	BAIRD'S SANDPIPER ?	1	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	A small sandpiper seen at some distance might possibly have been a Baird's Sandpiper	KP, PD
30th	RING-NECKED DUCK	3	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 3 Green-winged Teal and 3 Northern Shovelers.	KP, PD

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OCTOBER

The flock of White-faced Ibis at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i increased to eight individuals on 6th October (Brenda Zaun) and then to an incredible ten birds on 13th October (Reginald David). This now becomes the biggest flock ever recorded in the Hawaiian Islands, the previous record being of the five birds (part of this flock) which arrived at Hanalei in September 2003. Eight immature White-faced Ibis in flight at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i, 6th October 2003. Part of the largest flock ever recorded in the Hawaiian Islands. Photograph © by Brenda Zaun/USFWS Eight immature White-faced Ibis amongst taro lo'i at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i, 6th October 2003. Part of the largest flock ever recorded in the Hawaiian Islands. Photograph © by Brenda Zaun/USFWS Doug Pratt commented on the ageing of Ibis: "This ibis situation is really getting out of hand! Wow, 10 birds!!! Maybe we are witnessing the start of a new colonization attempt (like the Pied-billed Grebes at Aimakapa). Anyway, here are some thoughts that I hope will be helpful. I am in a good position to talk about separating the two dark ibis species because Louisiana is where the narrow contact zone between them is. Years ago, I wrote an article for Birding on the subject of identification, and I have done some subsequent research as to when the facial skin colors change. By this time of year, virtually all dark ibis are identifiable to species, even birds of the year, but you need a good, close look. First, you have to determine whether the bird is a hatching-year or older individual. That is determined by whether there are chestnut feathers on the "shoulder" or bend of the wing. Older birds retain some chestnut feathers from their alternate (spring, breeding) plumage when they molt into basic (winter, nonbreeding) plumage. First-year birds have the wing all glossy olive green with no chestnut. At least some of the Hanalei birds are first-year, but with 10 of them present, we might well have some older birds mixed in (which would make things easier). So check for those chestnut shoulders. Eye color is hard to see in the photos posted on our website.Usually by this time in the fall, young White-faced Ibis will have dark red eyes, which they then retain for life with no seasonal change. I could not make a call based on eye color as shown in the photos. Facial skin, however, is another matter. Glossy Ibises develop a pale mark in the loral skin between the eye and the base of the bill very early. Even some birds that I observed on the East Coast in August that were young enough to retain a dark band on the bill had recognizable beginnings of this pale border. The border in this area is shaped like a very elongated triangle with the point at the bill base, so it is not hard to see. It is enhanced by the fact that it actually is a fold of skin which casts a shadow making it really stand out. As part of the molt into alternate plumage, this border becomes pale blue and a narrow one also develops below the eye (but not encircling the eye). The birds shown in the first 2 photos would, in my opinion, show this pale border if they were Glossy Ibises. Therefore they have to be the more expected White-faced. Reggie David raises an interesting point about molts. Previous White-faced Ibis in Hawaii have never molted into alternate plumage, even though one individual stayed on Oahu for 9 years. This is very unusual (one would think that such things were automatic) in an otherwise seemingly healthy bird. One hypothesis has been that the hormonal changes that produce the molt are triggered by social activity, and thus isolated individuals (or pairs or triplets) cannot receive the needed stimulus. It could also be that the presence of the opposite sex is required as well. It would not be too far-fetched for previous pairs to have been single-sex just by chance. But a group of 10 birds is almost guaranteed to have both males and females present (unless there is some previously unknown tendency for males and females to migrate separately, which would be hard to determine because the sexes are not distinguishable in the field). Certainly, we should watch these birds carefully. If they are going to molt, they should begin to do so by March. I hope they do. Alternate-plumage White-faced Ibis are quite stunning with their rich glossy chestnut plumage, white faces, and red eyes and facial skin." Forest and Kim Starr sent the following report from Kaho'olawe: "Last week Tuesday (October 7th) we were on Kaho'olawe and saw an 'Aukuu (Black-crowned Night Heron) land on the rocks near the shore at Kealaikahiki, hang out for a few minutes, and then fly off down the coast towards Kaukaukapapa. While walking along the same coast we also saw 1 'Ulili (Wandering Tattler) working the beach, a flock of 5 or so 'Iwa (Frigatebirds) about 1/2 mile offshore, and a Northern Cardinal flying through the kiawe. And, of course, while driving around the island, saw lots of Gambel's Quails running along on the ground." Later in the month Forest and Kim reported: "While on Kahoolawe this week (c.17th) we saw a flock of 15 Kolea (Pacific Golden Plover) flying along the coast at Kaukaukapapa (October 14th) and the next day saw presumably the same flock near the summit of Puu Moaulanui. We also saw one Ulili (Wandering Tattler) along the shore, one Frigate out at sea, a flock of a dozen or so Gambel's Quails near LZ Quail, and a persistent Skylark at the summit. p.s. Our explosive ordinance escort had his lunch stolen by a cat yesterday." Dan Lindsay sent his latest Elderhostel birding trip report: "I just finished on Kaua'i and Hawai'i. Common birds are not included except in the totals at the end: 8th October: Hanalei NWR: White-Faced Ibis, Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Common Moorhen, White-Rumped Shama, Black-Crowned Night Heron. Kilauea Point NWR: Red-Footed Booby, Nene, Red-Tailed Tropicbird, Great Frigatebird, Wedge-Tailed Shearwater. Huleia NWR: Melodious Laughing Thrush. 9th October: Koke'e State Park, Kaluapuhi Trail: Red Junglefowl, 'Apapane, I'iwi, Kaua'i'Amakihi, Kaua'i 'Elepaio, 'Anianiau.10th October: Wailoa State Park: Canada Goose (no sign of the two small Canadas, the Cackling and the Richardson's), Greater White-Fronted Goose. 11th October: Volcano National Park: Oma'o (at Nahuku Lava Tube), Black Noddy (all along the coast near Chain of Craters Road). 