HAWAI'I BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR 2003

JULY - DECEMBER



Sightings reported during July to December 2003 are shown here in the tables, but unlike earlier years after each month there is a review for that month highlighting the rarest species, most unusual sightings, photographs of birds seen or items of special interest. These monthly reviews replace the separate full review of the year as produced in 2001 and 2002. The year has been split into two parts to enable faster downloading, to view sightings from January - June 2003 CLICK HERE. Many thanks to all those birders who found and observed birds during the year and shared their sightings with the birding community. The last column contains observers initials, their full names are listed at the foot of this page.

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JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

SIGHTINGS for JANUARY - JUNE 2003

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JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

REVIEWS for JANUARY - JUNE 2003



Birds highlighted in RED denote official rarities. Species in BLUE are endemic species. Species in GREEN are introduced species. Plain BLACK text are regular migrant species or regular indigenous breeding species in Hawai'i. Species in light BLUE are non-avian species seen at sea. Italics in the species column denotes escaped species not currently established, elsewhere refers to scientific name. M = Male, F = Female. STP = Sewage Treatment Plant. NWR = National Wildlife Refuge.



JULY

2nd  SAFFRON FINCH  Northern outskirts of Hilo, Hawai'i.  Both young birds.  DL 
3rd  SAFFRON FINCH   Downtown Honoka'a, Hawai'i.  Two adult males sitting on power lines.  DL 
5th  O'AHU 'ELEPAIO  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  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  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 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  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  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  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  Kona Sewage Treatment Plant, Hawai'i.  One of which is missing it's right leg.  RD  
5th  LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER  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  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  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 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  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 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