HAWAI'I BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR 2005HAWAI'I BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR 2005
JULY - DECEMBER
Sightings reported during 2005 are shown here in the tables, and 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. 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.
Pick a month to view that month's sightings
Pick a month to view that month's Review
| 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. |
| 6th | PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER | 38 | Waipio Soccer Complex, O'ahu. | Also 21 Cattle Egret, 3 Gray Francolin, 6 Saffron Finch, 500 Common Waxbill, 3 Red Avadavat and 18 Chestnut Munia. | PD |
| 13th | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. | Also 111 Nene there. Cackling Goose also been seen recently at Kilauea Town, Anahola and Hanalei. | BZ |
| 14th | RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD | 2 | "The Cables", Moloka'i. | Located on the cliffs between Paualaia Point and Anianikeha. Also 1 Great Frigatebird and 3 White-tailed Tropicbird. | ADY |
| 14th | WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD | 3 | West side of Kalaupapa, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Red-tailed Tropicbird. | ADY |
| 14th | TROPICBIRD SP. | 250 | Mokapa Island, Moloka'i. | Nearby 11 Tropicbird sp. at Kalawao, 1 White-tailed Tropicbird in Pelekunu Valley and 2 White-tailed Tropicbird and 1 Red-tailed Tropicbird at Wailau Valley. | ADY |
| 19th | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. | With 10 "large-type" Canada Geese. | DL |
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On Saturday/Sunday July 23/24 Keith Swindle and Eric VanderWerf hiked into Waikane Valley on the windward side of Oahu and camped on the ridge between Waikane and Kahana. "A few years ago a friend told me they thought they had heard Newell's Shearwaters calling in this area in the evening, so we went to check it out. Unfortunately we did not hear any shearwaters, even though the weather conditions were good for listening. We had only 2 noteworthy observations: Oahu Elepaio - we saw and/or heard 7 birds in Waikane and 5 more in Kahana, including 2 juveniles. This area supports the last sizeable elepaio population on the whole windward side of Oahu. We mist-netted and banded 4 birds, all of which showed no signs of pox and appeared very healthy. Perhaps the birds now found in this population are the survivors that have greater immunity to alien diseases. Red-whiskered Bulbul - we saw two birds in Kahana, and heard others. This is the farthest north I have seen them on the windward side. Their range expansion is continuing..." |
| 3rd | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 76 Hawaiian Coot, 27 Cattle Egret, 11 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid. | PD |
| 3rd | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Bird lying on its belly. Also 195 Pacific Golden-Plover and 37 Hawaiian Stilt, 11 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Wandering Tattler. | PD |
| 3rd | RUDDY TURNSTONE | 30 | Nakatani Farm, O'ahu. | Also 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 2 Pacific Golden-Plover and 2 Hawaiian Stilt. | PD |
| 3rd | HAWAIIAN STILT | 63 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Also 3 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 40 Pacific Golden-Plover, 11 Ruddy Turnstone and 4 Sanderling. | PD |
| 3rd | PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER | 85 | Waiawa NWR, O'ahu. | Also 6 Cattle Egret, 5 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 5 Hawaiian Coot, 95 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler and 3 Ruddy Turnstone. | PD |
| 3rd | 'APAPANE | 1 | Summit of Pu'u Pia, Manoa Valley, O'ahu. |
Briefly heard and sighted a single 'Apapane on the summit of Pu'u Pia, Manoa Valley, O'ahu at the end of the Pu'u pia trail at 6:50 pm. Also a male (separate), female and possible hatch year (together) O'ahu 'Amakihi. | |
| 3rd | HAWAIIAN STILT | 50 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 4 Wandering Tattler, 7 Sanderling, 12 Pacific Golden Plover (all but 1 in some form of breeding plumage), 20 Ruddy Turnstone. | ADY |
| 5th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 10 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 198 Pacific Golden Plover, 65 Ruddy Turnstone, 12 Wandering Tattler, 44 Hawaiian Moorhen and 36 Koloa/Mallard hybrids. | MO, RP |
| 5th | NUTMEG MANNIKIN | 250 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 12 Red Avadavat and 18 Common Waxbill. Coots and Stilts not counted as they were moving around too much though we did record one young stilt approximately half grown. | MO, RP |
| 8th | WHIMBREL | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Seen in flight and calling. Appeared to have all-dark rump, but angle meant not 100% sure. | KP |
| 8th | MALLARD | 1 | Turtle Bay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu. | Wary female. | KP |
| 17th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | West Loch Shoreline Park, O'ahu. | Also over 1000 Pacific Golden-Plover and 10 Sanderling, 29 Wandering Tattler and 124 Ruddy Turnstone in total in the Pearl Harbor area. | PD |
| 17th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Nuupia Ponds, Kaneohe Marine Base, O'ahu. | Also 9 Hawaiian Moorhen at the golf course ponds, including 2 large juveniles. | EV |
| 17th | SEMIPALMATED PLOVER | 1 | Nuupia Ponds, Kaneohe Marine Base, O'ahu. | Also 1 Pueo flushed from thick Pluchea shrubs on the edge of Nuupia Ponds. | EV |
| 18th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 6 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 5 Hawaiian Stilts flying overhead. Note: Low tide exposed mud flats along south shore. Driving along the highway stilts could be seen in the distance half-way out to the reef. At 3:30 pm: 40 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler, 3 Sanderling, 29 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 19th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose there. | PD |
| 21st | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Semipalmated Plover and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs there. | PD |
| 21st | LEAST SANDPIPER | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 11 Bristle-thighed Curlew. | PD |
| 27th | CALIFORNIA QUAIL | 20 | Laau Point, Moloka'i. | At Kaupoa (translated – place (as in a point in time) of thieves), the Molokai Ranch tentalows on the west end: 1 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 2 Turkeys begging guests for handouts. | ADY |
| 27th | WANDERING TATTLER | 2 | Kamakak`ipo Beach, Moloka'i. | Translates as "the night guard". Also 1 male Great Frigatebird and 1 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 27th | GREAT FRIGATEBIRD | 1 | Makawao, Maui. | Female frigate gliding East and makai over the town of Makawao (1600 ft.). | KS, FS |
| 28th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose still present. | PD |
| 28th | RUFF | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 320 Pacific Golden-Plovers. | PD |
| 28th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Lesser Yellowlegs there. | PD |
| 28th | SEMIPALMATED PLOVER | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 71 Pacific Golden-Plovers at nearby Waiawa and 125 at Kii Unit. | PD |
| 28th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 5 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also c.20 in dunes behind Kii. | PD |
| 28th | WHIMBREL | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Siberian sub-species. | PD |
| 29th | SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER | 1 | Haleiwa, O'ahu. | Taro ponds from the new by-pass bridge in Haleiwa an adult Sharp tailed Sandpiper feeding with some Sanderlings. | KP |
| All Month | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. | Bird present since February still visiting almost daily in the evening with Nene. | BZ |
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From Phil Bruner: "We color banded Ruddy Turnstones at Woolley Lagoon, Seward Peninsula in W. Alaska during June of 2004 and 2005. One banded bird was found at Kona by Reggie David and subsequently seen throughout the 2004-2005 winter season. I saw this RUTU in late March 2005 and it was in full male breeding plumage. We would like to report finding one of the 3 male Ruddy Turnstones we banded in June 2005. We observed the bird in a flock of 150 turnstones at Kualoa Park on Oahu on the 29 July 05. The fact that we have banded so few turnstones in 2004 and 2005 and yet have recorded two here in Hawaii is exciting. Especially in the light of the fact that no Pacific Golden-Plover we have been marking in Alaska from 1988 to the present have ever been recorded in Hawaii. We would like to enlist everyones help in checking Ruddy Turnstones here in Hawaii for banded individuals. If you see one please let us know where, when, and most important the exact band combination on both legs. We will be continuing our banding of Ruddy Tunrstones in Alaska in June 2006. You can reach us if you spot a banded turnstone either by e-mail or by leaving a voice mail message on my work phone (808)293-3820. Thanks for your help".