12th October: Hakalau NWR: 'Apapane, I'iwi, Volcano 'Elepaio, Yellow-Fronted Canary, 'Akepa, 'Io, Hawai'i Amakihi, Oma'o, Red-Billed Leiothrix (in the apple trees and nearby other vegetation down behind the old Shipman house).13th October: Pu'u La'au: Palila (present in decent numbers in the lower elevations; the first and best look we got was at the first mamane/naio groupings of trees, well before they increase in density to where one could call them a forest), Pale-Headed 'Elepaio, Red-Billed Leiothrix. W. Saddle Road: Turkey, Erckel's Francolin, Kalij Pheasant. Big Island Country Club: African Silverbill, Saffron Finch, Yellow-Fronted Canary, Nene. Hapuna Beach: Yellow-Billed Cardinal, Gray Francolin. W. Saddle Road: Black Francolin, "Mystery Pheasant" (Size and form of a Common. Tail like Common but perhaps more golden (hard to tell since body was darker and the more golden appearance may have been contrast). Head, hindneck, and breast a glossy purplish-red. Wings medium-dark brown. Seen consorting with a male Common. It was on Saddle Road, a mile or so NW (downhill) from the ranch with the metal horses near the driveway, makai side. It was there about 12:30 when we headed down from Pu'u La'au, and still present when we returned about 4:30: possibly a Copper Pheasant or Common x Copper Pheasant hybrid *). Kipuka 21: 'Apapane, 'Oma'o, 'I'iwi, 'Amakihi. Group total 61." * Rob Pacheco of Hawai'i Forest and Trail commented on the Pheasant seen on Dan Lindsay's tour, "I talked with Pat Fisher, the biologist that runs Parker Ranch's hunt program. There's basically three kinds of pheasant on the ranch with a varying degree of hybridization. There is Ring-necked of course, a tiny population of Green Pheasant and then what the breeders call a Blue which is a melanistic mutant that Pat says comes from a northern part of China. A breeder from Wisconsin is responsible for the North American distribution of that sub-species/hybrid. We see these guys at three different areas on the drive up and there seems to be a bit of variation from seemingly very black to the reddish, purplish one. The Blue is very hardy according to Pat and is doing very well in these very dry times. He couldn't tell me the subspecies." Another owl - nene story from Arleone Dibben-Young on Moloka'i: "Tuesday night (10/13) the Nene were disturbed about every half hour or so. Checked several times and found a Barn Owl in the enclosure and chased it away each time. At dawn the birds were again making an incredible racket. I ran out to see 6 nene attacking a barn owl. I grabbed a net (While screaming for Rich to grab his camera... the battery was dead!) and netted the bloody owl, which then died. We checked the geese and could find no signs of injury on any of them." Robin Baird sent the following report from his latest research trip in Hawaiian waters: "We've just spent 13 days on the water off the Big Island, ending on Monday. I've just posted a couple photos to the website of a possible Cook's Petrel seen October 18th SW of Ka'uloa Point, about three miles offshore (later identified as a Black-winged Petrel, see photos below, Ed.). We did see another Cook's Petrel? on October 20th as well. Over the 13 days we had 4-5 sightings of Mottled Petrels, one Hawaiian Petrel, only one Brown Booby, one Masked Booby, and one probable juvenile Red-footed Booby, a couple of Newell's Shearwaters, only one Frigatebird, three Band-rumped Storm Petrels, a couple of Christmas and Sooty Shearwaters, and of course a lot of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Black Noddies and White-tailed Tropicbirds. Surprisingly we observed no Bulwer's Petrels. Each day we would cover about 150-200 km (between 2 boats) from 2-10 miles offshore. During the same period we had 51 encounters with 12 different species of cetaceans: Sperm, Short-finned Pilot, Cuvier's beaked, Dense-beaked, Melon-headed, Pygmy Killer and Dwarf Sperm Whales, as well as Rough-toothed, Bottlenose, Striped, Spotted, and Spinner Dolphins." Black-winged Petrel off the Big Island, Hawai'i, October 18th 2003. Photograph © Robin Baird Black-winged Petrel off the Big Island, Hawai'i, October 18th 2003. Photograph © Robin Baird From Peter Donaldson on O'ahu: "I took a short hike on Aiea Trail (O'ahu) this morning (27th October). Starting from the upper trailhead, I went past the junction with the ridge trail and a few hundred yards past the bench overlooking Halawa Valley. Then I doubled back, went up the ridge trail for a few hundred yards and hiked back to the upper trailhead. I didn't see anything unusual -- I didn't' find any elepaio or swiftlets. There was some patchy bloom on the eucalyptus trees and there were 'Apapane along the loop trail in the blooming eucalyptus. Birds seen: 1 Spotted Dove, 10 Red-whiskered Bulbul, 12 Red-vented Bulbul, 4 White-rumped Shama, 7 Red-billed Leiothrix, 20 Japanese White-eye, 1 Common Myna, 6 House Finch, 9 O'ahu Amakihi: Most heard only. Two birds seen close together. One bird olive above/dull yellow below with prominent wingbars. The second bird dark olive, no wingbars – seen pointing its bill up and fluttering its wings. Ten 'Apapane: High up in eucalyptus -- none seen well; 32 Common Waxbill, 3 Nutmeg Mannikin and 2 Java Sparrow." Peter Donaldson also reported the following from O'ahu: "Friday, Oct 24, I censused the birds at the Honouliuli and Waiawa units of Pearl Harbor NWR and also visited Pouhala Marsh. There is still very little water at Waiawa. A new well was dug there, but it is not yet hooked up to a system to put water into the ponds. The large pond at Honouliuli has been dry for quite a while too. Water started flowing back into the pond Oct 23. There weren't any unusual migrants at any of those spots and rather low numbers of native waterbirds on the refuge. Saturday, Oct 25, I helped Dave and Abby Brown lead the regular Saturday tour at the Kii unit of James Campbell N.W.R. A number of the Kii ponds are still dry after recent efforts to clear vegetation, but water is now being pumped into one of the dry ponds. After the tour, I checked some of the ponds that are not on the tour route and also stopped by the Punamano unit of J.C.N.W.R. and the Kuilima S.T.P. There are a good variety of shorebirds at Kii and a few species of migrant ducks, but nothing new since earlier in the week. There was nothing very unusual at Punamano or the Kuilima S.T.P. Today, Sunday Oct 26, I stopped by a few spots along the waterfront. One might think that onshore south winds would bring more shorebirds near the south shore of the island, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all. There were very few seabirds -- just a couple of White Terns and a few Brown Boobies near the buoys. As usual, there were plenty of Yellow-fronted Canaries on Sand Island." Birds recorded by Peter were as follows: 10/25/2003 KII NWR: 1 Eurasian Wigeon, either a female or an eclipse male; 25 Northern Shoveler, 15 Northern Pintail, 4 Green-winged Teal, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 15 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 3 Pectoral Sandpiper, 10 Sharp- tailed Sandpiper,1 Dunlin and 5 Long-billed Dowitcher (Heard calling). 10/25/2003 KUILIMA STP: 2 Northern Pintail, 175 Hawaiian Coot, 79 Pacific Golden-Plover, 59 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler, 20 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Sanderling. 10/25/2003 PUNAMANO NWR: 3 Cattle Egret, 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 10 Mallard x Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 7 Northern Shoveler, 1 Hawaiian Coot, 4 Pacific Golden-Plover and 6 Hawaiian Stilt. Jim Denny reported two newly-arrived migrant Shorebirds on Kaua'i brought in by the recent stormy weather: "The recent heavy rain on Kauai has made the Hanapepe Salt Pond a pond once more. Along with the new water are two new migratory shore birds - a Dunlin and a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. The birds are feeding together on a mud flat on the western edge of the pond. These two are a pair. When one is harassed by a Tattler and flies off to a new spot, the other soon follows. I also visited the usual west side reservoirs and ditches today, but saw nothing out of the ordinary." Dunlin at Hanapepe Saltpond, Kaua'i on 30th October 2003. Videograb © Jim Denny Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Hanapepe Saltpond, Kaua'i on 30th October 2003. Videograb © Jim Denny

