HAWAI'I BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR 2006

JANUARY - JUNE



Sightings reported during 2006 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.

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

SIGHTINGS for JULY - DECEMBER

Pick a month to view that month's Review

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

REVIEWS for JULY - DECEMBER



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.



JANUARY

1st CACKLING GOOSE 2 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also the regular 12 Canada Geese, 25 Ring-necked Duck and a pair of Eurasian Wigeon. ME
2nd BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 5 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 11 Hawaiian Stilt, 39 Hawaiian Coot, 4 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 6 Black-Crowned Night Heron and 1 Duck, domestic hybrid. This bird was one of the two domestic hybrids at Ohiapilo. Turns out that it is a pet of the plant supervisor, and it has been AWOL for many months. ADY
2nd GADWALL 3 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 48 Hawaiian Stilt, 34 Hawaiian Coot, 4 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 1 Sanderling and 1 Ruddy Turnstone. ADY
2nd BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 4 American Wigeon, 2 Northern Shoveler, 6 Black-Crowned Night Heron and 1 Duck, domestic hybrid. Not related to the one at KWWRF. ADY
4th BRANT 2 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 2 Canada Geese, 2 Cackling Geese, 2 Eurasian Wigeon and 9 American Wigeon. ME
5th MARBLED GODWIT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher and 27 Bristle-thighed Curlew. KP
5th WHITE-FACED IBIS 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   KP
5th EURASIAN WIGEON 2 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 17 American Wigeon, 22 Northern Pintail, 4 Northern Shoveler, 2 Green-winged Teal and 1 Blue-winged Teal. KP
6th CACKLING GOOSE 2 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. One small bird with a white neck ring, one larger bird, about the size of a Greater White-fronted Goose, possibly the bird from Kii. PD
6th GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 27 Wigeon sp., 1 Green-winged Teal and 5 Ring-necked Ducks (5 male). PD
6th OSPREY 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Flying over, spooking some of the waterfowl and shorebirds. PD
6th HAWAIIAN COOT 245 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Including at least 36 chicks from at least 10 broods. Also 20 Pacific Golden-Plover, 17 Hawaiian Stilt and 6 Ruddy Turnstone. PD
6th BRANT 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.   PD
7th MARBLED GODWIT 1 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 25 Northern Pintail, 8 Green- winged Teal and several Hawaiian Coot broods of chicks. PD
7th SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 1 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   PD
7th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 21 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   PD
7th LESSER SCAUP 25 Aimakapa Pond, Kona, Hawai'i. Also 15+ Hawaiian Stilt, 35+ Hawaiian Coot and 2 Wandering Tattler. ME
8th POMARINE JAEGER Point Panic, O'ahu Adult dark phase flew out of the Harbor out to sea, returned about 15 minutes later and did a circut of the harbor. It repeated this four times. KP 
12th LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1 Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. It was sound asleep, head outstretched and flat on the ground. For a moment it appeared dead. Also 3 Hawaiian Stilt and 8 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
14th POMARINE JAEGER 1 Diamond Head Lookout, O'ahu. Approx 4.30pm 1 Dark Phase Pomarine Skua with several hundred Sooty Tern passing east. BD
16th POMARINE JAEGER 6 'Sashimi II' for a 1/2 day trip out of Kewalo Basin in Honolulu. Four birds following boat and grabbing chunks of fish: One light-morph adult and three subadults. MW, EV, PD
16th WHITE TERN 30 'Sashimi II' for a 1/2 day trip out of Kewalo Basin in Honolulu, O'ahu. Also 12 Brown Booby, 12 Red-footed Booby. MW, EV, PD
16th BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 1 Tern Island, NW Chain. Banded at PMRF, Kaua'i on 12/19/05. per

