HAWAI'I BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR 2008

JANUARY - JUNE

JANUARY

Tuesday 1st January 2008

Hawai'i: Kona: KHNHP: 1 1st winter Laughing Gull. Also in the park a flock of 30+ Common Waxbills at Aimakapa Pond, I am pretty sure that is the first time I have seen that species in the Park. The three Northern Pintail, one drake and two hens are still hanging out at the waterfall in BICC (kind of an odd place for these birds). (Reginald David)

Wednesday 2nd January 2008

Maui: Kanaha Beach: 1 Band-rumped Storm-Petrel. Picked up from a cruise ship and released off the beach. (per Forest and Kim Starr)

Kaua'i: Hanapepe Saltpond: Probable FRANKLIN'S GULL. Nearby 2 Laughing Gulls and a Ring-billed Gull at Kawaiele Sandmine. (David Kuhn)

Maui: Kealia Pond NWR: 1 FRANKLIN'S GULL, 1 SNOW GOOSE, 3 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 1 Osprey, 2 Bufflehead, 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Laughing Gull, 30+ scaup, Green-winged Teals and several Dowitchers. (Mike Nishimoto)

Saturday 5th January 2008

O'ahu: James Campbell NWR: 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Cackling Goose, 1 Laughing Gull (first winter bird), 15 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 37 Hawaiian Stilt, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 16 Ruddy Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 6 Pacific Golden Plover, 1 Wandering Tattler, 18 Northern Shoveler, 12 Northern Pintail, 34 Koloa/Mallard, 14 Hawaiian Moorhen and 70+ Hawaiian Coot. Before the field trip commenced I was treated to a spectacular display by the juvenile Peregrine Falcon that was flying in hunting mode over Pond A. Ducks scattered every which way. The falcon then zeroed in on a 1st winter Laughing Gull. The next two minutes were spent with each bird chasing the other in an amazing aerial display by both birds.. The Peregrine then decided to go after Cattle Egret but it soon became obvious that this was a mistake as several Cattle Egret began to chase after the Peregrine. Several dives into the pond A area ,which was out of sight for me, came up with no catch in its talons. The Peregrine then flew towards me and flew around Pond F which caused the Cackling Goose and the Coots on the berm to scatter. The falcon then flew off towards Kahuku and was not seen again. (Mike Ord)

O'ahu: Kaena Point: The draft environmental assessment for the Kaena Point restoration project is available for public comment. Comments are due on January 22nd. This project has the potential to create one of the only predator free nesting locations for seabirds on the main Hawaiian islands, and it would be great to have comments from the birding community incorporated into the final EA.To download the document go the the announcements section at: http://www.dofaw.net
Background information and visuals for the project can be found at: http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/kaena/index.htm (Lindsay Young)

Sunday 6th January 2008

Hawai'i: Kona STP: 1 adult drake Tufted Duck, 1 Cackling Goose, 1 first-winter drake Bufflehead, 8 Northern Shovelers (1 drake), 7 Ring-necked Ducks (3 drakes), 2 Greater Scaup (1 male, 1 female - there may have been a couple more females, though the lighting was not that great) and 11 Lesser Scaup (4 males). (Reginald David)

Kaua'i: Kinikini Ditch, Pacific Missile Range Facility: 1 GLAUCOUS GULL. (Jim Denny)

Wednesday 9th January 2008

Molokai: KWWRF: A Hawaiian Coot banded (YA:--) at James Campbell NWR, O'ahu present at this site today. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

Thursday 10th January 2008

Maui: Kealia Pond NWR: An adult Hawaiian Coot with a white neck band ("AAA") at the old fish farm ponds. This is a bird banded by Arleone Dibben-Young on Molokai. (Mike Nishimoto)

Monday 14th January 2008

Kaua'i: Kawaiele Sandmine Sanctuary: 1 Common Tern still present. (Dan Lindsay)

Wednesday 16th January 2008

O'ahu: Pouhala NWR: 2 Ring-billed Gulls. (Peter Donaldson, Pauline Kawamata)

O'ahu: Honouliuli NWR: 1 WHITE-FACED IBIS and 1 Black-bellied Plover at Honouliuli.(Peter Donaldson, Pauline Kawamata)

O'ahu: Kaneohe Marine Base: 1 CASPIAN TERN, 3 Brant, 2 first-year Laughing Gulls, 1 Blue-winged Teal (drake) and 1 Dunlin as well as the usual stilts, plovers, turnstones, etc.. (Eric VanderWerf)