National Marine Fisheries Service is currently running a large-vessel survey for cetaceans and seabirds around Palmyra, Johnstone Atoll, and in the waters between those areas and the main Hawaiian Islands. They post weekly reports on their web site (address below), including summaries of seabird sightings. Go to http://swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/PRD/PROJECTS/PICEAS/default.htm and click on "Visit the cruise" to see the weekly reports. If you want to see the area being covered, you can click on "Draft Cruise Instructions". The site seems to ask for a password, but if you just hit cancel for the password the cruise instructions seem to pop up regardless.
David Kuhn's late August pelagic occurred as follows: "The Blue Dolphin Lehua trip (Port Allen- NW to Na Pali-SW to Lehua-E to Port Allen) on Friday August 26, 2005 encountered light and variable winds and little swell throughout, partly cloudy. Water surface was glassy for much of the trip. Bird sightings were largely singles and doubles, no large flocks, as would be expected for a day of such light winds SEABIRDS SEEN: Hawaiian Petrel (or at least a petrel with a white forehead)-- 1 on E-bd leg; Newell's Shearwater-- two singles W-bd.; Wedge-tailed Shearwater-- a few hundred, mostly rafted up in small flocks; Band-rumped Storm-petrel 1 W-bd; White-tailed T'bird-- 2 mid-channel, 6 near Na Pali; Red-tailed T'bird-- ~ 7 on/over Lehua; Red-footed Booby-- ~100, mostly on Lehua and some at sea; Brown Booby-- ~30 at sea, ~20 on/near Lehua; Great Frigatebird-- 9 over Lehua, three males; Black Noddy ~100, in Lehua colony, Na Pali, and small flocks at sea; Brown Noddy--1 solo on E-bound leg; Sooty Tern-- 3 E-bd. Other birds: Ruddy Turnstone 10 on Lehua; Cattle Egret two on Lehua. Other creatures: Monk Seal 2 near Lehua, 1 on beach Nualolo; Spinner Dolphin many, near Lehua as well as off Barking Sands and the Pali; Green Sea Turtle 5 Snorkeling over "The Wall" near Lehua was exceptional, thousands of reef fish, a school of Ulua, and a reef shark, in 100+ft viz." |
| 1st | NORTHERN SHOVELER | 5 | Kealia Pond, Maui. | MN | |
| 5th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 1 | Ala Moana, O'ahu. | Foraging on the raised limestone reef in the southeast shoreline at ala Moana Beach Park. Photo Here. |
MW |
| 6th | SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER | 1 | Haliewa Taro Fields, O'ahu. | Feeding with Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstones. | KP, GS |
| 9th | AMERICAN AVOCET | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | 1st record for the Hawaiian Islands. | GN, MN |
| 10th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 18 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Much of the refuge was dry today since habit work is in progress. | PD, RP, RM |
| 10th | RED KNOT | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Juvenile bird. Also 1 Lesser Yellowlegs and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper (juvenile with a bad leg). | PD, RP, RM |
| 10th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | PD, RP, RM | |
| 10th | WHIMBREL | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Siberian subspecies. | PD, RP, RM |
| 10th | LEAST SANDPIPER | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Semipalmated Plover. | PD, RP, RM |
| 11th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 3 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 19 Pacific Golden Plovers, 35+ Ruddy Turnstones and 19 Sanderlings. | ADY |
| 11th | SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. | ADY |
| 11th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 4 | Duke Ball Field, Kaunakakai, Moloka'i. | Also 7 Pacific Golden Plovers. | ADY |
| 12th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 2 | Kukui'ula Harbor in Poipu, Kaua'i. |
Seen in the wetland (dry at the moment) adjacent to Kukui'ula Harbor. Also 6 Red Avadavats, 12 RuddyTurnstones, 18 PG Plovers, and many Chestnut Mannikins. | JD |
| 12th | AMERICAN AVOCET | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | The Avocet was very findable amongst almost 200 Hawaiian Stilts. Also 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. | MW, CP |
| 13th | 'AKOHEKOHE | 3 | Waikamoi Preserve, Maui. | They were hanging around the platform at the lower end of the boardwalk feeding on lehua blossoms and about half
the time feeding in the Alani - presuma- bly on insects. They were as usual very territorial chasing all the other birds away including the Alauahio. They were certainly the most brilliantly adorned Akohekohe I've seen and they were coming in as close as 15 feet often at eye-level. |
CP |
| 13th | MAUI ALAUAHIO | 1 | Waikamoi Preserve, Maui. | Also low levels of 'I'iwi (only a few seen/heard) and about 20 'Apapane. | CP |
| 14th | AMERICAN AVOCET | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | Also 1 Semipalmated Plover, 5 Northern Shovelers, 53 Sanderlings, 13 Ruddy Turnstones,
hordes of Pacific Golden-Plovers and Hawaiian Stilts. For those that may
plan on going over to twitch the Avocet, be prepared for lots of very sticky mud. |
CP, RP, RD |
| 14th | SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER | 4 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | Also 1 Pectoral Sandpiper. | RD, RP |
| 14th | SEMIPALMATED PLOVER | 2 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | RD, RP | |
| 14th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 4 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | One identifiable by eye colour. Also 5 Northern Shoveler. | RD, RP |
| 14th | LAUGHING GULL | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | Adult winter. | RD, RP |
| 18th | AMERICAN AVOCET | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | Also 1 Laughing Gull and 5 Northern Shovelers. | KP |
| 18th | STEJNEGER'S PETREL | 30+ | Pelagic off E. O'ahu. | Full trip details: Click Here. | HS, CM |
| 20th | RUFF | 1 | Waimea Canyon School, Kaua'i. | Juvenile foraging on the lawn of Waimea Canyon School. | JD |
| 22nd | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | Kukui'ula Wetlands, Kaua'i. | DL et al. | ||
| 24th | SEMIPALMATED PLOVER | 1 | Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Possibly last year's wintering bird returning. | ADY |
| 24th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 7 | Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Probing and tossing whatever it pulled out over its backside, looked like small stones. Then it pulled out a clam, held it in its bill and hit it on a large rock a couple of times, then picked at the insides. | ADY |
| 24th | HAWAIIAN STILT | 3 | Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Pair with juvenile. Also 11 Pacific Golden Plover, 4 Ruddy Turnstone, 1 Wandering Tattler and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. | ADY |
| 25th | BLACK-WINGED PETREL | 2 | Pelagic c.30 miles north-east from Nawiliwili, Kaua'i. | Also possibly 6 others. Seas rather calm. | HS |
| 25th | COOK'S PETREL | 10 | Pelagic c.30 miles north-east from Nawiliwili, Kaua'i. | Also 2 Hawaiian Petrels and large feeding concentration of c.50 Newell's Shearwater in strong association with about 80 Red-footed Booby but only about 20 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. | HS |
| 25th | LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER | 1 | Waiawa, O'ahu. | Watercress farm next to Waiawa. | KP |
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Arleon Dibben-Young on Moloka'i writes: "I am always amazed at the kind of bird activity at the little WHIP wetland that I created at our home. Our wandering tattler just returned two days ago, stilts come and go all day and all night long (one pair is nearly always here), coots have nested, and now two coots that flew in at different times earlier this year are rubbing heads and being very secretive in one of the makaloa patches. Ah! Love found. One side of the wetland is planted with several naio (aka bastard sandalwood) trees, with the branches hanging low, about 6” from the ground, and all the coots hang out in the shade much of the day. An odd coot who is not too sociable and tends to keep some distance away from the other coots, has an interesting way of eating the fleshy naio seeds: it stands and knocks down the naio seeds with its feet, and then eats them off the ground where they fall".