BZ
16th FULMAR 1 Makapu'u Point, O'ahu. Past S and 576 Sooty Tern past N in approx 20 mins. BD
19th SOOTY TERN 1500 Makapu'u Point, O'ahu. Seen in one swirl. BD
 19th CANVASBACK Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu.   KP, MO
19th REDHEAD 1 Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu.   KP, MO
19th EURASIAN WIGEON 2 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. One drake. Also 55 Northern Pintail, 12 Northern Shoveler, 21 American Wigeon, 29 Lesser Scaup, 4 Ring-necked Duck, 8 Green-winged Teal and 3 Blue-winged Teal. KP, MO
19th KILLDEER 1 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 Semipalmated Plover and 21 Bristle-thighed Curlew. KP
19th  WHIMBREL  Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu   KP
19th MARBLED GODWIT 1 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher. KP, MO
19th WHITE-FACED IBIS 1 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu Also 6 Wandering Tattler KP, MO
19th RED KNOT Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu   MO
19th AMERICAN AVOCET  Kealia Pond NWR, Maui Also 1 Cackling Goose and 1 Laughing Gull. MN
19th WHITE-FACED IBIS 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui Water is unusually low for this time of year. Birds are mostly in the middle of the pond. MN
19th BRANT 1 Kaneohe Marine Base, O'ahu.   EV
19th CASPIAN TERN 1 Kaneohe Marine Base, O'ahu. Also 2 Bristle-thighed Curlews. EV
19th BRANT 2 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 1 White-fronted Goose, 10 Canada Geese. EV
19th CACKLING GOOSE 4 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 21 Northern Shoveler, 11 Green-winged Teal, 8 American Wigeon and 1 Eurasian Wigeon (male in breeding plumage). EV
19th GREAT BLUE HERON   Loko Waka Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Immature bird. Also 2 Yellow-billed Cardinals. EV
19th GREATER SCAUP 1 Loko Waka Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 37 Lesser Scaup, 5 Ring-necked Ducks and 17 Hawaiian Coots. EV
19th GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 9 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid 9 incluing one duckling, 3 Cattle Egret and 1 Black-crowned Night- Heron. PD
19th CACKLING GOOSE 2 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 2 Green-winged Teal and 9 Ring- necked Duck. PD
19th OSPREY 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 226 Hawaiian Coot including 26 juveniles from at least 10 broods ranging from small downy chicks to large nearly grown ones. PD
19th LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 3 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 7 Pacific Golden-Plover, 69 Hawaiian Stilt (Banded stilt BA:RO female. Seen soliciting copulation. Male did not oblige). PD
19th LAUGHING GULL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 Wandering Tattler, 2 Ruddy Turnstone and 1 Sanderling. PD
19th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 West Loch Shoreline Park, O'ahu. Also 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 1 Hawaiian Stilt, 4 Wandering Tattler and 4 Ruddy Turnstone. PD
19th BRANT 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Also 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 100 Pacific Golden-Plover & 134 Hawaiian Stilt (Banded stilt BA:RY male, -O:BA
male, AG:-Y male, GW:BA female, BA:RR female, BA:WB female).
PD
19th DUNLIN 6 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Also 1 Wandering Tattler, 63 Ruddy Turnstone and 7 Sanderling. PD
19th PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER 135 Waipio Soccer Complex, O'ahu. Also 12 Cattle Egret, 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron and 5 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid. PD
19th HAWAIIAN STILT 46 Waiawa NWR, O'ahu. Also 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 9 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid, 3 Hawaiian Coot, 183 Pacific Golden- Plover, 3 Wandering Tattler, 28 Ruddy Turnstone and 34 Sanderling. PD
19th RUDDY TURNSTONE 29 Nakatani Watercress Farm, O'ahu. Also 18 Cattle Egret, 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron and 5 Pacific Golden-Plover. PD
19th SANDERLING 22  Nakatani Watercress Farm, O'ahu Also 1 Hawaiian Stilt and 3 Wandering Tattler. PD 
21st BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER Kona STP, Kona, Hawai'i   RD
21st POMARINE JAEGER 3+ Sand Island, O'ahu. Possibly four birds. The birds landed on
the water and then periodically flew and chased before landing again.
BD
22nd CASPIAN TERN 1 Nu'upia Ponds, Kaneohe, O'ahu. On a sand bank by the ponds roosting before flying off high SE. Also 1 Brown Noddy. BD
22nd  SEMIPALMATED PLOVER Kahuku Shrimp Farm. O'ahu Also 3 Long-Billed Dowithcher and several Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone. BD 
22nd EURASIAN WIGEON 2 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 5 Northern Pintail, 1 Northern Shoveler, 11 American Wigeon, 4 Green-winged Teal, 6 Ring-necked Duck (2m, 4f), 3 Black-crowned night Heron (all juv) and 1 Hawaiian Coot. ME
22nd PUEO Hakalau NWR, Hawai'i   ME 
23rd BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 4 Duke Park, Second base outfield, Moloka'i. The curlew with the injured right leg, first seen hobbling on one leg at Malama Park, is doing better and barely limping. It also appears to have gained a little weight. Also 6 Pacific Golden Plover and 3 Ruddy Turnstone. ADY
23rd BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 2 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 11 Hawaiian Stilt, 36 Hawaiian Coot, 4 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler and 2 Sanderling. ADY
23rd MUSCOVEY 1 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 2 Black-Crowned Night Heron and 1 Domestic hybrid duck. ADY
23rd GADWALL 3 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Three females still present. Also 51 Hawaiian Stilt and 26 Hawaiian Coot. ADY
23rd BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Drake. Also 8 Green-winged Teal (3 male, 5 female), 12 Northern Pintail and 1 American Wigeon. ADY
23rd SANDERLING 18  Ohiapilo, Moloka'i Also 8 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 1 Ruddy Turnstone, 2 Black-Crowned Night Heron and 1 Domestic hybrid duck – finally captured after three months! ADY
24th RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD 1 Onekahakaha Beach Park, Hilo, Hawai'i.   KH
25th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 4 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Second Base Outfield. Also 6 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
25th LESSER YELLOWLEGS   Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. Also 3 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Wandering Tattler and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
25th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 2 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 Domestic hybrid duck and 1 Muscovy duck. ADY
25th HAWAIIAN COOT 58 KWWRF, Moloka'i. 6 nests under serious construction: 4 on BoogieBoards and two along the water's edge. Also 19 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Pacific Golden Plover and 1 Wandering Tattler. ADY
25th GADWALL 3 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 2 American Wigeon, 1 Blue- winged Teal, 10 Green-winged Teal and 49 Northern Pintail. ADY
25th HAWAIIAN STILT 51 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 26 Hawaiian Coot, 7 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 13 Sanderling, 1 Ruddy Turnstone and 2 Black-crowned Night Heron. ADY
25th POMARINE JAEGER 19 Ala Moana Beach Park, O'ahu. Nine birds heading west all close in, then a flock of 8 birds following the Ali'i Kai boat East: 4 pale phase adults all with some degree of "spoons", 1 pale phase adult in a more winter plumage, 1 definite imm which had light upper tail coverts and then
a further 3 dark birds which were either adult/imm.
BD
26th CANVASBACK Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu   KP 
26th REDHEAD Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu   KP
26th RED KNOT 1 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. In Pond C Mauka on the far left, on the only piece of mud left in James Campbell. KP
26th EURASIAN WIGEON 2 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 25 Northern Pintail, 8 Northern Shoveler, 21 American Wigeon, 6 Green-winged Teal and 1 Blue-winged Teal. KP
26th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 23 Kii Unit, James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 Barn Owl. KP
28th HAWAIIAN STILT 37 Kualoa Park, O'ahu. Also 207 Ruddy Turnstone. BD
28th BROWN NODDY 198 La'ie Point, O'ahu. North in 30 minutes. Also 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater N. BD
28th KILLDEER 1 Kahuku Shrimp Ponds, O'ahu. Also 2 Semipalmated Plovers (also on 29th) and 2 Eurasian Wigeon at nearby James Campbell NWR. BD
29th GADWALL 3 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 1 Blue-winged Teal, 3 Green- Winged Teal, 12 Northern Pintail and 4 American Wigeon. ADY
29th LAUGHING GULL  Ohiapilo, Moloka'i First winter bird. Also 51 Hawaiian Stilt, 26 Hawaiian Coot, 8 Pacific Golden Plover and 4 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
29th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i Also 2 Wandering Tattler and 22 Sanderling. ADY
30th POMARINE JAEGER 5 Portlock, O'ahu.   BD
30th BRANT 2 Waiakea Ponds, Hilo, Hawai'i Also "some" Green-winged Teal, many Northern Shovelers and the usual gang of Tundra/Lesser Canada Geese. DL 
30th CACKLING GOOSE 2 Waiakea Ponds, Hilo, Hawai'i Minima. Also 1 White-fronted Goose still, limping badly favoring its right leg. DL 
30th LAUGHING GULL 1 Waiakea Ponds, Hilo, Hawai'i Probably a 2nd-winter bird seen over the bay. DL 
30th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 61 Hawaiian Stilt, 24 Hawaiian Coot, 7 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 18 Sanderling and 4 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
30th GADWALL 3 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 12 Northern Pintails, 4 American Wigeon and 1 Laughing Gull. ADY
31st LAUGHING GULL 1 Sand Island, O'ahu. Also 9 Pomarine Skua - single flock hanging around offshore. BD
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JANUARY