Maui: Kealia Pond NWR: 3 Dunlin, 3 dowitcher spp., 5 bufflehead, 2 laughing gull, 1 FRANKLIN'S GULL, 1 Ring-billed Gull, 20 Scaup spp, 4 Least Sandpiper (tentative ID), 1 SNOW GOOSE, 3 White-fronted Goose and 25 wigeon spp. Also numerous Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Pacific golden-plover. Neck banded Hawaiian Coot "AAA" also observed at the old fish farm ponds. (Mike Nishimoto)

Friday 18th January 2008

Kaua'i: Pelagic from Kaua'i to Lehua: I went out on the Blue Dolphin around Lehua today, Friday Jan 18 2008, arriving there about 1100. Approaching Lehua from the East, having passed thru the bay and rounding the island from the North, we had seen several Laysan and one or two Black-footed Albatross. We progressed southward along the western arm of the island. I saw a large bird broadside at eye level going the opposite direction,laboring at a low angle up near the steep cliff-sides, emerging above the horizon, and turning to the right to drop into the inside of the crater and out of view. Total length of view time six to eight sec. Distance 80m at the closest to 120m farthest. Light conditions glary and somewhat backlit, as I was facing ESE to E. Water somewhat choppy, but not so much as to prevent binocular use. Bins Leica 10x42. Description: In broadside (in the plane of wing and tail) view, the bird appeared dark brown mottled, with pale head and and tail; heavy chested, bulky; about the wingspan of either Albatross. Most of the time I viewed it in this orientation, then as it banked right to cross the ridge into the crater I saw a white tail and whitish head in contrast to otherwise dark upperparts. Of the four other birders in my party only one was able to respond to my alert, "Watch that bird!"; Linda Powers, when I asked her what she had seen, described a large dark bird, but no other distinctive marks. ID: I think the above skimpy description eliminates any species known to breed on or frequent Lehua, as well as gulls and skuas or jaegers. Raptor? If the Sea Eagle had not been on Kaua`i recently (6 mos ago?) I would not even think of it. I did not see any "fingers" at wing tips, but would those have been deployed as a raptor labored to ascend? I did not see a yellow bill, but would that have been apparent at that distance and in that light? (David Kuhn)

Tuesday 22nd January 2008

O'ahu: Aina Haina: Pacific Golden-Plover 5, Spotted Dove 6, Zebra Dove 8, Red-whiskered Bulbul 2, Red-vented Bulbul 12, Japanese White-eye 6, Common Myna 25, Common Waxbill 12 and Java Sparrow 20. (Peter Donaldson, Bob Funston et al.)

O'ahu: Waialae Iki Park: Japanese White-eye 2, Common Myna 6 and Java Sparrow 6. (Peter Donaldson, Bob Funston et al.)

O'ahu: Kamaole Park Waialae Iki: Japanese White-eye 2. (Peter Donaldson, Bob Funston et al.)

O'ahu: Laukahi Park: Pacific Golden-Plover 2, Red-vented Bulbul 4, Common Waxbill 8, Nutmeg Mannikin 2 and Java Sparrow 6. (Peter Donaldson, Bob Funston et al.)

O'ahu: Halona: Red-tailed Tropicbird 1 Landed on cliff and Brown Booby 1. (Peter Donaldson, Bob Funston et al.)

O'ahu: Puohala Elementary School: Orange-cheeked Waxbill 2 and Common Waxbill 7. (Peter Donaldson, Bob Funston et al.)

O'ahu: KII NWR: Cackling Goose 1, Northern Pintail 1, Bristle-thighed Curlew 7, Dowitcher sp. 2 Basic plumage and silent- One bird noticeably larger and longer-billed than the other.
Possibly one LBDO and one SBDO. (Peter Donaldson, Bob Funston et al.)