Bristle-thighed Curlew at Ala Moana Park, O'ahu, September 2005. Photograph © Michael Walther
American Avocet at Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. This bird was found by Glynis Nakai, the refuge manager, on 9th September 2005. The First record for the Hawaiian Islands. Photograph © by Mike Nishimoto
The first for the Hawaiian Islands. Photograph © by Mike Nishimoto, taken through a telescope.
The First record for the Hawaiian Islands. Photograph © by Michael Walther/O'ahu Nature Tours
For more photos and some video footage visit the O'ahu Nature Tours Site at: http://oahunaturetours.com/photogallery/birds/indexavocetnolinks.html
Island visitor Hadoram Shirihai and local fisherman Curt Mench made some pelagics off O'ahu during September and recorded the following species: "This is just a brief summery of the only two days (Sunday 18 Sep and Tuesday 20 Sep 2005) we could go out to ocean east off Oahu, Hawaii. The most interesting was estimation of 3000-5000 Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus on the 18 Sep with (only) one Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis, but there was a continued southward passage of c. 600-700 Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus. On both the 18 Sep and the 20 Sep I noted an interesting influx (?) of small gadfly and Cookilaria petrels, most I have seen were on the 20 Sep with 20 to 30 of each Stejneger's Petrel Pterodroma longirostris and Cook's Petrel Pterodroma cookie, thus at least 50 Pterodroma, and I photo'd well two Stejneger's and one Cook's. On these days I had only max three Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis. Most of these Pterodroma were around the MM buoy. On my first day in Oahu the fishman Curt Mench and I rescued a freshly fledged Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii. The bird was very exhausted and I was almost sure that he will not make it, but we fed him with fish and, surprisingly, he recovered and on the 19 Sep we made him free – I not sure if Bulwer's Petrel recorded breeding in Oahu or on offshore islands, but it was defiantly very fresh fledged bird, almost if it was fledged too early. Petrels in most cases do not recovered in such weak conditions and it was especially great to save the bird with the fishman – I gave Curt to fly the bird and he was so happy – nice to see fishman saving and caring about seabirds. However, the most exciting thing was a prolong observation of a group of Blainville’s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris, just around the MM buoy on the 20 Sep – one ad. male and three young/females – the whales were exceptionally very friendly and demonstrative – the young sometimes coming to investigate the boat from 10 meter away and we were follow them about 30 minutes".
Here is the latest Elderhostel birding list from Dan Lindsay: "21 Sep, Hanalei NWR: Northern Cardinal, Red-crested Cardinal, Chestnut Munia, Nutmeg Munia, Cattle Egret, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, Pacific Golden Plover (all the above abundant), Nene (three in the taro fields), Hawaiian Duck (many), Common Moorhen, Rock Pigeon, Japanese White-eye, Common Myna, Black-crowned Night Heron (several, both adult and juvenile), Java Sparrow (a small flock of 8-10), House Sparrow (many), Hawaiian Stilt ( frequent in the taro fields), Hawaiian Coot (several, in the taro fields and the large pond), House Finch. Kilauea Point: Red-footed Booby (abundant), Brown Booby (off the point, usually flying inland over the E end of the island; four were seen, but all separately and could have been the same bird recircling), Red-tailed Tropicbird (many, mostly off the point), White-tailed Tropicbird (less frequent and further off shore than the Red-tailed), Great Frigatebird (several, all females except one immature), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (several juveniles in or partly out of their burrows, and one adult flying makai on the east side of the peninsula), Nene (more than a dozen). Hulei'a NWR: White-rumped Shama, Greater Necklaced Laughing-thrush (two in a tree, 100 yds down from the last switchback corner), Hwa-mei (one flying across the road; many heard). 22 September, Koke'e area: Black Francolin (male by the roadside half-way from Waimea). All the following along the road between Kalalau Lookout and Pu'u o Kila: Apapane, Anianiau, Kaua'i Amakihi (the above three common), Kaua'i Elepaio (several, more juveniles than adults), Akeke'e (two, about half-way between the two lookouts at the stone bridge), Red Junglefowl (abundant at Park HQ). Kawai'ele: Wandering Tattler (two), Ruddy Turnstone (three), Northern Mockingbird (one on power wire). Kukui'ula Wetlands (significant birds only): Bristle-thighed Curlew (one, far from the road, feeding in the grass), Common Waxbill (two), Red Avadavat (two males, one female), Western Meadowlark (two -- this was the only place we saw them in the three days on the island). 23 September, Waiakea Ponds, Wailoa St. Pk., Hilo (significant birds only): Greater White-fronted Goose ("Lonesome George" hangs out with the domestics), Cackling Goose (Canada?) - the usual flock of 11, which I believe to be Lesser Canadas, species uncertain. Onekahakaha Beach Park: Yellow-billed Cardinal (one adult, two juveniles in the trees over the upper parking lot). 24 September, Volcanoes NP: Black Noddy (8-10, Holei Sea Arch), Oma'o, Apapane (both frequent at Nahuku Lava Tube), Kalij Pheasant, Hawai'i Amakihi (both in parking lot for Devastation Trail walk). 25 Sep., Keanakolu Rd.: Eurasian Skylark (far fewer than usual, mostly near Hakalau NWR), Pueo (two, hunting). Hakalau NWR (very quiet, few birds in evidence): Apapane, Io (three, two dark phase adults, one light-phase juvenile), I'iwi, Oma'o, Amakihi, Volcano Elepaio. 26 Sep, Pu'u La'au: California Quail, Hawai'i Amakihi (abundant), NO Palila, NO Elepaio (though one was heard), NO I'iwi! Not even a Francolin, though Erckel's was heard! Big Island Country Club (also unusually quiet): Nutmeg Munia (abundant), African Silverbill (common), Saffron Finch (few, more than 80% juveniles -- creche behavior again?), Wild Turkey (two, on parade along the road; several on the hill to the north), Red Avadavat (at least two pair). Pu'u Anahulu: Yellow-fronted Canary (about three), Lavender Waxbill (at least four)". |
| 1st | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 5 Sanderling and 7 Wandering Tattler. | MO |
| 1st | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 18 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 30+ Hawaiian Moorhen, 20+ Hawaiian Stilt and 60+ Hawaiian Coot. | MO |
| 1st | PECTORAL SANDPIPER | 2 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also many Pacific Golden Plover - one flock of over 150 birds. | MO |
| 1st | NORTHERN PINTAIL | 5 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 60+ Koloa/hybrid and 1 Rosy-billed Pochard (female accompanied by drake Koloa/hybrid). | MO |
| 3rd | SEMIPALMATED PLOVER | 3 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 35 Hawaiian Stilt, 45 Sanderling, 29 Ruddy Turnstone, 7 Wandering Tattler and 28 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 3rd | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Long-billed Dowitcher. | ADY |