Albatross population explosion reported on Midway

Posted on: Thursday, January 26, 2006 in the Honolulu Advertiser
By Jan TenBruggencate Advertiser Science Writer

Albatross counters Annie Marshall and Breck Tyler mark some of the more than half a million nests on Midway Atoll's Sand Island. Albatross numbers at Midway are the highest since counting began. The population of nesting albatrosses on Midway Atoll this season is the highest since federal officials began counting them 14 years ago — 511,612 nests, which at two birds each, works out to more than a million birds. Counting unmated birds, the total number of albatrosses at Midway approaches 1.5 million. The nests at the 1,540-acre Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge were counted by teams of volunteers during three weeks in December 2005 and this month. Laysan and black-footed albatrosses also nest on other islands and atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but Midway is the world's largest combined nesting site for the two species. "We are particularly pleased to see an increase in the number of black-footed albatrosses. This marks the fifth year of increased numbers of black-footed albatross nests on Midway after fairly steep declines in the 1990s," said refuge biologist John Klavitter. Albatrosses arrive late in the year to nest, and most pairs produce a single egg. The first of those eggs started hatching this month, and most eggs should be hatched by the end of the month. Both Laysan and black-footed albatrosses are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as species at risk. The endangered short-tailed albatross, also known as the golden gooney for the yellow on its head and neck, occasionally occurs in the area, and this year there is one reported at Midway. There are fewer than 1,000 short-tailed albatrosses worldwide, and they primarily nest on Japan's Torishima island. ANNUAL COUNTS: Laysan albatross (nesting pairs): 1991 429,308; 1996 387,854; 2000 284,604; 2001 286,662; 2003 441,178; 2004 408,133; 2005 487,527. Black-footed albatross (nesting pairs): 1991 19,757; 1996 21,645; 2000 18,485; 2001 19,012; 2003 20,393; 2004 21,829; 2005 24,085.


Peter Donaldson uploaded a couple of radar images from NEXRAD weather radars in the islands. Some of Peter's colleagues in the National Weather Service suspect that these images may show birds. Note the echoes (light blue dots) that form over O'ahu and then seem to move away to the south and west of the islands. These radar echoes do not seem to correspond to any rain. The images on both Dec 2 and Dec 3 are from near sunrise. (The times --in GMT--can be seen at the top and bottom of the images. Subtract 10 to get Hawaii Standard Time).


Killdeer at Kealia Pond NWR, Maui on 25th January 2006.

Photograph © by Michael Walther


Long-billed Dowitcher at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu in late January 2006.