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NOVEMBER

1st	EURASIAN WIGEON	1	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Female or eclipse male. Also 2 American Wigeon, 1 Mallard (male with bright green head and white neck ring), 76 Mallard x Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 25 Northern Shoveler, 4 Green- winged Teal and15 Northern Pintail.	PD, MO
1st	ROSY-BILLED POCHARD	1	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Escaped female still present. Also 17 Hawaiian Moorhen, 124 Hawaiian Coot, 8 Cattle Egret and 27 Black-crowned Night- Heron.	PD, MO
1st	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	5	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 26 Pacific Golden Plover, 115 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Wandering Tattler, 27 Ruddy Turnstone and 6 Sanderling.	PD, MO
1st	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	6	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin and 7 Long-billed Dowitcher.	PD, MO
1st	NORTHERN PINTAIL	7	Kuilima STP, O'ahu.	Also 5 Northern Shoveler, 145 Hawaiian Coot, 10 Pacific Golden Plover, 27 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler, 27 Ruddy Turnstone and 2 Sanderling.	PD, MO
1st/ 2nd or 3rd	PUAIOHI	1	Kaluapuhi Trail near the Kalalau Lookout in Koke'e State Park, Kaua'i.	Reported by visiting birders. Also Akikiki reported from same site. It should be noted that this would be the first sighting in this area.	per DL
2nd	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	2	Waiawa NWR, O'ahu.	Two juveniles, also 2 juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers, 4 Cattle Egret, 1 Mallard x Koloa, 1 Northern Pintail, 54 Pacific Golden Plover, 71 Hawaiian Stilt, 10 Wandering Tattler, 45 Ruddy Turnstone and 35 Sanderling.	PD
2nd	NORTHERN PINTAIL	3	Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.	Also 27 Hawaiian Coot, 6 Pacific Golden Plover, 49 Hawaiian Stilt, 4 Ruddy Turnstone, 3 Cattle Egret, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 18 Mallard x Koloa hybrids and 4 Gray Francolin heard.	PD
2nd	HAWAIIAN STILT	16	Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.	Also 2 Black-crowned Night- Heron, 2 Pacific Golden Plover and 2 Wandering Tattler.	PD
3rd	CANADA GOOSE	3	2 miles east of town, Moloka'i	Canada Geese eating limu on the beach.	ADY
3rd	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	4	Malama Park, Moloka'i.	Also 3 Pacific Golden Plover there. Nearby at Koheo 7 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Wandering Tattler.	ADY
3rd	NORTHERN SHOVELER	12	Kualapuu Reservoir, Moloka'i.	Also 58 Hawaiian Coots, 8 Northern Pintail, 1 Bristle- thighed Curlew and 3 Pacific Golden Plover. Nearby at Duke Ball field: 1 Bristle- thighed Curlew and 6 Pacific Golden Plover.	ADY
3rd	LESSER SCAUP	2	Kaunakakai WTP, Moloka'i.	Also 9 Northern Pintails, 4 Northern Shovelers, 7 Hawaiian Stilts and 188 Hawaiian Coots. Nearby at Kuualapuu WTP: 38 Hawaiian Coots, 3 Northern Pintails and 3 Northern Shovelers.	ADY
4th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	10	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Two groups, one of six and one of four, still present on the refuge.	BZ
7th	TUNDRA SWAN	1	Kawainui Marsh, O'ahu.	Juvenile Tundra Swan that was captured on Maui a couple of weeks ago was released at Kawainui Marsh, although it hasn't been seen since.	per PD
8th	GREEN-WINGED TEAL	2	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 32 Northern Pintail, 41 Northern Shoveler and 3 Mallard.	MO
8th	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	3	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 7 Long billed Dowitcher, 12 Bristle thighed Curlew, Pacific Golden Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, Wandering Tattler and Sanderling.	MO
8th	COMMON or WILSON'S SNIPE	1	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	It was noted that the bird "didn't fly out with the usual snipe call and zig zag flight". Also 50 Hawaiian Coot, 14 Hawaiian Moorhen, , 75 Hawaiian Stilts and 80+ Koloa or Koloa x Mallard hybrids.	MO
11th	WHITE-NECKED PETREL	1	Pelagic to Lehua from Kaua'i.	Full details and trip list: Click Here	DK, KM
12th	LITTLE or LEAST TERN	1	Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.	1 Little or Least Tern (unable to get good view of tail feathers). Also 37 Hawaiian Stilts (2 juv), 63 Pacific Golden Plover, 4 Wandering Tattler, 6 Black- crowned Night Heron and 4 Mallard hybrids (one brooding a clutch of 5 eggs).	JP
12th	BAIRD'S SANDPIPER	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Possible Bairds Sandpiper seen again but only fleeting views. Also 2 Green-winged Teal, 11 Northern Pintail, 7 Northern Shoveler, 10 Long-billed Dowitcher, 8 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper and 5 Bristle- thighed Curlew.	KP
14th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	5	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	The ponds are either dry or extremely high. As such there is little good shorebird habitat. Also there 9 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1Wigeon sp., 3 Green-winged Teal, 13 Northern Pintail, 7 Northern Shoveler and 1 Pueo.	KP
15th	GREEN-WINGED TEAL	6	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 25 Northern Pintail and 1 escaped female Rosy-billed Pochard.	PD, DW, AW
15th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	17	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 10 Long-billed Dowitcher and 1 Snipe sp.	PD, DW, AW
15th	RING-BILLED GULL	1	Kanaha Ponds, Maui.		RT, ST, JC, BF
16th	MAUI PARROTBILL	1	Waikamoi Preserve, Maui.	Also escaped male Golden Pheasant again.	RT, ST, JC, BF
16th	BUFFLEHEAD	1	Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.	Also 5 Cattle Egret, 56 Hawaiian Coot, 21 Pacific Golden Plover, 48 Hawaiian Stilt, 18 Ruddy Turnstone. Three Saffron Finch, 12 Common Waxbill, 4 African Silverbill, 25 Chestnut Munia and 5 Gray Francolin (heard) along entrance road.	PD, RM
16th	EURASIAN WIGEON	4	Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.	Two drakes. Also 18 Mallard x Koloa, 2 Northern Shoveler and 3 Northern Pintail.	PD, RM
16th	LEAST or LITTLE TERN	1	Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.	First-winter bird still present. Also 2 Black-crowned Night- Heron, 20 Pacific Golden Plover, 23 Hawaiian Stilt and 4 Wandering Tattler.	PD, RM
16th	LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER	2	Waiawa NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 Northern Pintail, 1 Mallard x Koloa, 60 Pacific Golden Plover, 54 Hawaiian Stilt, 56 Ruddy Turnstone and 24 Sanderling.	PD, RM
16th	RUFF	1	Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.		RK
c.18th	SALMON-CRESTED COCKATOO	6	Lyon Arboretum, O'ahu.		RK
18th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	1	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.		RT, ST, JC, BF
20th	WHITE-FACED IBIS	10	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Ten birds still present. Also Lesser Scaup there.	DL, et al.
20th	GULL sp.	1	Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.	A medium-size gull flying along the south shoreline. The belly, and head was gray. Bill was black. Perhaps there was a white line outlining the head and there was some pattern on the top of the wing either gray and white or brown and white like seen in many juvenile gulls.	MN
20th	SORA	1	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Only the third-ever record for the Islands.	PD, KP
20th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	18	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 15 Northern Shoveler, 35 Northern Pintail, 8 Green- winged Teal, 1 females Lesser Scaup, 10 Long-billed Dowitcher and 1 Snipe sp. not seen well enough to tell species. Flushed and flew off low to the ground.	PD, KP
22nd	CASPIAN TERN	1	Kealia Pond, NWR, Maui.	Also 6 Teal sp. (could not get a good look with bad light and little too far for field scope), large numbers of Hawaiian Stilts,1 Pueo (Hawaiian Owl) flushed from kiawe tree along highway, less than 10 Northern Pintails, c.5 Northern Shovelers, small numbers of common shorebirds. More waterfowl on more south- eastern end of Big Pond but too far away to see.	LT
22nd	GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL	1	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	1st year bird but No sign of Sora.	PD
22nd	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	3	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 Snipe sp., 1 Dunlin, 10 Long-billed Dowitcher and 8 Bristle-thighed Curlew.	PD, AW, DW
22nd	GREEN-WINGED TEAL	4	Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 escaped female Rosy- billed Pochard,1 Lesser Scaup, 12 Northern Pintail, 3 Northern Shoveler and 1 Short-eared Owl (Pueo).	PD, AW, DW
22nd	BUFFLEHEAD	1	Kuilima STP, O'ahu.	Nearby 2 Northern Pintails at Lokoaka Pond.	PD
22nd	SURF SCOTER	1	Kawaiele Sanctuary, Kaua'i.	Female/1st winter. Only the 2nd-ever Hawaiian record. Nearby at the Kukae Opae ditch (shrimp farm overflow canal): 49 Sanderlings, 8 Ruddy Turnstones,12 Wandering Tattlers and 4 Pacific Golden Plovers.	JD
23rd	SURF SCOTER	1	Kawaiele Sanctuary, Kaua'i.	Still present today at east end.	DK
24th	AMERICAN WIGEON	2	Hilo Ponds, Hawai'i.	Also 3 Northern Pintail, 3 Northern Shoveler and 3 Lesser Scaup.	RT, ST, JC, BF
25th	BONAPARTE'S GULL	1	"Long's Wetland", Kihei, Maui.	At the mitigation pond behind Long's Store in Kihei. (Azeka and Longs wetlands on Piikea Street).	MN
25th	CASPIAN TERN	1	Kanaha Pond, Maui.	Also medium to large Gull sp. there, possibly the same bird as seen at Kealia NWR on 20th.	MN
25th	AKIAPOLA'AU	1	Pu'u O'o Trail off the saddle road, Hawai'i.		JH
25th	LESSER SCAUP	4	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 2 Northern Pintail, 2 Northern Shoveler, one drake Ring-necked Duck	RT, ST, JC, BF
25th	SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 10 Bristle-thighed Curlew and 2 Sanderling at Kualoa Park, Oahu.	RT, ST, JC, BF
25th	GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL	1	Mokolua Island, O'ahu.	First-winter around Mokulua Islands and possibly same bird past Koko Head, O'ahu on 27th.	RT, ST, JC, BF
26th	SPOTTED SANDPIPER	1	Kiholo Bay, Kona Coast, Hawai'i.	Also 1 Bristle-thighed Curlew, both feeding in the lava tidepools.	JH
26th	MARIANA SWIFTLET	1	Aiea Ridge Trail, O'ahu.		RT, ST, JC, BF
27th	JUAN FERNANDEZ PETREL	1	Kaena Point, O'ahu.	Also 1 Black-footed Albatross past Kaena Point.	RT, ST, JC, BF
27th	POMARINE JAEGER	1	Kaena Point, O'ahu.		RT, ST, JC, BF
27th	ANCIENT MURRELET	1	Ko'olina Beach, O'ahu.	A live bird found on the beach at Ko'olina and taken to the Sea Life Park died the next day. 1st Hawaiian record.	per RP
28th	BONAPARTE'S GULL	1	"Long's Wetland", Kihei, Maui.	Still present at the mitigation pond behind Long's Store in Kihei. (Azeka and Longs wetlands on Piikea Street).	LT
28th	BLACK BRANT	1	Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.	Also 1 gull spp? (size and shape of a gull except had its head tucked under wing asleep). Also c. 10 Green-winged Teal and many Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveler.	LT
28th	DUNLIN	2	Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.	Also c.5 Long-billed Dowitcher and many Hawaiian Coots and Hawaiian Stilts.	LT
29th	CASPIAN TERN	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Very heavy rain (1.5 inches in 3 hours), so few other birds observed.	RM, PD