| 3rd | LESSER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Koheo, Moloka'i. | Also 2 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 2 Sanderling and 8 Ruddy Turnstone. | ADY |
| 3rd? | IBIS sp. | 1 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | AN | |
| 7th | STEJNEGER'S PETREL | 1 | Sea Life Park, O'ahu. | See photographs below: Here. | SLP |
| 9th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Lesser Yellowlegs and 2 Northern Pintail. | MM |
| 9th | SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Pectoral Sandpiper. | MM |
| 11th | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. | Currently molting and is unable to fly; captured, banded, and released. FWS band # 1547-20019 was put on left tarsus. If anyone sees the bird, particularly on the other islands, I would appreciate the info. | BZ |
| 11th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 30 Hawaiian Stilt, 33 Ruddy Turnstone, 49 Sanderling, 4 Wandering Tattler and 17 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 11th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. | ADY |
| 11th | SEMIPALMATED PLOVER | 3 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 4 Northern Pintail, 1 Northern Shoveler, 1 mallard-looking duck, possibly domestic, black head and body with white ring around the neck. | ADY |
| 11th | WANDERING TATTLER | 2 | Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Sanderling and 1 Black-crowned Night Heron. | ADY |
| 11th | NORTHERN SHOVELER | 2 | Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Northern Pintail, 15 Hawaiian Stilt, 70 Hawaiian Coot, 1 Wandering Tattler and 3 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 13th | EURASIAN WIGEON | 2 | Turtle Bay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu. | Also 5 Northern Pintail. | KP |
| 13th | WHITE-FACED/GLOSSY IBIS | 1 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Dark eyes, streaky head and neck. | PD |
| 13th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 4 Northern Shoveler, 6 Northern Pintail and 1 Short-eared Owl. | PD |
| 13th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 18 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 2 juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher. | PD |
| 13th | SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER | 4 | Kii unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 3 Pectoral Sandpiper. | PD |
| 14th | BAR-TAILED GODWIT | 1 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Juvenile bird. Scaly upperparts, grayish neck and breast. White belly and undertail coverts. Obvious dark eyeline and pale supercilium. Long noticeably upturned bill, mostly pink with distal third black. | PD |
| 14th | HAWAIIAN STILT | 26 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Also 87 Pacific Golden-Plover, 4 Wandering Tattler , 2 Ruddy Turnstone and 2 Sanderling. | PD |
| 14th | GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 4 American Wigeon and 1 Lesser Scaup. | PD |
| 14th | NORTHERN SHOVELER | 11 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 27 Northern Pintail and 35 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid. | PD |
| 14th | DUNLIN | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 2 Pectoral Sandpiper and 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. | PD |
| 14th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Juvenile. Also 8 Pacific Golden-Plover, 160 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Wandering Tattler, 12 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Sanderling. | PD |
| 14th | HAWAIIAN COOT | 83 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 3 Gray Francolin heard and 8 Mourning Dove. | PD |
| 15th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 1 | Kii unit of James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Presumed first-year. Also 4 Northern Shoveler and 4 Northern Pintail. | PD, DW, AW |
| 15th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | Kii unit of James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Semipalmated Plover, 18 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and 2 juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher. | PD, DW, AW |
| 15th | SANDERLING | 14 | Waiawa NWR, O'ahu. | Also 2 Cattle Egret, 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 3 Hawaiian Coot, 124 Pacific Golden-Plover, 24 Hawaiian Stilt, 4 Wandering Tattler and 6 Ruddy Turnstone. | PD |
| 16th | CURLEW SANDPIPER | 1 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Alos Lesser Yellowlegs and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper but no sign of the Bar-tailed Godwit seen on 14th. |
MW |
| 16th | LESSER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. | 8am. Also 3 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Sanderling and 1 Wandering Tattler. A dog chased the birds away and all birds returned except the Lesser Yellowlegs, which flew west - the direction of Ohiapilo. | ADY |
| 16th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | 11am. Also 12 Hawaiian Stilt, 38 Pacific Golden Plover, 8 Ruddy Turnstone, 30 Sanderling and 3 Wandering Tattler. | ADY |
| 16th | DUNLIN | 3 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | 11am. Also 1 Bristle-thigh Curlew, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs and 2 Long-billed Dowitcher. | ADY |
| 16th | GREEN-WINGED TEAL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 19 Northern Pintail, 1 Northern Shoveler and 1 Teal sp. (poss. Cinnamon, by the time I switched from bins to scope it had swam into the makaloa). | ADY |
| 16th | WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | No sign at Pouhala Marsh of the Bar-tailed Godwit but 2 Sanderlings there. | EV |
| 16th | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 female Ring-necked Duck and 1 Hawaiian Coot apparently on a nest. | EV |
| 17th | RUFF | 1 | Kawaiele Sand Mine, Kaua'i. | Also 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 12 female Northern Shovelers, 2 Sanderlings, 1 Ruddy Turnstone, 4 Wandering Tattler, 3 Koloa and many Coots, Kolea, and Moorhen. | JD |
| 17th | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. | Recenty banded bird still present. | JD |
| 18th | STEJNEGER'S or COOK'S PETREL | 1 | Pelagic south of Honolulu, O'ahu. | Also 155 Wedge-tailed Shearwater, 1 White-tailed Tropicbird, 2 Brown Booby, 1 Great Frigatebird, 3 Brown Noddy and 50 White Tern. | MW, EV, KP, PD |
| 18th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Also 2 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 47 Pacific Golden-Plover, 50 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Wandering Tattler and 1 Ruddy Turnstone. | PD |
| 18th | GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 4 American Wigeon, 21 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 16 Northern Shoveler, 16 Northern Pintail, 4 Ring-necked Duck and 2 Lesser Scaup. | PD |
| 18th | DUNLIN | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 52 Hawaiian Stilt,2 Wandering Tattler, 30 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Sanderling. | PD |