Photograph © by Brendan Doe

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FEBRUARY

1st BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 61 Hawaiian Stilt, 22 Hawaiian Coot, 12 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 12 Sanderling and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
1st GADWALL 3 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 74 Northern Pintails, 5 American Wigeon and 1 Laughing Gull. ADY
1st HAWAIIAN COOT 56 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 12 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 1 Muscovy and 1 Domestic hybrid duck. ADY
1st HAWAIIAN STILT 2 Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. Also 5 Pacific Golden Plover and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
1st BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 4 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 6 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
2nd  CANVASBACK Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu   KP 
2nd REDHEAD Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu   KP
2nd RED KNOT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher, 34 Bristle-thighed Curlew and 1 Pueo. KP 
2nd EURASIAN WIGEON 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 59 Northern Pintail, 14 Northern Shoveler, 19 American Wigeon and 5 Green-winged Teal. KP 
2nd EURASIAN TEAL 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 Laysan Albatross cruising over the dunes. KP 
2nd WHITE-FACED IBIS 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   KP 
2nd WHIMBREL 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   KP 
3rd BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 3 Makapu'u Point, Kaua'i. Also 2 Laysan Albatross. BD
4th 'AKEKE'E 2+ Alakai Swamp/Koke'e trails, Kaua'i. Also Apapane - several 10's of birds all over the trails, Amakihi - Several birds, 6+ Elepiao and 4+ Anianiau. BD
4th LAUGHING GULL 1 Hanapepe Salt Pond, Kaua'i. Second-winter. Also 275+ Pacific Golden Plover (dusk roost- birds still flying in), 3 Hawaiin Stilt (at dusk) and 5 Ruddy Turnstone. BD
5th EURASIAN WIGEON 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also 1 Greater White Fronted Goose still. BD
5th CANVASBACK 3 Ohiki Road Pond, Kaua'i. One male. Also 1 Ring-necked Duck (imm f), 1 Lesser Scaup (f/imm), 3 Northern Shoveler (1M, 2F) and 3 American Wigeon. BD
4th EURASIAN TEAL 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 3 Green-winged Teal (1 drake), 8+ Northern Pintail and 2 Northern Shoveler. KP 
4th EURASIAN WIGEON 3 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 17 American Wigeon. KP 
4th MARBLED GODWIT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Marbled Godwit was seen in pond c but was also later seen out on the dunes in association with the Bristle-thighed Curlew. Also 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. KP 
4th RED KNOT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 26 Bristle-thighed Curlew: The ones around the ponds preying heavily on crayfish. KP 
7th PUEO Kanaha Beach, Maui Still present in dunes. FS, KS
7th CASPIAN TERN 1 Nu'upia Ponds, Kaneohe, O'ahu. Also 1 Black Noddy. Tern seen on the Mauka side of the biggest pond. From the causeway (main gate) walk area on the Kaneohe Bay Drive side you look right and it was on a sand bar behind the blue pipe that crosses the pond. KP
8th GADWALL 6 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Now 4 female and 2 male present. ADY
8th GREEN-WINGED TEAL 7 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. 2 male and 5 female. Also 66 Northern Pintail, 7 American Wigeon, 61 Hawaiian Stilt and 24 Hawaiian Coot. ADY
8th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 12 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 4 Sanderling and 4 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
8th SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 1 Laughing Gull. ADY
9th NORTHERN SHOVELER 1 Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds, O'ahu. Also 1 Northen Pintail. KP
9th EURASIAN TEAL 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Drake. Also 3 Green-winged Teal, 15 Northern Pintail, 4 Northern Shoveler, 20 American Wigeon and 3 Eurasian Wigeon. KP
9th WHITE-FACED IBIS 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   KP
9th WHIMBREL 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   KP
9th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 25 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu.   KP
9th MARBLED GODWIT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher and 7 Wandering Tattler ( seven flew in as a flock to roost in the same area as the B.T. Curlew). KP
10th WHITE-FACED IBIS 1 Gay Road, Waimea Valley, Kaua'i. In a taro patch. No white face markings, but a very noticeable red eye. This bird is fairly habituated. The bird has been in the area for a couple of months. JD
10th NORTHERN SHOVELER 3 Reservoir in Mana, Kaua'i. Females. Nearby a Black-footed Albatross recently at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. JD
11th MARBLED GODWIT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 31 Northern Pintail, 6+ Northern Shoveler, 3 Blue-winged Teal (2 male), 1 Green-winged Teal, 1 Mallard and 6 American Wigeon. KP, MO, RM, BD
11th DUNLIN 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 15+ Bristle-thighed Curlew and 2 Laysan Albatross. KP, MO, RM, BD
11th KILLDEER 1 Romy's Shrimp Ponds, O'ahu. Also 1 Semipalmated Plover. KP, MO, RM, BD
11th RED KNOT 1 Romy's Shrimp Ponds, O'ahu.   KP, MO, RM, BD
11th HOODED MERGANSER 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Female bird. Also 5+ Northern Pintail, 10+ Northern Shoveler, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 7+ American Wigeon and 1 Mallard. KP, MO, RM, BD
11th GREATER WHITE FRONTED GOOSE 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 9 Ringed-necked Duck, 3 Green- winged Teal and 2 Cackling Geese. KP, MO, RM, BD
11th BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. First-winter. Also 5 Long-billed Dowitcher. KP, MO, RM, BD
11th BRANT 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Immature bird. KP, MO, RM, BD
11th GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 Waiawa NWR, O'ahu.   KP, MO, RM, BD
11th OSPREY 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.   KP, MO, RM, BD
13th DUNLIN 2 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Also 33 Orange-cheeked Waxbill and 1 Mourning Dove. GE
13th LEAST SANDPIPER 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Also 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. GE
13th AMERICAN AVOCET 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Also 1 female Bufflehead and 1 Cackling Goose. GE
13th WHITE-FACED IBIS 6 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Also 1 Semipalmated Plover. GE
14th SAFFRON FINCHES 2 Kauai Veterans Hospital, Waimea, Kaua'i.   JD
14th MASKED BOOBY 1 Makapu'u, O'ahu.   BD
15th CANVASBACK 4 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. 3 males, 1 female in the Ducks Unlimited pond. Also 1 Scaup sp.. JD
15th GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 Cackling Geese, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 15 American Wigeon and 11 Mallard X Hawaiian Duck Hybrid. PD
15th GARGANEY 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Probable bird seen. Also 31 Northern Shoveler. PD
15th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Probable bird. Also 36 Northern Pintail, 4 female Green-winged Teal, 9 Ring-necked Duck (5 male) and several Gray Francolin heard. PD
15th GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 1 Wandering Tattler, 20 Ruddy Turnstone, 6 Sanderling, 33 Hawaiian Stilt, 16 Pacific Golden-Plover and 142 Hawaiian Coot. PD
15th CURLEW SANDPIPER 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 5 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Wilson's/Common Snipe and 7 Mourning Dove. PD
15th CANVASBACK 3 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. 2 males and 1 female on the back pond. Also 2 female Lesser Scaup on the back pond. DL
15th GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Hanging out with the Nene. DL
16th BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 Laughing Gulls. PD
16th REDHEAD 1 Turtlebay Sewage Teatment Ponds, O'ahu.   KP
16th CANVASBACK 3 Turtlebay Sewage Teatment Ponds, O'ahu.   KP
16th RED KNOT 1 Kahuku Shrimp Ponds, O'ahu. Later flew to James Campbell NWR. Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher. KP
16th MARBLED GODWIT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 5+ Northern Pintail, 6 Northern Shoveler, 15+ American Wigeon and 2 Eurasian Wigeon. KP
16th WHIMBREL 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 12+ Bristle-thighed Curlew and 1 Pueo. KP
16th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 3 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
16th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 1 Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. Also 3 Hawaiian Stilt, 6 Pacific Golden Plover and 1 Wandering Tattler. ADY
16th HAWAIIAN STILT 11 Kaunakakai WWRF, Moloka'i. Also 56 Hawaiian Coot (one nest with 4 eggs left out of six, and another nest with eggs but I was unable to count them) ADY
16th HAWAIIAN STILT 56 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 16 Hawaiian Coot, 34 Northern Pintail, 6 Northern Shoveler and 5 American Wigeon. ADY
16th BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Drake. Also 2 Green-winged Teal (1 male & 1 female). No sign of Gadwalls or Laughing Gull, but water levels low. ADY
16th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 16 Sanderling, 3 Ruddy Turnstone and 8 Pacific Golden Plover (one with 1 leg). ADY
17th BRANT 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Also 2 Laughing Gulls. GE
17th BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 Blue-winged Teal (female), 1 Laughing Gull and 2 Long-billed Dowitcher. GE
18th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 1 Greater White Fronted Goose, 2 Cackling Goose, 2 Green-winged Teal, 20+ Wigeon sp. (4 American Wigeon drakes), 20 Norther Shoveler and 1 Norther Pintail. MM
18th GARGANEY 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i.   MM
18th LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 5 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 3 Ruddy Turnstones. MM
18th OSPREY 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 10 African Silverbill, 1 Gray Francolin (many heard), 4 White-rumped Shama and 5 Koloa Mallard Hybrids. MM
18th BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Honouliuli NWR, Kaua'i. Also 2 Laughing Gulls still. MM
18th  REDHEAD  Kuilima Sewage Treatment Plant, O'ahu Also 1 Canvasback still and 129 Hawaiian Coot. GE 
18th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 Marconi Road, O'ahu. From behind the first shrimp farm on the north end, south of Marconi Rd. GE
18th MARBLED GODWIT 1 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher and 21+ Bristle-thighed Curlew. GE
18th EURASIAN WIGEON 4 James Campbell NWR, O'ahu. 2 female, 2 male. Also 4 Green-winged Teal (1 male).  
19th DUNLIN 2 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Also Brant still present. GE
19th GREATER YELLOWLEGS 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 5 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Dunlin, 2 Laughing Gull and 1 Bonaparte's Gull. GE
19th GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 Cackling Goose, 1 Canada/ Cackling Goose, 2 female Eurasian Wigeon, 1 female Blue-winged Teal and 4 Green-winged Teal (1 male, 3 females). GE
20th PALILA 1 Pu'u La'au, Hawai'i. 1 singing male, 1 other not seen well enough to label by sex, both above the gravel pit, which was overrun with ATVs; no sign or sound of Palila anywhere else. DL
20th BRANT 1 Waiakea Ponds, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 1 Mallard, 1 Cackling Goose, 1 Greater White-fronted Goose - no longer limping as it was two weeks ago, Northern Shoveler - half a dozen or so, Green-winged Teal - about 5, Northern Pintail - 1 only, Eurasian Wigeon - 2 males, American Wigeon - 3 males; 3 females not identified. DL
20th LESSER SCAUP 25 Lokowaka Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also at least 2 Ring-necked Duck. DL
20th  BLACK-RUMPED WAXBILL Big Island County Club, Hawai'i Seen briefly. per DL
20th BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 1 Ka'ene Point, O'ahu.   BD
21st PEREGRINE FALCON 1 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i On a dead tree on the side of Chain of Craters Road near the parking lot for the Puuloa Petroglyphs at c.2pm. KH
22nd BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 1 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Second base outfield. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. Bristle-thighed Curlews appear to be roosting on the roof of classrooms at Kaunakakai Elementary School. ADY
22nd BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 3 Koheo wetland, Moloka'i. Also 2 Hawaiian Stilt and 1 Wandering Tattler. ADY
22nd BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 3 Malama Park, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
22nd HAWAIIAN STILT 17 Kaunakakai WWRF, Moloka'i. Also 58 Hawaiian Coot, 2 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 1 Sanderling and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. Six coot nests have eggs, and four nests are active construction. ADY
22nd NORTHERN PINTAIL 11 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 58 Hawaiian Stilt, 16 Hawaiian Coot, 2 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler, 11 Sanderling and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
22nd GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i. Also Cackling Goose still present. BZ
23rd BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER   West Loch Shoreline Park, O'ahu.   KP
23rd BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Also 1 Laughing Gull and 1 Brant. KP
23rd AMERICAN AVOCET 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Still present. PT
25th BONAPARTE'S GULL 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Also 2 Laughing Gull and 1 Brant. MW
25th SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 2 Kahuku Shrimp Ponds, O'ahu.   MW
25th REDHEAD 1 Turtlebay Sewage Teatment Ponds, O'ahu. Still present. MW, BD
25th CANVASBACK 3 Turtlebay Sewage Teatment Ponds, O'ahu. Still present. Also 10 Northern Pintail and 4 Northen Shoveler. MW, BD
25th RED KNOT 1 Romy's Shrimp Pools, O'ahu.   BD
25th GARGANEY 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Female-type. Also 6 teal sp. (Green-winged or Eurasian), 28 Wigeon sp. (6 American Wigeon drakes) and 27 Norther Shoveler. MM
25th EURASIAN TEAL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Drake. Also 1 drake Grean-winged Teal. MM
25th WILSON'S/COMMON SNIPE 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 3 Long-billed Dowitcher and 2 Cackling Geese still. No sign of Osprey, Greater White Fronted Goose or any Gulls. MM
25th MASKED BOOBY 9 Rabbit Island Lookout, O'ahu. Amongst other Boobies. BD
26th GARGANEY 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 drake Eurasian Teal still, 2 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Greater White-fronted Goose and 2 Cackling Geese. BD
26th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 1 Grey Francolin, c.15 Red Avadavat and c.15 African Silverbill. BD
26th OSPREY 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Again present. BD
28th CURLEW SANDPIPER 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 44 Ruddy Turnstone, 8 Sanderling, 3 Long-billed Dowitcher and 41 Mourning Dove. BD
28th EURASIAN TEAL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Drake. Also c. 6 Green-winged Teal (1 drake), 1 Eurasian Wigeon (drake), 2 Canada Geese (1 Aleutian? 1 Dusky ?), 1 Greater White-fronted Goose and several Shoveler and American Wigeon. BD
28th LAUGHING GULL 2 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. First-winters. BD
28th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 1 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
28th HAWAIIAN STILT 2 Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. Also 1 Pacific Golden Plover and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
28th HAWAIIAN COOT 56 Kaunakakai WWRF, Moloka'i. Plus an unknown number of survivors from the 4 eggs that hatched last night, 15 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Pacific Golden Plover and 1 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
28th LAUGHING GULL 1 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 56 Hawaiian Stilt (one nest under construction), 16 Hawaiian Coot (one on eggs, no other nests found), 4 Pacific Golden Plover and 7 Black-Crowned Night Heron (one all-white, eyes, legs and feet normal. Same bird observed at the KWWRF last week???). ADY
28th NORTHERN PINTAIL 7 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. All female. Also 2 female Green-winged Teal and 10 Sanderling. ADY
28th NAZCA BOOBY 1 Moku Manu Island, O'ahu. No Access to this island, but bird could possibly be seen from O'ahu. EV
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FEBRUARY