Friday 25th January 2008

Kaua'i: Hanapepe Salt Pond: 1 Common Tern, 4 Brant, 3 Long-billed Dowitchers (these birds utter "keek,keek,keek" in flight). (Jim Denny)

Kaua'i: Kawaiele Bird Sanctuary: 1 GLAUCOUS GULL, 1 adult Glaucous-winged Gull and 2 Ring-billed Gulls. (Jim Denny)

Monday 28th January 2008

Moloka'i: Ohiapilo: Hawaiian Stilt 110, most huddled in one large group in the big pond, Hawaiian Coot 23, Pacific Golden-Plover 4, Sanderling 13, Ruddy Turnstone 2, Wandering Tattler 6, Northern Pintail 5, BRANT 3 and Cattle Egret 5. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

Moloka'i: KWWRF: Hawaiian Coot 24 (collared birds present: AAA, AAC, AAD, AAF, AAH, AAJ, AAL), Hawaiian Stilt 28, female OK:KA, Pacific Golden-Plover 4, Wandering Tattler 1, GADWALL 5 and American Wigeon 2. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

Moloka'i: Koheo: Hawaiian Stilt 2, male & female both banded --:YA, Ruddy Turnstone 9 and Pacific Golden-Plover 3. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

Moloka'i: Duke Ball Field: Bristle-thighed Curlew 4 and Pacific Golden-Plover 3. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

Wednesday 30th January 2008

Molokai: `Iliopi`i Pond at Kalaupapa: 1 Brant present since 29th December 2007. (Guy Hughes)

Thursday 31st January 2008

Moloka'i: Ohiapilo: Hawaiian Stilt 67, most huddled in one large group in the big pond, Hawaiian Coot 30, plus three chicks total with two different pairs, Pacific Golden-Plover 4, Sanderling 7, Ruddy Turnstone 2, Wandering Tattler 1, RED KNOT 1, Ruff (pale) 1, Northern Pintail 18, Green-winged Teal 9 and Brant 3. The knot, turnstones, tattler and one plover were all sitting side-by-side on top of the chainlink fence. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

Moloka'i: KWWRF: Hawaiian Coot 25 (collared birds present: AAC, AAD, AAF, AAH, AAJ, AAL), Hawaiian Stilt 16, no banded birds, GADWALL 5, Northern Pintail 5 and American Wigeon 3. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

Moloka'i: Puuhala: Hawaiian Stilt 6, male YB:GA. (Arleone Dibben-Young)

JANUARY

Dan Lindsay sent the latest Elderhostel trip list. 16-21 Jan Elderhostel, Kaua’i-Hawai’i. Mostly only first sightings. * = heard but not seen. NOTE: 14-15 Jan are mine, not Elderhostel. 14 Jan, Koke‘e, Kaluapuhi Trail -- rainy, cold, windy -- ugh! (But the birds were there): Apapane - frequent, Kaua‘i ‘Elepaio - several, Kaua‘i ‘Amakihi - a few, ‘Anianiau - a few, White-rumped Shama, House Finch and Pacific Golden Plover. Kawai‘ele: Hawaiian Coot, Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Moorhen, Hawaiian Stilt, Laughing Gull - two, Ring-billed Gull - one, Northern Cardinal and Red-crested Cardinal. Salt Ponds: Wandering Tattler, Western Meadowlark and Common Tern - one, sitting on the bank on the W side near the dunes, later flew; Ruddy Turnstone and Ring-necked Duck - one pair on the W side of the pond, near the park. 15 Jan, Kipu Rd.: Japanese Bush Warbler, Melodious Laughing-thrush*. Keahua Res.: Lesser Scaup - three. 16 Jan, Hanalei NWR: Hawaiian Duck, Red-crested Cardinal, Northern Cardinal, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, Hawaiian Coot - only a few visible, Nene - half a dozen or so, all banded, Common Moorhen, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Hawaiian Stilt, Japanese White-eye, Pacific Golden Plover, White-rumped Shama, Japanese Bush Warbler, Red Junglefowl, House Finch, House Sparrow, Common Myna. Kilauea Pt. NWR: White-tailed Tropicbird - only one or two, but giving good shows, Red-footed Booby, Great Frigatebird, Brown Booby - two, both off the point flying south, Laysan Albatross. Hulei‘a NWR: Melodious Laughing-thrush, Nutmeg Mannikin - not at all frequent this time. NOTE: not a single Chestnut Munia seen in the whole time on Kaua‘i! 17 Jan, Hanapepe Overlook: Rose-ringed Parakeet, Rock Pigeon. Koke’e, Kaluapuhi Trail, weather very nice: Apapane - frequent, Kaua‘i ‘Elepaio - several, Anianiau - one female gave good looks, but no other sight or sound. Kalalau Lookout: Kaua‘i Amakihi - one female gave us good looks, but no other trace of Amakihi at Koke‘e. Kawai’ele: Laughing Gull - two, Ring-billed Gull - one, Black Francolin, Northern Mockingbird. Salt Ponds: Wandering Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone, Northern Shoveler - one female in pond E of roadway, Western Meadowlark. 18 Jan, Honolulu Airport: Red-vented Bulbul, Red-whiskered Bulbul - one in a palm tree, only the 2nd time on all the trips I’ve taken. Waiakea Ponds: Yellow-billed Cardinal, Mallard, Tundra Cackling Goose - 8 of the usual resident flock, Aleutian Cackling Goose one, small, dark, with neck ring, Nene - at least six, Greater White-fronted Goose - two, American Wigeon - one male, one female, Eurasian Wigeon - one female, with the Americans. Loko Waka Ponds: Pintail - several, Green-winged Teal - one female, Lesser Scaup - about 8. Rainbow Falls: Io. 19 Jan, Nahuku: Oma‘o, Apapane, Kalij Pheasant. Kipuka Pua’ulu: Kalij Pheasant, Oma‘o, Volcano Elepaio. NOTE: no Noddies at Holei Sea Arch. 20 Jan, Keanakolu Rd.: Erckel’s Francolin, Eurasian Skylark, Turkey, Common Pheasant. Hakalau NWR: Nene - about 6 at the barn, Apapane, Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi, I‘iwi, Volcano ‘Elepaio, Oma‘o, Akepa - several heard, but only one female seen, Hawai’i Creeper - one, on slope above quarry, Kalij Pheasant, House Finch, Io, Japanese White-eye. Keanakolu Rd.: Chukar. Hilo: Nutmeg Mannikin. 21 Jan, Pu‘u La‘au: Palila - several along side road at the fence near the cabin. Big Island Country Club: Saffron Finch, African Silverbill, Yellow-fronted Canary, Nene - two, Nutmeg Munia, Java Sparrow, Red Avadavat - one male, two females, Hawaiian Coot, Erckel’s Francolin, House Finch.