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NOVEMBER

There appeared to be only a few new birds at the start of the month with a selection of shorebirds and wildfowl on offer at the "usual" wetland sites on most of the Islands, but things really started hotting up by the third week. The highlight of the start of the month was the continued residence of the ten (presumed) White-faced Ibis at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i, although they had not started to exhibit any features useful for separation between White-faced and Glossy Ibis, although perhaps that in itself could be of some use as a clue to their identity, as by now most Glossy Ibis would show pale lines on the skin at the upper mandible bill-base. Highlights later in the month included a Sora on O'ahu (3rd record), a Surf Scoter on Kaua'i (2nd record), the release of a relocated Tundra Swan on O'ahu (2nd record) and a moribund Ancient Murrelet on O'ahu (1st record), Ed. Eight immature White-faced Ibis amongst taro lo'i at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i, 6th October 2003. Photograph © by Brenda Zaun/USFWS Mark J. Rauzon who is currently on Wake Island eradicating feral cats sent the following report: "I'm out here at Wake Island finishing off the feral cats. Birding in our spare time, I found a pair of Goldeneyes, probably common, in addition to 3 Pintails, 5 Eurasian Wigeon, 6 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, and 1 Bristle-thighed Curlew." Arleone Dibben-Young on Moloka'i commented on three Canada Geese which have arrived: " Three Canada Geese eating limu on the beach c.2 miles east of town. It will be interesting to see if these geese show up at the reservoir...the last 5 years there have been 3 Canada Geese wintering in the same corner." Three juvenile Tundra Swans were found in a sugar mill settling pond near Kahului Airport, Maui on October 28th. It was decided that they posed a danger of colliding with aircraft and staff supposedly tried hazing and capturing the birds. One was captured and the other two were killed by Wildlife Services (USDA, APHIS). The captured bird was taken to Kawainui Marsh, O'ahu and released on 7th November, but was not seen subsequently (information supplied by Peter Donaldson, Fern Duvall and Lance Tanino). One of the carcasses was sent to the Bishop Museum on O'ahu and examined by Peter Pyle, the bird was in full juvenile plumage, not yet starting to moult, and possibly a female since measurements were on the low side (Robert Pyle). Tundra Swans by settling pond near Kahalui Airport, Maui, October 2003. The second record for the Hawaiian Archipelago. Photograph © USDA/APHIS Juvenile Tundra Swan in captivity, Maui, October 2003. Two other juveniles were slaughtered by USDA/APHIS. This juvenile was moved and released on O'ahu. Photograph © USDA/APHIS David Kuhn's latest pelagic trip: "November 11th 2003 on the Blue Dolphin II's Port Allen-Na Pali-Lehua-Port Allen trip, strong trade winds and moderate N swell, partly cloudy. During this time of year when the fewest species can be expected and the seas are usually rough, I usually try to talk myself out of going, and usually lose the argument (i.e., I go anyway). Today my persistence was rewarded with a good look at a White-necked Petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis), ambling along in a flock of Wedgies on the westbound leg a few miles from Lehua. I (and the other birder on board, Kathleen McEachern of BC) clearly saw the white collar extending thru the nape, the dark head and pale brownish-grey upperparts, and white underparts showing only a very small black diagonal bar. I was surprised to see no White-tailed T'birds, even over Na Pali. SEABIRDS SEEN: I don't attempt to count the birds on Lehua, but will note all species seen): 1 White-necked Petrel, in flock of Wedgies outbound leg 3 mi from Lehua; ~60 Wedge-tailed Shearwater, mostly outbound leg; ~150 Red-footed Booby, mostly on Lehua and a few (mostly imm.) at sea; ~100 Brown Booby at sea (mostly imm), and ~50 on/near Lehua; ~10 Great Frigatebird over Lehua, and 3 at sea; ~30 Black Noddy in Lehua sea cave, and ~20 in sea cave near Honopu, also ~ 100 at sea loosely with a flock of Wedge- tailed Shearwaters. Other birds: 2 Wandering Tattler on Lehua. Other creatures: 20 Bottlenose Dolphin on outbound leg 2 mi from Lehua; 1 Monk Seal near Lehua; many Spinner Dolphin off Barking Sands and the Pali, and at Lehua; 2 Green Sea Turtles off Na Pali." Peter Donaldson reported the following from a local observer : "... recently emailed me some photos of some parrots he's been seeing around his neighborhood in the Waikele area of O'ahu. They are obviously Rose-ringed Parakeets. Over the past five years the birds have apparently increased from a few to at least 23 (counted in a flight photo). Years ago, Rose-ringed Parakeets used to be seen regularly in Waikiki around Kapiolani Park, and from time to time, I used to see a few birds in Pearl City. It has been a long time since I've seen any, or heard of any in those spots, but meanwhile quite a number of these birds have made themselves at home in downtown Honolulu, around Oahu Cemetery. This is the first I've heard that Rose-ringeds may be established around Waikele." Arleone Dibben-Young reported another outbreak of Avian Botulism at Ohiapilo on Moloka'i on 16th and reported she had found the following dead species: 10 Hawaiian Stilts, 1 Hawaiian Coot, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 2 Cattle Egrets and lots of fish. Peter Donaldson reported the following exciting find on 20th: "I just returned from the regular Thursday tour at Kii led by Kurt Pohlman. One couple with their young daughters were there for the tour. Pond F, the pond which the tour route circles, remains mostly dry, and Pond C, the pond near the kiosk is very full. As usual, we had good looks at the endangered native wetland birds and the common migrants. We spotted a Lesser Scaup near the kiosk and had a glimpse of a Snipe as we walked along. I got my spotting scope on the snipe, but it flew off while I was trying to show it to others and I didn't get a good look at it as it flew. After the tour, Kurt and I headed out to see if we could get a better look at the snipe. We never found the snipe again, but we did spot a Sora. There are only two previous reports of Soras in the Hawaiian Islands, but given the secretive nature of the bird, they could be here more often than might be guessed by the number of reports. While we were driving around Pond G around 1730 HST, Kurt spotted a bird at the edge of the reeds, so we stopped to take a look. Kurt said he had seen something that acted like a moorhen but that looked smaller. We managed to spot the bird and could see that it did indeed look something like a small moorhen, but we could see that it had a yellow bill, generally brownish gray plumage with barring on the flanks and a black mask on its face. The bird remained in view for less than a minute flicking its tail occasionally before disappearing into the reeds." There was no sign of the bird during bird counts on 22nd. Wilson's Snipe, Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu, November 2003. Photograph © Peter Donaldson Jim Denny on Kaua'i made the following fantastic discovery on 22nd: "This morning, I made a short tour of the west Kauai wetlands. Kawaiele Sand Mine produced a duck unfamiliar to me. I've consulted several field guides and believe it to be a White-winged Scoter. Perhaps it has found the brackish water to it's liking." The bird is in fact a female Surf Scoter, a very rare vagrant to the Hawaiian Islands (only the 2nd record). The large bulbous bill, pale facial patches and overall brown plumage identify it as this species. Also good features to separate it from White-winged Scoter are the fact that the feathering at the bill base does not extend onto the bill in the central portion, as is shown by White-winged Scoter and the iris can be seen to be pale. Adult female Surf Scoters exhibit a white or pale iris, whereas female White-winged Scoters exhibit a dark iris. Juveniles of both species show a dark iris. Female Surf Scoters also tend to show a pale nape, although it is hard to see in the photograph whether this bird has a pale nape or whether it is just the sun shining on it. White-winged Scoter also shows, of course, white secondaries in flight or when flapping, although this feature can be hard to see when the bird is at rest on the water, Ed. Female Surf Scoter at Kawaiele State Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, November 22nd 2003. Only the second-ever Hawaiian Islands record. Photograph © Jim Denny David Kuhn went on his latest pelagic on November 25th on the Blue Dolphin II's Port Allen-Na Pali-Lehua-Port Allen trip. "Winds westerly 10-15 and moderate N swell, partly cloudy. Conditions of W wind and N swell drove us to the far southern tip of Ni'ihau for shelter on this trip. I was pleased for the chance to see more of Ni'ihau up close, as we tucked in under that cape you can see from Kaua'i. This also put us in position to pass by KK buoy on the return leg, the only FAD in that area. No birds to be seen there. This trip's mystery bird crossed the bow headed downwind, and I only saw it going away. My first and strongest impression was of the flight pattern, very like that of Newell's Shearwater with fast direct flight, flapping a lot as if with short wings. Second impression was of the pattern on the back and upperwings: a darker brownish-grey "M" on a lighter