Marbled Godwit at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu, 11th February 2006.

Photograph © by Brendan Doe


Female Hooded Merganser at Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu on February 11th 2006.

Photograph © by Brendan Doe


Drake Eurasian Teal at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu on February 9th 2006.

Photograph © by Kurt Pohlman


Eric VanderWerf, Forest and Kim Starr had the opportunity to survey Moku Manu, a pair of islets off Kaneohe Bay (Oahu), on February 28th 2006 as part of
recent baseline biological surveys. "Wow, the island is certainly named properly. It's covered in birds, mostly terns, boobies, frigates, and noddies. With likely shearwaters later in the year. It is very challenging to land on the island, this was our 4th attempt, the previous three by boat. Even the helicopter landing was not a sure thing. As a result, this is the least disturbed island off Oahu's windward coast. The abundance of birdlife and native vegetation attest to that. Some sightings below. We also posted some images, but the disk quota is maxing. Some bird highlights: Christmas shearwaters. It's been a while since they have been recorded on Moku Manu. Nazca booby. A first for us. Brown booby. The most we've seen in one spot. Possible frigate chick. Would be cool, first nest in main Hawaiian islands in a while, if true. Billions of terns. Not really, but it felt like it. Not a single non-native bird. PLANTS: The island is currently a native aweoweo (
Chenopodium) / nohu (Tribulus) shrubland. The vegetation is thick in some spots, but sparse in most. The species present are all heavy seeders with ephemeral life styles. The island is still native dominated. Other natives include alena (Boerhavia), akulikuli (Sesuvium), and ohelo kai (Lycium).New non-native records for the island include sand bur (Cenchrus echinatus), buffell grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), bristly fox-tail (Setaria verticillata), and sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus). The frigates and red-footed boobies prefer the shrubs (aweoweo). All the other birds seem to hang out on the bare ground. INSECTS: Apparently big headed ants and Cardiocondyla are present. Lots of flies that are parasitic on birds. Some interesting ground beetles. Sow bugs, but not the giant one. Garden (Argiope) spiders. Some psuedoscorpions. OTHERS: 1 turtle swimming in boiling waters off the sheer north wall. Geckos present, not sure what kind. All our plant findings from the Oahu offshore islets (sans Moku Manu) are found in draft form at the link below. http://www.hear.org/naturalareas/oahu_islets/index.html".