| 18th | HAWAIIAN COOT | 65 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Including 3 imm. At least 3 coots seem to be building nests.Also 7 Gray Francolin, 19 Pacific Golden-Plover and 7 Mourning Dove. | PD |
| 18th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 4 | Kiholo Bay, Hawai'i. | Also 1 Wandering Tattler, 9 Ruddy Turnstone and 2 Pacific Golden Plover. | KH |
| 20th | DUNLIN | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. |
KP |
| 20th | IBIS sp. | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | KP | |
| 20th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 41 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Very high count. Also 5 Northern Shoveler, 2 Northern Pintail, 1 American Wigeon and 2 Pueo. | KP |
| 23rd | DUNLIN | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 5-7 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Dowitcher sp.- presumably a Long-billed, 10 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Sanderling. | MM |
| 23rd | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 10-15 Wigeon sp. inc. at least 2 American and 6 Northern Pintail. | MM |
| 24th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 3 | Pahoehoe beach flats, Hawai'i. | Directly in front of the fishpond. Also a Pueo there. | RP |
| 27th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper and 35 Bristle- thighed Curlew. | KP |
| 27th | IBIS sp. | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | The Ibis still wants to flock and then roost with the Cattle Egrets but they want nothing to do with it, so it took 40 min. for them to finally go to roost together. | KP |
| 27th | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 5 Northern Pintail, 13 Northern Shoveler and 13 Green-winged Teal. | KP |
| 28th | DUNLIN | 1 | Kahuku Shrimp Farm, O'ahu. | Also 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. | MW |
| 29th | CANVASBACK | 3 | Kuilima STP, O'ahu. | 1 non-breeding male and 2 females. Also 4 Northern Pintail. | MO, TD, KP |
| 29th | REDHEAD | 1 | Kuilima STP, O'ahu. | Immature. | MO, TD, KP |
| 29th | LESSER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Koheo wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 3 Hawaiian Stilt (The same pair and the one female with the leg that dangles when she flies. This female sometimes comes to our house in Kawela with a different pair of stilts, then they chase her away. I have also seen this female at Kamalo (4 miles east of our house) and Ohiapilo (6 miles west of our house) | ADY |
| 29th | HAWAIIAN STILT | 3 | Koheo wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Sanderling, 2 Wandering Tattler, 2 Ruddy Turnstone and 7 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 29th | EURASIAN WIGEON | 2 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 Cackling Goose, 18 American Wigeon, 11 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 15 Northern Shoveler and 28 Northern Pintail. | PD |
| 29th | LESSER SCAUP | 2 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 3 Green-winged Teal and 165 Hawaiian Coot (at least 3 coots on nests). | PD |
| 29th | DUNLIN | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Dowitcher sp., 1 Wandering Tattler, 6 Ruddy Turnstone, 26 Hawaiian Stilt and 57 Pacific Golden-Plover. | PD |
| 31st | BLACK-WINGED PETREL | 1 | Pelagic SW of Kaua'i. | Probable bird. Also 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 Newell's Shearwater. | RB, et al. |
| 3rd | AMERICAN AVOCET | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | Bird has returned after a couple of weeks absence. Also 245 Northern Shovelers, a few Green-winged
Teal and Northern Pintails and about 450 Pacific Golden Plover. |
MN |
| 3rd | SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 14 Northern Pintail, 19 Northern Shoveler, 2 Green-winged Teal, 2 drake American Wigeon and 2 Wigeon sp.. | KP |
| 3rd | IBIS sp. | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Ring necked Duck 1 (female), 1 Long billed Dowitcher and 38 Bristle- thighed Curlew. | KP |
| 3rd | HAWAIIAN STILT | 3 | Koheo wetland, Moloka'i. | ADY | |
| 3rd | LESSER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moloka'i. | Also 11 Hawaiian Stilt, 62 Hawaiian Coot, 1 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler and 2 Black-crowned Night Heron. | ADY |
| 3rd | GADWALL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 10 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Hawaiian Coot, 15 Northern Shoveler, 8 Northern Pintail and 7 American Wigeon. | ADY |
| 3rd | BLUE-WINGED TEAL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 6 Pacific Golden Plover, 3 Wandering Tattler, 44 Sanderling, 27 Ruddy Turnstone, 2 Black-crowned Night Heron and 2 Domestic hybrid duck sp.. | ADY |
| 3rd | DUNLIN | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | ADY | |
| 3rd | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. | ADY |
| 5th | IBIS sp. | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 2 Green-winged Teal, 4 Northern Pintail, 2 Northern Shoveler, 1 Ring- necked Duck and 60+ Koloa/hybrids. | KP |
| 5th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 14 Bristle-thighed Curlew and 6 Sanderling. | KP |
| 6th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose, 60 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 1 Blue-winged Teal, 4 Northern Shoveler, 8 Northern Pintail and 1 Green-winged Teal. | PD |
| 6th | REDHEAD | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Female. Also 1 F Ring-necked Duck, 5 Lesser Scaup (1 M), 26 Hawaiian Moorhen, 120 Hawaiian Coot and 13 Black-crowned Night-Heron. | PD |
| 6th | CANVASBACK | 3 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | One male. Also 47 Pacific Golden-Plover, 74 Hawaiian Stilt, 6 Wandering Tattler and 67 Ruddy Turnstone. | PD |
| 6th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 11 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and 1 Long-billed Dowitcher. | PD |
| 6th | NORTHERN SHOVELER | 2 | Kuilima STP, O'ahu. | Also 118 Hawaiian Coot, 23 Hawaiian Stilt, 6 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Pacific Golden-Plover. | PD |
| 6th | AMERICAN WIGEON | 1 | Lokoea Pond, O'ahu. | Male. Also 1 Northern Shoveler and 1 Hawaiian Coot. | PD |
| 9th | LESSER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Called loudly and then took off west towards Kaunakakai. 7am visit. Also 3 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler and 1 Black-crowned Night Heron. | ADY |
| 9th | GADWALL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 5 Hawaiian Coot. | ADY |
| 9th | EURASIAN WIGEON | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Lesser Scaup, 7 American Wigeon, 35 Northern Pintail, 19 Northern Shoveler, 1 Blue-Winged Teal and 2 Domestic hybrid ducks. | ADY |
| 9th | DUNLIN | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 12 Pacific Golden Plover, 14 Hawaiian Stilt. | ADY |
| 9th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 5 Ruddy Turnstones, 35 Sanderling, 4 Wandering Tattler, 1 Bristle-thighed Curlew and 1 Black- Crowed Night Heron. | ADY |
| 9th | LESSER SCAUP | 3 | Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. | By the boat ramp. Also 12 Canada/ Cackling Geese - 10 large race (prob. taverneri and 2 were small, stub-billed and pale-breasted (prob. hutchinsi). | DL |