brownish-grey field. The bird was of Newell's Shearwater size. Again this week I was surprised to see no White-tailed T'birds, even over Na Pali. SEABIRDS SEEN: 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater, ~ 30 Red-footed Booby, ~50 Brown Booby at sea (ca. half imm), 10 Great Frigatebird at sea, 1 Black Noddy at sea, Mystery bird: midway out on westbound leg. Other creatures: many Spinner Dolphin off south Ni'ihau." Of Pacific interest is the news that the endemic Long-legged Warbler of Fiji has been found alive in a remote forested area. The species which was believed to have been extinct for over a century was rediscovered by researchers from Birdlife Fiji. The Long-legged Warbler (Trichocichla rufa) was last seen in 1894, but the team refound the species and managed to photograph it for the first time (there is also an unconfirmed report from 1973/1974). They also recorded its "beautiful warbling songs". The group said in a statement they found 12 pairs of the rare bird in Wabu Forest Reserve, near Mount Tomaniivi, which at 1,323 metres, is the highest point on the Pacific nation's main island Viti Levu. The Long-legged Warbler is descried as a "small, reddish-brown bird, named for its long legs and preference for dense undergrowth". Another sub-species on the island of Vanua Levu, Trichocichla rufa clunei, was discovered in 1973 when two birds were seen, but the sub-species has not been found again. "The sighting gives us new hope of finding the other rare endemic birds like the red-throated lorikeet and barred-wing rail," researcher Vilikesa Masibalavu said. Numbers of many of Fiji's birds have been severely reduced by mongoose, imported by the British from India. "The Long-legged Warbler is a very secretive species but now that we know its song, we can find it and make our first assessment of its conservation needs," Guy Dutson said, BirdLife Project Manager in Fiji. "They appear to need dense vegetation beside mountain streams. "We are happy to conclude that they are surviving in some remote mountain forests." Although currently safe at Wabu, they remain at risk from forest clearance and mongooses. Also a birding group, led by New Zealander Dion Hobcroft, recently sighted what they are fairly certain were 2 Samoan Woodhens on the island of Savaii. This is a forest-dwelling relative of the moorhen that had not been seen since the 19th century except for a possible sighting (in the same place, more or less) in the 1980s. And there was the fairly recent (ca. 1998) rediscovery of the Pohnpei Mountain Starling. The islands of the Pacific may still hold many other exciting rediscoveries and discoveries. Long-legged Warbler, Fiji, 2003. Photograph © Birdlife International http://www.birdlife.org.uk/index.html http://www.birdlife.org.uk/worldwide/regional/pacific/index.html http://www.birdlife.org.uk/news/news/2003/11/fiji.html Dan Lindsay reported the following from the first and third weeks of November: "Two friends of mine led a group of visiting birders on Kaua'i from November 1 - 3. On the Kaluapuhi Trail near the Kalalau Lookout in Koke'e St. Pk., they are convinced that they and their group saw both Puaiohi and Akikiki. I wasn't there so I can't speak to the issue, but the descriptions are solid and those who saw the birds are good observers who are not given to exaggeration. On November 6, I was with the group at Laupahoehoe St. Pk,, and saw a group of 14 Yellow-Billed Cardinals, about a third of them juveniles. There was a Saffron Finch there also. Several Kalij Pheasants were seen at Pu'u La'au, the first time I've seen them on that part of the island. The complete list for the trip: Kaua'i, Nov 1-3: (* = heard only) (Birds will be listed only once, no matter how many locations they were seen in). Cattle Egret, Red Junglefowl, Pacific Golden Plover, Java Sparrow, Common Myna, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Rock Dove, Japanese White-Eye, Northern Cardinal, Red-Crested Cardinal, House Finch, House Sparrow, Nutmeg Mannikin, Chestnut Mannikin, Western Meadowlark, White-Rumped Shama, Melodious Laughing-Thrush*, Greater Necklaced Laughing-Thrush, Nene, Great Frigatebird, Wedge-Tailed Shearwater, Red-Footed Booby, White-Tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Common Moorhen, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Hawaiian Coot, Koloa Maoli, Erckel's Francolin, Ring-necked Pheasant, 'Apapane, Kaua'i 'Amakihi, 'Anianiau, I'iwi, Kaua'i Elepaio, Puaiohi, 'Akikiki, Northern Mockingbird, Wandering Tattler, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone. 4 Nov 03, Wailoa St. Pk.: Mallard, Greater White-Fronted Goose. Loko Waka Pond: Lesser Scaup. 5 Nov 03, Volcano NP: Oma'o, Hawai¹i Amakihi, Black Noddy. 6 Nov 03, Laupahoepahoe St. Pk.: Saffron Finch, Yellow-Billed Cardinal. Big Island Country Club: Erckel's Francolin, Turkey, African Silverbill, Yellow-Fronted Canary, Red Avadavat. Pu'u Anahulu: 'Io. 7 Nov 03, W. Saddle Road: Black Francolin, California Quail, Eurasian Skylark. Pu'u O'o Trail: Volcano Elepaio (not counted separately from Kaua'i Elepaio), I'iwi, Apapane, Red-Billed Leiothrix. P'u La'au: Palila, Kalij Pheasant Mockingbird, Gambel's Quail. W. Saddle Rd.: Pueo. From November 15 to 24, I led an Elderhostel group on Kaua'i and the Big Island. Highlights were the appearance of all 10 Ibises at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i; the presence of about two dozen Laysan Albatrosses at Kilauea Point, Kaua'i; a Saffron Finch at Wailoa St. Pk. in Hilo, Hawai'i; and a Mourning Dove at the Big Island Country Club, Hawai'i. The complete list follows: (* = heard only; birds listed only on 1st sighting). 19 Nov 03, Kapa¹a area, Kaua'i: Pacific Golden Plover, Western Meadowlark, House Sparrow, Rock Dove, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, Cattle Egret, House Finch, Common Myna, Java Sparrow, Red-Crested Cardinal. 20 Nov 03, Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i: White-Faced Ibis (the possibility that they are Glossy is kept in mind), Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Common Moorhen, Koloa Maoli, Nene, Lesser Scaup, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Japanese BushWarbler*. Kilauea Pt. NWR: Red-Footed Booby, White-Tailed Tropicbird, Great Frigatebird, Wedge-Tailed Shearwater, Brown Booby, Laysan Albatross. Kalihiwai Beach: White-Rumped Shama, Nutmeg Mannikin. Huleia NWR, Kaua'i: Melodious Laughing Thrush*, Northern Cardinal, Japanese White-Eye. 20 Nov 03, Hanapepe Overlook, Kaua'i: Rose-Ringed Parakeet. Waimea, Kaua'i: Mockingbird. Koke'e St. Pk.: 'Apapane, Kaua'i 'Amakihi, Kaua'i Elepaio, 'Anianiau, I'wi, Erckel's Francolin. Kawai'ele, Kaua'i: Wandering Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone, Pintail. Shrimp Farm Outfall: Sanderling. 21 Nov 03, Honolulu Airport, O'ahu: Red-Vented Bulbul. Wailoa St. Pk., Hawai'i: Canada Goose (Lesser & Common), Greater White-Fronted Goose, Mallard, Saffrron Finch. 22 Nov 03, Volcano NP Hawai'i: 'Amakihi, Black Noddy, Kalij Pheasant. Hilo: 'Io. 23 Nov 03, Keanakolu Rd., Hawai'i: Skylark. Hakalau NWR: Volcano Elepaio (not counted separately from Kaua'i Elepaio), Akepa, Red-Billed Leothrix*. Keanakolu Rd.: Common Pheasant. 24 Nov 03, Pu'u La'au: California Quail, Palila, Pale-Headed Elepaio (not counted separately from Kaua'i Elepaio). W. Saddle Rd.: Turkey. Big Island Country Club: African Silverbill, Red Avadavat, Mourning Dove. Hapuna Beach: Yellow-Billed Cardinal, Yellow-Fronted Canary, Gray Francolin. Robert Pyle reported the following exceptional record: "A live bird found on the beach at Ko'olina, O'ahu was brought to the Sea Life Park on Thanksgiving day (November 27th) and died the next day. Peter Pyle saw it this afternoon and identified it as a first year murrelet, most likely an Ancient Murrelet on bill size but needs to check on other juveniles. The bird is going to the Bishop Museum and is the first murrelet for Hawai'i. Peter Pyle commented: "The bird was either an Ancient or a Crested (or Japanese) Murrelet. It was in first-year plumage. It appeared to have replaced the body plumage but not the wing feathers. The pointed and somewhat worn primaries also helped age it as a first-year bird. It lacked the prominent white supercilium of breeding birds (although it had a few whispy white feathers in this area). It had moderately little black on the throat, more or less matching illustration 302b of an "adult non-breeding" Ancient Murrelet in Harrison's 1983 seabird book. It had no evidence of elongated feathers in the back of the head or nape. At Sea Life Park they had Harrison's (1987) photo guide and we compared it to the photos, which included one immature or adult-basic and one adult-alternate (assuming they have an alternate plumage) Ancient Murrelet and two adult-alternate Crested Murrelets. It was a fairly good match for the basic-type Ancient Murrelet. But it is conceivable to me that first-year Crested Murrelets (of which there is no information in either of the Harrison guides) might match this as well. The only thing in the photo guide that favored the bird being an Ancient was the bill, which was stubby and had a sharp gonydeal angle, like that of the photos of Ancient, rather than longer and more tapered with shallower gonydeal angle, as shown in the photos of Crested. The specimen is in excellent shape and I'm sure will eventually be confirmed to species. Ancient would seem more likely based on range (there were heavy north winds during the week before the bird showed up) and abundance of source population."