Eric VanderWerf wrote: "Today I participated in a biological survey of Moku Manu, a high rocky islet off the east coast oh Oahu. The trip was organized by Jaap Eijzenga, Dave Smith, and Ethan Shiinoki of the Hawaii State Division of Forestry and Wildlife. We surveyed as much of the islet as possible in the few hours we had. Dave Preston and Sheldon Plentovich also surveyed insects, especially alien ants, and Forest and Kim Starr surveyed plants, especially potential invasive weeds. Avian highlights included: Christmas Shearwater – a pair in a small cave in a rockpile. This species was recorded as breeding on Moku Manu 30 years or so ago, and birds have been seen in flight around the islet, but there have been no recent records of birds on the ground, so it was nice to document that they still occur. Red-footed booby – 160 nests, more non-breeding adults and subadults. Only five years ago there were zero red-foots nesting on the islet because several years of drought had killed virtually all the vegetation on the islet, leaving few nesting platforms. These birds probably have moved from the colony at Mokapu on the Marine Corps base, where the number of birds has declined somewhat recently. Birds likely are moving back to the islet now that the plant life is recovering. Brown Booby – 123 nests. All contained eggs. Masked Booby – 33 nests, contents ranging from eggs to fully feathered chicks. Nazca Booby - 1 bird paired with a Masked Booby had a bright orange bill with a distinct dip or concavity on the culmen (upper ridge of the upper mandible), and white central tail feathers. I believe these are all characteristic of Nazca Booby, which was split from Masked Booby several years ago. Great Frigatebird – At least 22 birds on the ground, including 2 birds that may have been fledged juveniles, one of which was sitting on a nest. I am not yet certain that these birds hatched on Moku Manu, but I plan to investigate the possibility. Gray-backed Tern – At least 70 adults and 24 nests. Sooty Tern – thousands of birds on eggs, perhaps 15,000. We did not attempt to count them. Brown Noddy – several thousand birds, many on eggs. We did not attempt to count them".

Nazca Booby on Moku Manu Island off O'ahu's east coast on February 28th 2006.