| 9th | SCAUP sp. | 4 | Loko Waka, Hilo, Hawai'i. | Three females and 1 male. | DL |
| 10th | SCAUP sp. | 2 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Male & female Scaup sp. (backlit, so couldn’t tell if lesser or greater) swimming in makai canal with coots. Also 3 Green- Winged Teal (male w/two females), sleeping on edge of makai canal with a Wandering Tattler. | ADY |
| 11th | BLUE-WINGED TEAL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Drake. Also 5 Green-winged Teal (1 male, 4 female), 5 American Wigeon, 34 Northern Pintail, 6 Northern Shoveler and 5 Hawaiian Coot. | ADY |
| 11th | DUNLIN | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 38 Sanderling, 9 Ruddy Turnstone, 3 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 1 Bristle-thighed Curlew. | ADY |
| 11th | SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 2 Domestic hybrid ducks and 2 Black-Crowned Night Heron. | ADY |
| 11th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Still present. Also 16 Hawaiian Stilt, 6 Black crowned Night Heron and 30 Cattle Egret . | MO |
| 11th | REDHEAD | 1 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose, 3 American Wigeon, 15 Northern Pintail, 4 Northern Shoveler, 70+ Koloa/hybrids, 8 Hawaiian Moorhen and 100+ Hawaiian Coot. | MO |
| 11th | CANVASBACK | 3 | Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 12 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 6 Sanderling and 24 Ruddy Turnstone. | MO |
| 11th | LAUGHING GULL | 1 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | First-winter. | MW |
| 11th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Also 85 Hawaiian Stilt and 2 Black- crowned Night-Heron. | PD |
| 11th | DUNLIN | 2 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Also 4 Sanderling, 2 Ruddy Turnstone, 2 Wandering Tattler, and 30 Pacific Golden Plover. | PD |
| 11th | BUFFLEHEAD | 1 | Kuilima STP, O'ahu. | Female/immature type. | MW |
| 12th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 12 Bristle thighed Curlew, 1 Semipalmated Plover and 3 Long-billed Dowitcher. | MO |
| 12th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Wandering Tattler, 24 Ruddy Turnstone and 8 Sanderling. | MO |
| 12th | WILSON'S SNIPE | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 4 Black crowned Night Heron and 8 Cattle Egrets. | MO | |
| 12th | LEAST SANDPIPER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 18 Hawaiian Moorhen, 70+ Hawaiian Coot, 70+ Koloa/Hybrids and 24 Hawaiian Stilt. | MO |
| 12th | REDHEAD | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 8 Lesser Scaup, 3 American Wigeon, 1 Green-winged Teal, 12 Northern Pintail and 4 Northern Shoveler. | MO |
| 12th | CANVASBACK | 4 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Now 4 birds present. | MO |
| 13th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 1 | Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 2 Wandering Tattler, 5 Ruddy Turnstone and 15 Pacific Golden Plover. | EV, ADY |
| 13th | HAWAIIAN COOT | 55 | Kauankakai Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moloka'i. | Also 2 Wandering Tattler. | EV, ADY |
| 13th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Ohiapilo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 40 Sanderling, 25 Ruddy Turnstone, 15 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler and 20 Pacific Golden Plover. | EV, ADY |
| 13th | DUNLIN | 1 | Ohiapilo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 1 Pueo. | EV, ADY |
| 13th | GADWALL | 1 | Ohiapilo Wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 3 Lesser Scaup (2 males, 1 female), 35 Northern Pintail, 3+ American Wigeon, 4+ Northern Shoveler and 5 Green-winged Teal. | EV, ADY |
| 13th | GREATER SCAUP | 1 | Kualapuu Oxidation Pond, Moloka'i. | Female bird. | EV, ADY |
| 13th | LESSER SCAUP | 11 | Kualapuu Reservoir, Moloka'i. | Also 4 female Ring-necked Duck and 30+ Hawaiian Coot. | EV, ADY |
| 13th | WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA | 3+ | Moloka'i. | 1 along highway near mile marker 20 east of Kaunakakai on 11 November, 1 at Puu O Hoku Ranch on 12 November, 3 in Halawa Valley along the waterfall trail on 12 November, 1 along the highway at mile marker 4 in Kawela. | EV |
| 13th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | Also 35 Sanderling, 20 Ruddy Turnstone, 50+ Pacific Golden Plover and 2 Ring-necked Duck. | ME |
| 15th | GREAT BLUE HERON | 1 | Lili'uokalani Park, Hawai'i. | Landed on the bay side of the park near the access to Coconut Island, remained a few minutes, and then flew off in the direction of Hilo. | SO |
| 17th | REDHEAD | 1 | Turtle bay Sewage Treatment Plant, North Shore, O'ahu. | Also 1 Bufflehead and 1 Northern Shoveler. | KP |
| 17th | CANVASBACK | 3 | Turtle bay Sewage Treatment Plant, North Shore, O'ahu. | KP | |
| 17th | HOODED MERGANSER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Female feeding on creyfish in pond F. Also 14 Northern Pintail, 2 Northern Shoveler and 21 American Wigeon. | KP |
| 17th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Flew by heading over the Amorant ponds after a distant flock of Cattle Egrets. Also 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Common Snipe and 1 Cackling Goose. | KP |
| 17th | HAWAIIAN COOT | 55 | Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moloka'i. | Also 20 Hawaiian Stilt, 6 Pacific Golden Plover, 3 Black-Crowned Night Heron and 2 Wandering Tattler. | ADY |
| 17th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 11 Hawaiian Stilt, 6 Hawaiian Coot, 18 Ruddy Turnstone, 44 Sanderling and 13 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 17th | DUNLIN | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 3 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 6 Wandering Tattler and 1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. | ADY |
| 17th | GADWALL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 4 Green-Winged Teal, 12 Northern Shoveler, 13 Northern Pintail, 5 American Wigeon and 2 Domestic hybrid duck. | ADY |
| 18th | DUNLIN | 5 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | Also 2 Laughing Gulls. | MW |
| 19th | RING-NECKED DUCK | 3 | Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. | Females. Also 1 Ring-necked Duck and 1 Lesser Scaup at nearby Loko Waka Pond. | PT |
| 20th | BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER | 1 | Kawaiele Bird Sanctuary, Kaua'i. | Also 1 female Northern Shoveler and 1 Red Avadavat. | JD |
| 21st | BUFFLEHEAD | 1 | Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. | Female. Also 1 male Ring-necked Duck, 5 female Scaup and 6 female Northern Shoveler on the Ducks Unlimited Pond. | JD |
| 21st | LESSER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Koheo, Moloka'i. | Also 2 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler, and 1 Pacific Golden Plover. The Lesser Yellowlegs took off and flew west towards Ohiapilo. | ADY |
| 21st | SANDERLING | 34 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 11 Hawaiian Stilt, 4 Wandering Tattler, 13 Pacific Golden Plover, 8 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs which took off and flew east and was back at Koheo five minutes later! | ADY |