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DECEMBER

1st	WESTERN GULL	1	"East end" of Moloka'i.	First-year bird, also seen on 2nd and 3rd.	ADY
2nd	BRANT	2	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	Also 7 Long-billed Dowitchers, several Northern Pintail and 1 Scaup sp.	BZ
2nd	WHITE-FACED IBIS	3	Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.	At least three birds still present.	BZ
3rd	RED KNOT	1	Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.	Juvenile bird. Also 2 Dunlin and 1 Wilson's Snipe flushed from new wetland created from mangrove forest removal.	LT
4th	GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL	1	Kaena Point, O'ahu.	First-year flew past.	KT
c.4th	SALMON-CRESTED COCKATOO	2	Lyon Arboretum, O'ahu.	"Usual" birds still present.	KT
5th	BRANT	1	Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.	Also Scaup, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails and Green- winged Teal.	MN
5th	BONAPARTE'S GULL	1	Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.	Also Semipalmated Plovers, Dowitchers and Pectoral Sandpipers present, but no numbers given.	MN
8th	WESTERN GULL	1	Kawela, Moloka'i.	First-year bird, also seen on 9th.	ADY
11th	WESTERN GULL	1	"West end" of Moloka'i.	First-year bird again, this time at west end of island.	ADY
11th	POMARINE JAEGER	1	Off Diamond Head lighthouse, O'ahu.	Adult-type.	SL
12th	CASPIAN TERN	3	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also adult Hawaiian Coot with 2 small juveniles.	EV
12th	GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	First-year bird. Also 2 1st-year Laughing Gulls there.	EV
12th	GREEN-WINGED TEAL	6	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also c.45 Northern Pintail, 5 Northern Shoveler, 8 Lesser Scaup, 1 American Wigeon and 2 Ring-necked Ducks.	EV
12th	DUNLIN	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 1 Wilson's Snipe, 15 Bristle-thigehd Curlew and 5 Long-billed Dowitcher.	EV
14th	NEWELL'S SHEARWATER	1	Hanlaei, Kaua'i.	Picked up in Hanalei and taken to Kilauea Point NWR for care.	per BZ
17th	CANADA GOOSE	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Small race bird present.	PD
20th	CASPIAN TERN	1+?	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Possibly more than 1 individual present. Also 2 first-winter Laughing Gulls and 1 Glaucous-winged Gull.	PD
20th	CANADA GOOSE	1	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Possibly Richardson's race. Also 15 Northern Shoveler, 35 Northern Pintail, 1 Green- winged Teal, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 7 Lesser Scaup and 1 Bufflehead.	PD
20th	BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	12	James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.	Also 10 Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Dunlin, two broods of 2 chicks of Hawaiian Moorhen and two large Hawaiian Coot chicks in Pond A and 1 Short-eared Owl.	PD
21st	CASPIAN TERN	2	Kane'ohe Marine Base, O'ahu.	Also 2 Masked Boobies, flying with red-foots over Ulupau Head. Restricted Access Site.	EV, et al.
21st	BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER	1	Kane'ohe Marine Base, O'ahu.	Also 1 Eurasian Wigeon. Restricted Access Site.	EV, et al.
21st	BLUE-WINGED TEAL	1	Kane'ohe Marine Base, O'ahu.	Also 2 Northern Shovelers. Restricted Access Site.	EV, et al.
23rd	OSPREY	1	Kanaha Pond, Maui.	Seen at 12.30pm.	MA
23rd	BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS	1	Kaua'i pelagic.	Full species list: Click Here.	DK
CBC	PO'OULI	1	Hanawi Forest Area, Maui.	Here are the highlights from the Hanawi sector from the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project participants: 1 PO'OULI - seen three times during count week; this is the second time this species has been seen during an Audubon Xmas bird count and possibly last. Also 3 Maui Parrotbill, 2 'Akohekohe, 9 Maui Alauahio, 47 I'iwi, 126 'Apapane and 34 'Amakihi. No Access to this Site.	MFP (per LT)
24th	GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL	1	Aimakapa Reef and Pond, Hawai'i.	First-winter. Also Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup at nearby Kona STP.	HFT
24th	LEACH'S STORM PETREL	1	Sealife Park, O'ahu.	Brought in to Sealife Park probably from Ala Moana, O'ahu. Unfortunately died in the first few days of 2004. Photo Here	per RP
26th	LEACH'S STORM PETREL	1	Sealife Park, O'ahu.	Bird still in care today and was hoped to be released in the next few days.Unfortunately died in the first few days of 2004.	PD
27th	GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL	1	Aimakapa Reef, Kona, Hawai'i.	Photo Here Also a Laughing Gull at Kailua Pier, Hawai'i.	RD
27th	TERN sp.	3	Kinikini Ditch River Mouth, Kaua'i.	Reported as "grey-backed" on a CBC Count. Hopefully more details soon.	per DK
28th	LEACH'S STORM PETREL	1	Sea Life Park, O'ahu.	Second bird. This one seems healthy and both birds at the park will probably be released in a few days. This bird is reported to have come aboard the Norwegian Star cruiseliner somewhere off Kaua'i on 27th.	per RP
"This month"	TUFTED DUCK	1	Kona STP and Aimakapa Pond.	Eclipse male moving between these two sites.	RD
"This month"	GREAT BLUE HERON	1	Kona Coast, Hawai'i.	Usually between Lauwahinhau and Aimakapa.	RD
"This month"	LAUGHING GULL	1	Kona Coast, Hawai'i.	First-winter usually between the Kona Surf & north to Aimakapa.	RD