Photograph © by Eric VanderWerf

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MARCH

2nd MASKED BOOBY 3 Makapu Lighthouse road, O'ahu. Also 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater. KP, BD
3rd RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD  Oahu's southeast coastline.  Adult observed at 7:45am associating with 5 Red-tailed Tropicbirds and a White-tailed Tropicbird. MW 
3rd RUDDY TURNSTONE Aimakapa Reef, Kona, Hawai'i Phil Bruner and his crew banded this bird in Alaska a couple of years ago. The bird is banded with blue over blue on the left leg and a USFWS metal band on the right. RD 
3rd BRANT 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu.   KP
3rd MASKED BOOBY 1 Makapu Lighthouse road, O'ahu. Also 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater, 3 Brown Noddy and many Brown Booby flying by. KP, BD
3rd 'IO 2 Highway 11, Hilo, Hawai'i. Just before noon two 'Io (a pair?) circling over Hwy 11 at the 5 milepost marker. This is along the divided highway south of Hilo. LC
3rd BRANT 2 Pano Place Stream, Moloka'i.   ADY
3rd BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 3 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
3rd HAWAIIAN STILT 2 Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. Also 1 Pacific Golden Plover and 1 Wandering Tattler. ADY
3rd BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Drake. Also 60 Hawaiian Coot (4 chicks from the nest that hatched this past week, hiding in the grass growing on their nesting island). ADY
3rd HAWAIIAN STILT 17 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Sanderling, 1 Muscovy, 1 Domestic hybrid duck and 4 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY
3rd GREEN-WINGED TEAL 5 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Two drakes. Also 56 Hawaiian Stilt and 12 Hawaiian Coot. ADY
3rd NORTHERN PINTAIL 7 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. One drake. Also 9 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler and 18 Sanderling. ADY
4th LESSER SCAUP 30 Aimakapa Pond, Kona, Hawai'i. Also 4 Sanderling, 15 Hawaiian Stilt and 20 Hawaiian Coot. ME, PE, RH
4th SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS 1 Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i. Possible reported. Read more Here. BG
4th RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD 1 Lanai Lookout, SE O'ahu. Also five adult Red-taileds and one White-tailed. LY, EV
4th DUNLIN 1 Kealia NWR, Maui. Also 3 Laughing Gulls. Also on 5th. BD
4th AMERICAN AVOCET 1 Kealia NWR, Maui. Also 1 Semipalmated Plover. Also on 5th. BD
4th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 Kealia NWR, Maui. Also on 5th. BD
4th LEAST SANDPIPER 1 Kealia NWR, Maui. Also on 5th. BD
5th MAUI CREEPER 3+ Hosmer Grove, Maui. Also several I'iwi, Apapane and Amakihi. BD
6th BRANT 2 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 7 Cackling Geese and 4 Canada/ Cackling Geese. Also on 7th. BD
6th EURASIAN TEAL 1 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Drake. Also 15 Northern Shoveler, 3 Eurasain/Green-Winged Teal and 5 American Wigeon. BD
6th LESSER SCAUP 30 Loka Waka Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i.   BD
7th AKIAPOLA'AU 1 Pu'u O'o trail, Hawai'i. Also 2 Elepaio, 1 Hawaiian Hawk, c.6 Omao and 2 Kalij Pheasant. BD
7th PALILA 1 Pu'u La'au, Hawai'i. Also 1 Barn Owl. BD
7th NORTHERN SHOVELER 85 Kona Sewage Treatment Facility, Hawai'i. Also 2 Ring-necked Duck and 1 Saffron Finch. BD
7th CACKLING GOOSE 1 Kona Sewage Treatment Facility, Hawai'i.   BD
7th LESSER SCAUP 32 Aimakapa Pond, Kona, Hawai'i.   BD
7th  HAWAIIAN CREEPER Hakalau Forest, Hawai'i.   BD 
5th EURASIAN TEAL 1 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Drake. Also 5 female Green-winged Teal, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 9 American Wigeon, 2 Northern Pintail and 12 Northern Shoveler. ME, PE, RH
5th CACKLING GOOSE 5 Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 1 Canada Goose and 1 Hawaiian Coot. ME, PE, RH
5th RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD  1 Oahu's southeast coastline.  Again present at 8.30am and 3.30pm but no White-tailed Tropicbirds seen. MW
5th GARGANEY Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Possible bird. Also 24 Northern Shoveler, 13 Northern Pintail, 14 American Wigeon, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 5 Green-winged Teal and 1 Eurasian Teal. KP
5th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu.   KP
5th GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 2 Cackling Geese still. KP
7th GREATER-NECKLACED LAUGHING THRUSH 2+ Kilauea, Kaua'i. At the top of Waiakalua Road in Kilauea (turn left at Mile 21). DW, AB
7th LESSER SCAUP 17 Loko Waka Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also 5 Ring-necked Duck (1 male). ME, PE, RH
7th KILLDEER 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Also 1 Semipalmated Plover and 2 Dunlin. PT, EV
7th BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Also 2 Green-winged Teal and 1 American Wigeon. MN
7th AMERICAN AVOCET 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.   MN
10th BRANT 2 Pano Place Stream, Moloka'i. Also 6 Pacific Golden Plover at Duke Park and 3 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Pacific Golden Plover
and 1 Wandering Tattler at Koheo Wetland.
ADY
10th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 1 Malama Park, Moloka'i. Also 2 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
10th HAWAIIAN COOT 60 KWWRF, Moloka'i. 11 coot nests, six with eggs (3 on Boogieboards, 3 on the edge of the ponds with eggs). The 4 baby coots hatched 2/27/06 on nest #12 are now out on the pond. ADY
10th HAWAIIAN STILT 10 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 1 Sanderling, 1 Muscovy, 1 Domestic duck hybrid and 4 Black-Crowned Night Herons. ADY
10th HAWAIIAN STILT 48 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Two nests under construction on two different islands. ADY
10th HAWAIIAN COOT 10 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Two nests under construction in the makaloa in the small pond. ADY
10th NORTHERN PINTAIL 22 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 5 American Wigeon, 2 Wandering Tattler, 16 Sanderling and 10 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
10th  PIED-BILLED GREBE  Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Diving around 3 Northern Pintails, which did not like its presence. ADY 
11th PEREGRINE FALCON 1 Waimanalo, O'ahu. Appeared to land out on Manana Island. AJ, GA
11th RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD 1 SE O'ahu Coastline.   AJ, GA
15th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 2 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY 
15th HAWAIIAN STILT 2 Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY 
15th HAWAIIAN COOT 66 KWWRF, Moloka'i. An unknown number of chicks hatched this morning in one nest. Also 18 Hawaiian Stilt, 2 Pacific Golden Plover, 2 Wandering Tattler and 4 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY 
15th HAWAIIAN STILT 48 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. One nest on "Banana Island" with 2 eggs. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover and 1 Wandering Tattler. ADY 
15th HAWAIIAN COOT 2 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Also 15 Sanderling and 4 Black-Crowned Night Heron. ADY 
16th CINNAMON TEAL 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.   MN
  MOTTLED PETREL 5 O'ahu Pelagic. Sashimi II out of Kewalo Basin in Honolulu. AJ, GA, PD
  BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 1 O'ahu Pelagic. Also 2 Wedge-tailed Shearwater and 2 probable Sooty Shearwater. AJ, GA, PD
  MASKED BOOBY 1 O'ahu Pelagic. Sub-adult. Also 5 Brown Booby and c.20 Red-footed Booby. AJ, GA, PD
  POMARINE JAEGER 2 O'ahu Pelagic. Near Honolulu Harbor. Also 50 Sooty Tern, 2 Brown Noddy and 30 White Tern. AJ, GA, PD
17th RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD  1 SE O'ahu Coastline. 
Also 1 Eurasian Wigeon and 1 Brant.
MW
17th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 2 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
17th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 1 Malama Park, Moloka'i. Also 2 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
17th BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 2 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Later joined by the bird from Malama Park. ADY
17th GREEN-WINGED TEAL 2 KWWRF, Moloka'i. One drake. Also 16 Hawaiian Stilt. ADY
17th HAWAIIAN COOT 66 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Plus 4 chicks from the nest that hatched 3/15/06 along the side of the pond, plus 2 chicks that hatched on a Boogieboard nesting island today. ADY
17th  SANDERLING KWWRF, Moloka'i This Sanderling and one plover associate and for months fly, sit, feed, and rest together. Also 2 Wandering Tattler and 6 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
19th BRANT 1 Pouhala Marsh, O'ahu. Also an American Wigeon there. KP, MW
19th EURASIAN TEAL 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Drake. Also 7 Green-winged Teal, 42 Northern Pintail, 25 Northern Shoveler and 5 American Wigeon. KP
19th EURASIAN WIGEON 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Female. Also 3 female Ring-necked Duck and 2 Mourning Dove. KP
17th HOODED MERGANSER 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Female. KP
17th GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu. Also 2 Cackling Geese (1 may be a Canada Goose). KP
20th RUFF 1 Kealia Pond NWR, Maui.   MN
20th SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE Offshore Kona, Hawai'i waters. 2 groups. Also three groups of
pantropical spotted dolphins, a couple of humpback whales and 1 Red-footed Booby and 1 White-tailed Tropicbird.
RB
21st  LEACH'S PETREL Offshore Kona, Hawai'i waters.  Also 7 Bulwer's Petrels, ~18 Wedge- tailed Shearwaters, ~24 Sooty Shearwaters, ~10 Brown Noddies, one Red-footed Booby, and a female/calf pair of dwarf sperm whales. RB
21st  RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD  SE O'ahu Coastline.  Also 4 Red-tailed Tropicbird. KP 
21st  BELTED KINGFISHER Kanaha Pond, Maui Female sitting on a railing above a drainage canal. MN
21st BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW 5 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 4 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
21st HAWAIIAN STILT 16 KWWRF, Moloka'i. Also 54 Hawaiian Coot (not including chicks) and 1 Pacific Golden Plover. Also 2 Pacific Golden Plover at Malama Park. ADY
21st HAWAIIAN STILT 7 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. Site received 2.11” rain on 3/19/06 and water depth is 12”. The stilt nests with eggs are under water. Also 3 Hawaiian Coot. ADY
23rd RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD  1 SE O'ahu Coastline.   MO
23rd MOURNING DOVE 1 Alokoko Fishpond, Kaua'i.   per DL
24th MOTTLED PETREL  Off Honokohau, off the Kona Coast, Hawai'i. More species seen: Click Here. RB
24th GREAT BLUE HERON Loko Waka Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i First seen on the grassy islands in the middle of the pond, then flew to the pens behind the Seaside Restaurant. DL 
24th  BRANT  Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Also Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeons, and assorted "white-chinned" geese all present. DL 
29th HAWAIIAN STILT 4 Duke Park, Moloka'i. Also 2 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
29th HAWAIIAN STILT 2 Koheo Wetland, Moloka'i.   ADY
29th HAWAIIAN COOT 24 Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moloka'i. Plus 16 chicks that have hatched in the last four weeks. Also 1 Pacific Golden Plover. ADY
29th HAWAIIAN STILT 7 Ohiapilo, Moloka'i. The site has received 8.2” of rain as of today in March. The water in the primary pond is 17” deep and water is all the way out past the entrance gate at 4” – 6” deep.
Dozens of floating dead mice in both ponds.
ADY
29th HAWAIIAN COOT 24   Also 2 Pacific Golden Plover, 8 Black-Crowned Night Heron and 33 Cattle Egrets. ADY
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MARCH