A number of Hawaii Birders have been interested in the possibility of birding on the Hawaii Super Ferry. I haven't had a chance to try it myself, but I did get a report from a couple of visiting birders who took the ferry from Maui to O'ahu this past Monday, Jan 21, 2008. The seas were fairly rough that day, with 25 Kt winds blowing through the channels and a fair-sized northwest swell, but they reported the ride was reasonably smooth. They did not try birding through the glass in the cabin, instead they birded from the stern, which is open. They said the viewing was pretty good back there. They reported seeing very few birds at all around the islands in Maui county, then started seeing a few Red-footed Boobies when they cleared Moloka'i. From what I've heard from people who rode the old Sea-Flight hydrofoil, there was a similar paucity of birds around Maui County. Closer to O'ahu, they saw more Red-footed Boobies and one bird they thought was an all-dark shearwater and another they though was a Storm-petrel with a white rump. (Peter Donaldson)

On 24th January 2008 Rob Pacheco of Hawai'i Forest and Trail reported: "Spent the day surveying caves at Puu Waawaa Forest Bird Sanctuary yesterday. Always looking for birds of course between entrances. Usual non-natives: a few silverbills, lots of house finch, saffron finches, and mynah's including an albino. There were lots of Amakihi but I only heard two Apapane the whole day. Turkeys, Erckel's Francolins and Black Francolins were the ground birds. Also saw numerous bird bones in the caves, most of them already flagged by Jon Giffen."

MONTHLY SIGHTINGS

FEBRUARY

Saturday 2nd February 2008

O'ahu: Kii unit of James Campbell NWR: 1 Cackling Goose, 6 Northern Shoveler, 1 Northern Pintail, 1 Bufflehead, 15 Bristle-thighed Curlew, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Snipe sp. - one heard giving typical Wilson's/Common call and flying high overhead.The other flew low and straight and was silent., and 1 Laughing Gull. (Peter Donaldson,Dick May, Mike Ord)

O'ahu: Kuilima STP: 1 female Canvasback, 31 Northern Shoveler, 98 Hawaiian Coot, 2 Pacific Golden-Plover, 22 Hawaiian Stilt (Banded HAST RA:YL 1st Year, RA:OP1st Year) with 2 older unbanded HAST, and 1 Ruddy Turnstone. (Peter Donaldson,Dick May, Mike Ord)

Hawaii Birding Chatlist. 2008. 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. 2008. Sightings reports published on the Birding Hawaii website. Worthing, West Sussex, U.K.

Pyle, R. and P. Donaldson. 2008. Quarterly reports in North American Birds, ABA.

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