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DECEMBER

After last month's outbreak of Avian Botulism at Ohiapilo on Moloka'i, Arleon Dibben-Young has reported another outbreak on the island, this time at the Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant. Arleone reports: "Last night employees at the Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant called me to pick up a dead coot (they saw it get beaten up by another coot and they thought it drowned). This morning I was called again... 14 dead coots. In a grass thicket I discovered 1 female shoveler very decayed w/maggots. 1 hybrid domestic duck (employee pet) and a coot sampling sent to Bob. Luckily, the ponds are small. 6 coots brought in to rehab, appears as if 3 won't make it. Several more coots not yet paralyzed enough to catch." Brants at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i on December 2nd 2003. Photograph © Brenda Zaun Eric Vanderwerf went birding at James Campbell NWR on the afternoon of 12th and reported as follows: " There were a few unusual waterbirds, including 3 different Caspian Terns, as well as the usual resident wetlands birds. The water level is quite high in many of the ponds now. No sign of the Sora (seen in November): approx. 45 Northern Pintail, 5 Northern Shoveler, 6 Green-winged Teal, 1 American Wigeon, 8 Lesser Scaup, 2 Ring-necked Duck, 2 adult Hawaiian Coot with 2 small juveniles, 1 first-year Glaucous-winged Gull, 2 first-year Laughing Gull, 3 Caspian Tern (2 seen simultaneously, 3rd by distinctive plumage), 15 Bristle-thigehd Curlew, 5 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Dunlin and 1 Wilson's Snipe." Five endangered Palila birds released on Mauna Kea Rod Thompson, Honolulu Star Bulletin. December 13th 2003 "A team of federal, state and private agencies released five palila birds, reared in captivity, this week on the north side of Mauna Kea, facing Waimea, in hopes of establishing a new colony of the endangered native birds there. It marked the first release of the small, yellow-headed palila reared at a San Diego Zoo facility on Mauna Loa near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Five more of the captively reared birds are to be released later this month, the zoo announced. The project includes the zoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Army. In 1997-98, officials captured 53 palila from the only colony of the birds on the mountain's west side and transferred them to the north side. Within a few months to a year, 40 of them flew the 12 miles back to the original home, said Paul Banko, of the Biological Resources Division. The other 13 died of predation by hawks, owls, cats, rats and mongooses, he said. The expectation is that the captively reared birds, having no memory of another home in the wild, will stay put, Banko said. In turn, they might provide enough stability that later transfers of palila from the west side might decide to remain with them, he said. There is little biologists can do to protect the new colony site from io hawks and pueo owls, since they are also endangered native birds, Banko said. The most serious ground predators are "wild" cats, which find plenty of food in the area and have been known to kill palila hatchlings in their nests without eating them, he said. Biologists are trapping and shooting cats in the new colony area, Banko said. If that sounds harsh, "these are truly wild cats," he noted. "It's not a good idea for somebody to think they can adopt a wild cat."." Satoko Lincoln sent the following report: "Thursday, December 11, 2003. 5:45 PM. As I scanned the ocean for signs of Humpback Whales from the clearing by Diamond Head Light House, a fast-flying seabird interrupted my view. It was a Pomarine Jeager flying close to the cliff, probably harassing Kolea and Wandering Tattlers down below. When it momentarily slowed down to change course, I could see the dark crown and twisted “spoons” that looked long-handled. It went out of sight before other details could be observed". Satoko also says "I was lucky to see an Omao in Volcano and a Pomarine Jaeger off Diamond Head on the same day. In Volcano, the forest surrounding Thurston Lava Tube was magical with lots and lots of Apapane feeding in blooming Ohia Lehua and Mamane. Many of them were easy to see as they vocalized, as were a few Amakihi and an Omao. I recorded their vocalizations on a small digital voice recorder. My impression is that these Apapane are speaking their own sub-dialect in Volcano." Interesting behavioural and biological reports like Satoko's, as well as general sightings, are always welcome for inclusion on the Birding Hawaii Website, Eds. Canada Goose at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu on December 17th 2003. Photograph © Peter Donaldson Canada Goose at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu on December 17th 2003. Photograph © Peter Donaldson Comments sought on proposed nene 'safe harbor' The Maui News, December 16th 2003 www.mauinews.com "WAILUKU - The public is invited to comment on a plan to give Nene geese "safe harbor" at Piiholo Ranch. A hearing on the proposal will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Mayor Eddie Tam Memorial Complex in Makawao. The plan is the second agreement between a private landowner and the state to reintroduce nene to the wild, said Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman Peter Young. He said partnerships with private landowners are critical to protecting endangered species in Hawaii. "Safe harbor agreements provide landowners the assurance that they will not be penalized by additional endangered species restrictions at some point in the future as a result of their efforts," Young said. Under the agreement, the 773-acre Piiholo Ranch, run by Peter and Kathy Baldwin, will maintain nene habitat, manage a nene release pen, control predators and plant native vegetation for the nene to eat. Peter Baldwin, a former president of Haleakala Ranch, established Piiholo Ranch with his wife after leaving Haleakala Ranch in 2001. Piiholo Ranch is a working cattle ranch that features activities such as horseback riding. DLNR will conduct the reintroduction of nene. Biologists estimate that as many as 75 nene could be established on the ranch. Nene were introduced to Puu O Hoku Ranch on Molokai under a safe harbor agreement in 2001. The DLNR is also establishing a population in West Maui through a reintegration program at Hanaula that began in 1995. Nene, or Hawaiian geese, are an endangered species found mostly within the boundaries of Haleakala National Park where they were reintroduced in 1962. Copies of the proposed safe harbor agreement are available for review at the Makawao Public Library and DLNR forestry offices in Kahului, or on the Web at www.state. hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/pubs/index.html." Dan Lindsay noticed a couple of things recently which he thought might be of interest: "First, at Hapuna Beach State Park a few weeks ago, I saw 21 young Saffron Finches accompanied by two adults. The same group stayed together, in and out of trees as people passed by, for about an hour before leaving (together). This would appear to be creche behavior, but I've not seen or heard about that happening with finches before. Then last week I saw an 'Io in downtown Hilo, in and near the banyan tree off Kilauea Ave. mauka of the Waiakea Ponds. It was first sitting on the side of an empty pickup truck. Then it hopped down onto the ground and appeared to be chasing some small prey in the leaf litter. After a few minutes of acting like a giant thrush, hopping and poking into the leaves, it flew to a low branch of the banyan and disappeared on foot along a branch into the inner precincts of the huge tree." Leach's Storm Petrel in care at Sea Life Park, O'ahu, December 26th 2003. Sadly the two Storm-Petrels at Sea Life Park died in the last few days of the year. Photograph © Peter Donaldson Glaucous-winged Gull at Aimakapa Reef, Hawai'i on December 27th 2003. Photograph © Reginald E. David David Kuhn on Kaua'i sent the following pelagic news: "December 23 2003 on the Blue Dolphin II's Port Allen-Na Pali-Lehua-Port Allen trip, winds Northerly 10-15 and moderate N swell, partly cloudy. This was a "trial" Christmas Count, unofficial because I missed the deadline to get the necessaries to Audubon. Eight species is the best I've done this time of year. SEABIRDS SEEN: Laysan Albatross 6, all at sea; Black-footed albatross 1 over Lehua; Jaeger sp. 1 three miles out of Port Allen; Wedge-tailed Shearwater 2; one off Port Allen, one mid-channel outbound. Red-footed Booby ~30 at sea, 25% imm.; ~100 on Lehua; Brown Booby ~70 at sea (ca half imm); Great Frigatebird 2 at sea, 8 over Lehua; Black Noddy 1 at sea; none observed in the usual roosts on Lehua and Na Pali. Other birds: Ruddy Turnstone 1 on Lehua. Other creatures: Spinner Dolphin many in the big pod off Barking Sands; Short-finned Pilot Whale pod outbound 3-4 miles short of Lehua." Some CBC Results MAUI - Lance Tanino, Ian B. and Diane L. along scenic Hana Hwy on Sunday, December14th. Highlights of this sector this year were: Hawaiian Stilt (10); feeding in taro fields; Maui 'Amakihi (6); first one heard and seen further up along Hana Hwy than expected in all non-native vegetation; Java Sparrow (7); expanding range on Maui; Cattle Egret (132); large flocks at sunset heading for roosting areas somewhere along north coast; Hawaiian Noddy (255); large flocks near shore on offshore islands at Pauwalu Point at sunset; Brown Booby (9); roosting on island off Pauwalu Pt. Forest and Kim Starr covered parts of Upcountry, Maui along Crater Rd and their highlights were: Maui 'Amakihi (25); 'I'iwi (1). O'AHU - Eric VanderWerf, Diane Drigot, Keith Swindle, Chris Swenson, Naomi Sugimura, and others covered the Kaneohe Marine Base on December 21st. Highlights included: 2 Masked Boobies, flying with red-foots over Ulupau Head; 2 Caspian Terns (they seem to be everywhere lately!); 1 Black-bellied Plover; 1 Blue-winged Teal; 1 Eurasian Wigeon and 2 Northern Shovelers. Also of note were approximately 150 Red-footed Boobies on Moku Manu, just off Ulupau and outside the count circle. Red-foots have been absent from Moku Manu for quite some time. I first saw a few birds there last year, now they are back in numbers, perhaps because the vegetation is continuing to recover somewhat from years of drought. The number of Red-foots in the colony at Ulupau was down (we counted 515 this year compared to over 1000 last year), presumably because some are moving back to Moku Manu. O'AHU - Peter Donaldson, Dick May and Tom Coles hiked the Aiea Loop Trail and about a mile up the ridge trail on Sunday December 21st, 2003 on the Honolulu CBC. Peter comments: "The weather was very nice and the trail was mostly hard and dry. We missed finding any Mariana Swiftlets, Japanese Bush-Warblers, Hwamei or Nutmeg Mannikins, but found a few 'Elepaio and one Short-eared Owl. I've hiked Aiea Trail many times over the past 25 years, and this was the first time I've seen an owl". 12/21/2003 AIEA TRAIL: 7 Rock Dove, 2 Spotted Dove, 5 Zebra Dove, 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 O'ahu 'Elepaio: One pair near sharp turn near powerline guy wires in lower part of trail. Another single bird in same gulch. 22 Red-whiskered Bulbul, 40 Red-vented Bulbul, 19 White-rumped Shama, 24 Red-billed Leiothrix, 67 Japanese White-eye, 4 Red-crested Cardinal, 6 Northern Cardinal, 20 House Finch, 45 O'ahu Amakihi: Many pairs. Several singing; 21 'Apapane. Not much eucalyptus or ohia bloom. 8 Common Waxbill. Tom Coles also saw a Barn Owl fly over the entrance to Keaiwa Heeiau State Park (where Aiea Trail begins) before sunrise. This was outside the Honolulu count circle. MAUI - Here are the highlights for the Hanawi, Maui sector from the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project participants: 1 PO'OULI - seen three times during count week; this is the second time this species has been seen during an Audubon Xmas bird count and possibly last due to the effort to take the remaining three birds into a captive breeding program at San Diego Zoo. Also 3 Maui Parrotbill, 2 'Akohekohe, 9 Maui Alauahio, 47 I'iwi, 126 'Apapane and 34 'Amakihi.