| 21st | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 13 Northern Pintail, 8 Northern Shoveler and 2 Domestic hybrid ducks. | ADY |
| 23rd | WILLET | 1 | Lilioukalani Park, Hilo, Hawai'i. | Moulting sub-adult loafing on one of the small rocks in Hilo Bay just north of the first turn in the Park road. It was seen with a group of 2 Pacific Golden-Plover, and 13 Ruddy Turnstones. Seen at 6.30am but not later in the day. | RD |
| 23rd | WANDERING TATTLER | 1 | Waikea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. | The regularly-returning wintering Alaskan-banded bird again present. | RD |
| 24th | REDHEAD | 1 | Turtle Bay Sewage Treatment Plant, O'ahu. | Also 1 Bufflehead still. | KP |
| 24th | CANVASBACK | 3 | Turtle Bay Sewage Treatment Plant, O'ahu. | KP | |
| 24th | KILLDEER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose still. | KP |
| 24th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Ibis flying from the Ag. fields over Kam. Hwy. to Turtle Bay Golf Course. | KP |
| 24th | MARBLED GODWIT | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 5 Green-winged Teal, 3 Lesser Scaup and 2 Pueo. | KP | |
| 24th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 47 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Wilson's Snipe, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher and 1 Semipalmated Plover. | KP |
| 24th | BRANT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 47 Northern Pintail, 2 Northern Shoveler and 17 American Wigeon. | KP |
| 26th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Weather can best be described as close to atrocious and for what ever reason most of the birds seemed to be highly skittish. | RM, MO |
| 26th | AMERICAN WIGEON | 12 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 27 Northern Pintail, 5 Northern Shoveler and 4 Green winged Teal. | RM, MO |
| 26th | KILLDEER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 43 Bristle-thighed Curlew and 2 Wilson's Snipe. | RM, MO |
| 26th | WHIMBREL | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | North American race bird. | RM, MO |
| 30th | AMERICAN WIGEON | 5 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | The site received 3.12” of rain from November 23 -29. The makai canal has overflowed into the primary pond and the primary pond is now connected to the mangrove swamp. Fish 6” – 8” are jumping. On average, the primary and secondary ponds are 3” - 6” deep and the old railroad mole is averaging 2” deep. | ADY |
| 30th | GADWALL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 11 Hawaiian Stilt, 21 Hawaiian Coot, 1 Wandering Tattler and 3 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 30th | NORTHERN PINTAIL | 6 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 2 Teal sp. (Either Green-Wing or Blue-Wing …They were far away and their heads were underwater) and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. | ADY |
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Article on Midway's Laysan Duck relocation efforts
First-winter Laughing Gull at Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu on 11th November 2005 Photograph © by Peter Donaldson
Photograph © by Peter Donaldson
Photograph © by Michael Walther
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| 1st | KILLDEER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Still present. Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher. | KP |
| 1st | DUNLIN | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Semipalmated Plover. | KP |
| 1st | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Laughing Gull. | KP |
| 1st | WHIMBREL | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 44 Bristle-thighed Curlew. | KP |
| 1st | BRANT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 27 Northern Pintail, 23 American Wigeon and 1 Green-winged Teal. | KP |
| 1st | CACKLING GOOSE | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Still present. | KP |
| 2nd | EURASIAN WIGEON | 4 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 20 American Wigeon, 1 Northen Pintail, 1 Hawaiian Moorhen and 220 Hawaiian Coot. | PD |
| 2nd | GREATER WHITE FRONTED GOOSE | 1 | Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose and 23 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid. | PD |
| 2nd | LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 7 Pacific Golden Plover, 46 Hawaiian Stilt and 1 Pectoral or Sharp-tailed Sandpiper seen flying away. Also 10 Mourning Dove. | PD |
| 2nd | BRANT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Cackling Goose, 5 Wigeon sp., 32 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 2 Northern Shoveler and 36 Northern Pintail. | PD |
| 2nd | KILLDEER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 44 Cattle Egret, 21 Black-crowned Night-Heron,3 Ring-necked Pheasant, 15 Hawaiian Moorhen and 200 Hawaiian Coot. | PD |
| 2nd | RED KNOT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 50 Pacific Golden-Plover, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 71 Hawaiian Stilt and 5 Wandering Tattler. | PD |
| 2nd | WHIMBREL | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 46 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 105 Ruddy Turnstone, 5 Sanderling and 3 Dowitcher sp.. | PD |
| 2nd | LEAST SANDPIPER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | PD | |
| 6th | AMERICAN AVOCET | 1 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | Still present. Also 1 Bufflehead, 100 Northern Shoveler and c.40 Northern Pintail. | MN |
| 6th | WHITE-FACED IBIS | 5 | Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. | MN | |
| 6th | GREYLAG GOOSE | 1 | Kanaha Pond, Maui. | MN | |
| 8th | GREATER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Waiawa NWR, O'ahu. | Also 6 Ruddy Turnstone, 5 Wandering Tattler, 12 Pacific Golden Plover and 8 Hawaiian Coot. Lesser Yellowlegs also seen recently. | PD |
| 8th | DUNLIN | 3 | Waiawa NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 11 Sanderling, 56 Hawaiian Stilt and 25 Black-crowned Night-Heron. | PD |
| 8th | OSPREY | 1 | Pearl Harbor, O'ahu. | Seen recently. | FWS |
| 8th | LAUGHING GULL | 1 | Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. | First winter. Also 6 Pacific Golden Plover, 67 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Wandering Tattler, 1 Ruddy Turnstone and 2 Long-billed Dowitcher. 2 | PD |
| 9th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 45 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 1 Semipalmated Plover and 1 Long-billed Dowitcher. | KP |
| 9th | KNOT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 14 Northern Pintail and 25 Green-winged Teal. | KP, PD |
| 9th | KILLDEER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Northern Shoveler and 4 Green-winged Teal. | KP |
| 9th | WHIMBREL | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Brant and 1 Cackling Goose still. | KP |
| 9th | CANARY | 1 | Piiholo, Maui. | Red morph bird. | FS, KS |
| 9th | LESSER YELLOWLEGS | 1 | Koheo wetland, Moloka'i. | Also 4 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 1 Wandering Tattler, 4 Pacific Golden Plover, 3 Hawaiian Stilt and 1 Sanderling. | ADY |