Adult Red-billed Tropicbird off O'ahu's SE Coast on March 3rd 2006.

Photograph © by Michael Walther


Kurt Pohlman wrote: "From the Red-tailed Tropicbird (RTT) Colony closest to the Blow Hole I observed the Red-billed Tropicbird (RBT) trying to enter a nest hole occupied by a RTT.( the nest hole was in the rock outcropping between the large RTT colony near the Rifle Range and the one closest to the Blow Hole.) When I first saw the RBT it was about two feet away from the hole. Every time the RBT would inch closer the RTT would scream as if defending the hole. Finally the RBT got to within 1/2 a foot and they were screaming at each other and the RBT was trying to get in on the side but wasn't allowed to. After about 15 minutes of this the RBT gave up and flew out to sea and rested on the surface. It started to take off and was immediately harrased by a female greater Frigatebird. The RBT just kept flying higher and higher followed by the Frigatebird. Eventually the Frigatebird gave up. Ten minutes later the RBT was back at the colony area circling with anotyer RTT. Another/same female Frigatebird patroled over the RTT colony shortly after. The RTT that was at the nest hole had retreated back into the hole. This happened between 12:00 and 12:45. Over the past 3 or 4 weeks on Tues. and Wed. I take my lunch hour there at this time and I only missed the RBT once."


Bill Gronou, a volunteer at Kilauea Point NWR, Kaua'i reported a possible Short-tailed Albatross on 4th March. If this was indeed a Short-tailed Albatross it would only be the second record for Kaua'i. Bill wrote: "The bird was slightly higher than the elevation of the sidewalk--came in over the right side of the island and was quartering towards the closer side of Crater Hill. An albatross, pink beak with blue-grey tip, the tip of the beak has more of a hook than a Laysan, the beak is thicker (top to bottom) than a Laysan; under surface of wing had the black trailing edge and leadingedge. That makes it a short-tailed. On the other hand, the one part of the bird that didn't match all the photos I've seen is that the center part of the wing should have been white; this bird's center wing was mostly white with mottled grey/black. I would still term the inside area of the wing as white---it just wasn't 100% snow white. Because the bird was above me and quartering towards me I could not see the back of the head for the yellow/gold".


Dan Lindsay sent his latest Elderhostel trip report as follows: " The weather was the worst we have ever experienced, causing a near-total blank at Koke'e. Due to the rotten weather, there were more lowlights than highlights on this trip. Again, Big Island Country Club was not very good; the weather was dry but very windy and cold. No Canaries, no Silverbills, very few Mannikins, no Java Sparrows. Avadavats were few and hard to see, even Saffron Finches were there in smaller numbers than usual. 28 February-6 March 2006 Elderhostel, Kaua'i-Hawai'i. First sighting only unless otherwise indicated. * = heard but not seen.
** - not a first sighting for the trip: 1 Mar, Hanalei NWR:
Nene - only 1 this time; Hawaiian Duck; Cattle Egret; Black-crowned Night Heron; Northern Cardinal; Common Moorhen; Hawaiian Stilt; Hawaiian Coot, Pacific Golden Plover, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, Rock Pigeon, Red-crested Cardinal, Chestnut Munia, Nutmeg Munia, Common Myna, Japanese White-eye, Japanese Bush Warbler*, House Finch, House Sparrow. Kilauea Pt. NWR: Nene - many as usual, Laysan Albatross, Red-footed Booby, White-tailed Tropicbird, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Great Frigatebird. Hulei'a NWR: White-rumped Shama, Melodious Laughing-thrush. 2 Mar, Kukui'ula Wetland: Ring-necked Pheasant, Wandering Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone, Java Sparrow, Western Meadowlark*. Mana Plain: Wild Turkey - this is the first Turkey I've ever seen on Kaua'i. Koke'e SP: Black Francolin - one male beside the Waimea Canyon road about two miles below the junction with the Kekaha road. Erckel's Francolin, 'Apapane, 'Anianiau, Red Junglefowl. 3 Mar, Honolulu Airport: Red-vented Bulbul. Waiakea Ponds, Hilo: Mallard, Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Shoveler - one female on the south side of the ponds near the banyan tree. Green-winged Teal - one male, three females near the banyan tree. Eurasian Wigeon - two males on the south side near the gap between the main pond and the southern one. American Wigeon - one male with the Eurasians. Wigeon sp. - about four females with the male of both species - could not label by species. Lokowaka Pond: Lesser Scaup, Yellow-billed Cardinal, Northern Pintail - four in the fishpond on the makai side of the road. 4 Mar, Volcano NP: Hawai'i: 'Amakihi - nr. Nahuku Lava Tube, 'Apapane - nr. Nahuku Lava Tube: Oma'o - nr. Nahuku Lava Tube: 'Io - flying in Kilauea Iki crater. Holei Sea Arch: Black Noddy. Pu'u Puaulu: Red-billed Leiothrix - excellent looks at a small flock crossing the path, Oma'o, Kalij Pheasant, Volcano Elepaio. 5 Mar, Keanakolu Rd.: Chukar - numerous, Eurasian Skylark, Erckel's Francolin **, Turkey **, California Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant **. Hakalau NWR: Pueo, I'iwi, 'Apapane **, Akepa, Omao **, Hawai'i Creeper, Hawai'i 'Amakihi **. U. H. Hilo: 'Io **. 6 Mar, Pu'u La'au: Palila, Northern Mockingbird, Pale-headed Elepaio