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TO VIEW SIGHTINGS and REVIEWS from JANUARY to JUNE 2003 CLICK HERE

Names and Initials of Observers submitting sightings during July - December 2003.

DA = David Adams; MA = Michael Ade; RB = Robin Baird; CC = Chad Castle; CCa = Chris Campion; JC = John Clarkson; TC = Tom Coles; RD = Reginald E. David; SD = Susan David; JD = Jim Denny; PD = Peter Donaldson; TD = Thomas Dove; FD = Dr. Fern Duvall II; DF = Darlene Fiske; BF = Brian Fletcher; JF = Jeff Foster; PH = Phil Henderson; JH = Joel Herr; AJ = Alvaro Jaramillo; HK = Harvey King; JKl = John Klavitter; JK = Joe Kleiman; RK = Richard Knapton; NK = Nick Komar; DK = David Kuhn; SL = Satoko Lincoln; DL = Dan Lindsay; PM = Peggy Macres; RM = Richard May; RMa = Rich McCarthy; KM = Kathleen McEachern; MN = Mike Nishimoto; MO =Mike Ord; RPa = Rob Pacheco; BP = Bruce Peterjohn; KP = Kurt Pohlman; JP = John Polhemus; DP = Doug Pratt; TP = Thane Pratt; PP = Peter Pyle; RP = Robert Pyle; SR = Sharon Reilly; JR = Jason Rogers; KLR = Kevin L. Rolle; JR = Jennifer Rycenga; DS = Dorcie Sakuma; HS = Hadoram Shirihai; MS = Mike Silbernagle; GS = Gordon Smith; FS = Forest Starr; KS = Kim Starr; GT = Graham Talbot; LT = Lance Tanino; KT = Keith Taylor; RT = Richard Thomas; ST = Sarah Thomas; EV = Eric Vanderwerf; AW = Abby Watson; DW = Dave Watson; ADY = Arleone Dibben-Young; BZ = Brenda Zaun; SZ = Steve Zimmerman. HFT = Hawai'i Forest and Trail; ONT = O'ahu Nature Tours; USDA = Wildlife Services/U.S. Department of Agriculture; MFP = Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project; mo = many observers. Ed. = Editor.

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References

HAWAII BIRDING CHATLIST. 2003. Messages posted on the Hawaii Birding chatlist by various birders throughout the course of the year. Kaua'i, Hawai'i / Worthing, U.K.

MELGAR, C.W. 2003. Sightings reports published on the Birding Hawaii website. Worthing, West Sussex, U.K.

PYLE, R. and DONALDSON, P. 2003. Quarterly reports in North American Birds, Volumes 57:1, 57:2, 57:3, 57:4 and 58:1. ABA.

WOOD, K.R., BOYNTON, D., VANDERWERF, E., ARNOLD, L., LeGRANDE, M., SLOTTERBACK, J.W., KUHN, D. 2003. The Distribution and Abundance of the Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma castro): A Preliminary Survey on Kaua'i, Hawai'i 2002.

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