| 9th | HAWAIIAN COOT | 38 | Kaunakakai WTP, Moloka'i. | Oxidation ponds. Also 12 Hawaiian Stilt and 4 Pacific Golden Plover. | ADY |
| 9th | GADWALL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Also 8 Northern Shoveler, 12 Northern Pintail, 35 Hawaiian Coot, 26 Hawaiian Stilt, 8 Pacific Golden Plover and 2 Wandering Tattler. | ADY |
| 9th | BLUE-WINGED TEAL | 1 | Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. | Drake. Also 35 Hawaiian Coot, 26 Hawaiian Stilt, 8 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 5 American Wigeon. One 3-pound Samoan crab found on the newly-mowed trail around the secondary pond. | ADY |
| 10th | HAWAIIAN COOT | 132 | Kuilima Treatment plant, O'ahu. | Also 1 Northern Shoveler, 1 Hawaiian Stilt and 6 Ruddy Turnstone. | MO |
| 10th | MARBLED GODWIT | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 36 Hawaiian Stilt, 3 Long-billed Dowitcher and 6 Wandering Tattler. | MO |
| 10th | KILLDEER | 1 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 45 Ruddy Turnstone, 55 Pacific Golden Plover, 18 Hawaiian Moorhen and 110 Hawaiian Coot. | MO |
| 10th | BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW | 21 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 1 Semipalmated Plover. | MO |
| 11th | EURASIAN WIGEON | 2 | James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. | Also 12 American Wigeon, 15 Northern Shoveler, 25 Northern Pintail, 65 Koloa/Hybrids, 22 Black-crowned Night Heron and 1 female Rosy-billed Pochard. | MO |
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Cackling Goose (probably minima) at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu in early December 2005. Photograph © by Peter Donaldson
Comments received on the specific identification of this bird and the one below have been as follows: Dan Lindsey commented: "The first bird is pretty classic Branta hutchinsii minima: stubby bill, dark breast. The second, with a slightly paler breast and a trace of a neck ring, is more of a challenge. But Sibley reports that field observations indicate that the neck ring-- even a complete one -- is of little value in identifying individual birds, as it is quite common even in subspecies like taverneri and hutchinsii where it is often reported as very rare. There is also considerable range in breast color in the various subspecies. So I would call this one B. h. minima also, though the possibility of a hybrid between B. h. minima and B. h. leucopareia should be considered." Les Chibana says: "This (first bird) looks like a Branta hutchinsii minima (formerly the small subspecies referred to as Cackling Goose) based on the dark breast, short stubby neck, and small bill. Regarding the minimal (pun intended) collar, the Madge and Burn waterfowl guide notes that minima can have a thin collar. I think it's interesting that the collar doesn't show in the swimming bird shot. I've heard and seen that many B.h. leucopareia (Aleutian) do not have a prominent or any collar. But the dark breast is unlike an Aleutian. Are any size comparisons available (other birds)? The flat-crowned appearance in the swimming bird image might be a point of contention, but note the rounded crown shape of the standing bird." Alvaro Jaramillo replies: "The analysis looks reasonable, but I would suggest that a "hybrid" between these two forms should not be in the pool of considerations. Aleutian (leucopareia) is an insular taxon and I don't think there is any evidence they intergrade with the continental Cackling taxa at all. Given that this mix doesn't exist in the wild, I don't think it needs to be considered. The plumage of the second bird is good for Aleutian, but if it was one it should also have been noticeably larger than a minima. Structure and size, and these are often better judged in the field and if any comparison is available. Given that at least in the photos it looks much like the minima bird, maybe its best to leave it as such as Dan suggests." Cackling Goose (probably minima) at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu in early December 2005. Photograph © by Peter Donaldson
A November 22, 2005 article in the New York Times on Pacific Bird Evolution : In Give and Take of Evolution, a Surprising Contribution From Islands Islands hold a special place in the hearts of evolutionary biologists. When Charles Darwin
visited the Galápagos Islands in 1835, he was stunned by the diversity of birds, which helped guide him
to his theory of evolution by natural selection. Beginning in the middle of the last century, the ornithologist
Ernst Mayr laid the foundation for the modern understanding of the way new species evolve, arguing that they mainly
emerged when populations became geographically isolated. Mayr based his theory on his studies of birds from Pacific
islands. Yet islands have generally been considered evolutionary dead ends. After animals and plants emigrated
from the mainland, it was believed that they became so specialized for island life that they could not leave. They
eventually became extinct, only to be replaced by new arrivals from the mainland. "They were like baubles
of the evolutionary past," said Christopher E. Filardi, a biologist at the American Museum of Natural History.
But Dr. Filardi and Robert Moyle, a colleague at the museum, have found evidence that islands can act as engines
of evolution instead of dead ends. Animals can spread from island to island, giving rise to an explosion of new
species, and even colonizing the mainland again. The results suggest that conserving biodiversity on islands is
vital for the evolution of new species in the future. Dr. Filardi made this discovery by studying a group of Pacific
island birds, known as monarch flycatchers, that were among the birds Mayr studied 80 years ago. Dr. Mayr could
compare only the anatomy and colors of monarch flycatchers. Dr. Filardi, on the other hand, was able to analyze
their DNA. He collected it from some species by going to remote islands, while Dr. Moyle extracted other samples
from preserved flycatchers stored at the museum, going back to the 1800's. The team demonstrated that 123 mainland species are the descendants of an ancestor that lived in the West Indies. "I have a feeling that in the next 10 years we're going to see a lot more of this," Dr. Filardi said. Today monarch flycatchers and other island species are under serious threat from habitat loss and from rats and other animals introduced by humans. Rising seas from global warming could destroy some islands altogether. Dr. Filardi argues that the new findings make preserving island biodiversity even more urgent, because islands may be an important source of new biodiversity. "It's the potential that the earth has to reinvent itself in the future," he said. "Islands may have more to do with that than we ever thought." |
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TO VIEW SIGHTINGS and REVIEWS from JANUARY to JUNE 2005 CLICK HERE |
References
Hawaii Birding Chatlist. 2005. 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. 2005. Sightings reports published on the Birding Hawaii website. Worthing, West Sussex, U.K.
Pyle, R. and P. Donaldson. 2005. Quarterly reports in North American Birds, Volumes 58:1, 58:2, 58:3, 58:4 and 59:1. ABA.
