ARTICLES ON HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC BIRDS, BIRDWATCHING
AND WILDLIFE
ARTICLES ON HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC BIRDS, BIRDWATCHING
AND WILDLIFE
A Big Day Bird Count on O'ahu, 18th February 2006
by Kurt Pohlman
18th February 2006, 0400 to 2340 Species totals 65/65. 65. 228 miles by car, 13 miles by foot.
After birding on the Saturday before with my friends and finding fifty species while not visiting the forest or
sea shore, and finding a lot of birds that might stick around I decided to try another Big Day. My Friend Brendan
couldn't make it, so it was another solo effort. I was up at 4:00am and driving to Kapiolani Park to spotlight
for White Tern and Yellow-frounted Canary. I found them without too much trouble and also added Zebra Dove and
a calling Pacific golden Plover. Common Mynas squawked when I got out of my car at the gate for Honouliuli Refuge.
Also calling were a couple of male Northern Cardinals and Grey Francolins. Japanese White -eyes were giving out
their call notes to each other and a Shama Thrush was proclaiming his territory and then finishing the song with
his distinctive clicking sounds, Spotted Doves were sitting on the telephone wires as I approached the main Gate.
With my spotting scope I could see two Cackling Geese and a Greater White-frounted Goose on the berm eating grass.
A Hawaiian Coot was just below them swimming in the first pond. As I walked along the fence I could hear the Hawaiian
Black necked Stilts scolding each other and as I went further I startled a Black crowned night Heron and he croaked
as he flew away. At the next opening through the trees I could see Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler and American
Wigeon in quick order. Moving along to the last gap I had the best view of the pond and I saw a Snipe lift off
and head out of the refuge. I couldn't tell if it was a Common or a Wilson's. Staying in the pond was a Greater
Yellowlegs (The same bird that I thought I had staked out at another pond) (Photo above right: Greater Yellowlegs
at Honouliuli NWR, O'ahu, February 2006 © by Brendan Doe), five Long-billed Dowitchers, Wandering Tattler,
Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, and four Green-winged Teal were feeding along a mud flat. Cattle Egrets flew in small
flocks over the refuge to feed out in the fields. In the corner of the pond was a Bonapate's Gull preening, and
then with a unexpected bonus two Laughing Gulls flew in onto a mud flat and started to preen also. Behind me I
could hear Common Waxbills chirping with the whole flock. And Red-vented Bulbuls making there raspy calls in the
Kiewe scrub. Walking back out along the dirt road to my car I had two Java Sparrows in a flyover. Someone had thrown
some seed on the road and among the small feeding flock of mixed species were some House Sparrows (a species I
didn't want to search for later). I missed Safron Finch on the walk out so I rolled down the windows on the drive
out and was lucky to hear their calls. I got out and in a small bush were three smart looking adults. I did well
here at Honouliuli but I still missed a staked out female Hooded Merganser and a flock of Ring necked Ducks!
On the road a short ten minutes away was Pouhala Marsh and a staked out Brant. It was here and since I timed it so that it was high tide I had some sanderlings and the hoped for Dunlins feeding in the shallows. One morequick scan and on the road to Makakilo to catch up with some open country birds. Once at makakilo, Red-vented Bulbuls and Japanese White-eyes were in the scrub as were Common Waxbills. But out on some grass seed heads were some juvenile Nutmeg Mannikins begging from their parents. Overhead were male Eurasian Skylarks belting out their wonderful song. Grey Francolins were also calling here. But I had to search longer to find Red Avadavat. I found one flock and then down the road there was another one. Each flock had one male in it. With one the these males in full breeding plumage. What a fine looking bird! Back to the car and to the top of Makakilo subdivision to listen for some Francolins. Stopping at an overlook I heard the call of a Black Francolin, a species I hadn't counted on. There was also a Japanese bush Warbler calling as well. A short drive to another overlook and had a flock of House Finches. But still no Erckel's Francolin! But there was a pair of Red-crested Cardinals in the Hale Koa scrub. Last chance at a overlook a bit higher up. And I was just able to hear a male Erckel's Francolin calling down a valley with its maniacal laughter. At 1015 I started to head back down the hill and there was a small flock of Chestnut Mannikin's feeding in someone's front yard.
Arriving at Aiea Loop Trail and walking swiftly up the trail the first thing I heard was a Amakihi give his skree call. Many Shama Thrush were calling all along the trail. I came across a flock of Red-billed Leiothrix.The closest one to me giving the alarm call. Another ten minutes and I had a large flock of Red-whiskered Bulbul moving through the forest. Unfortunately none of the Ohia Lehua or Swanp Mahogany trees were in bloom, even at the top of the loop which meant no chance for Apapane. So there was nothing to do but run down the trail to the car. Getting some strange looks from some of the hikers that I had passed going up. A short drive to Sand Island to look for Brown Booby and a possible Pomarine Jaeger brought a blank. Nothing was flying.
Moving back inland brought me to Nuuanu valley so I rolled down the windows as I got close to Honolulu Memorial Cemetery. I heard a Rose-ringed Parakeet call. So I stopped and got out in time to watch one fly up to a nest hole in a huge Monkeypod Tree. No time wasted here! Next stop Kulioupou. Now at the trail head at Kuliouou and walking up the trail at a brisk pace listening for Ono ka ia the call of a Elepaio. But it wasn't until I hit the back of the valley that I heard one. After running half way back down the trail I heard another one call. But that's the breaks. It took me a bit more time in the valley than I wanted and so I would have to cut some time sea watching at the Blow Hole. The Blow Hole was empty and so I cut my losses and left here a bit worried that I might miss some seabirds .
Around to the windward side things were better. I set up at the picnic area in front of Sea Life Park overlooking Manana Island. The Island had some Sooty Terns wheeling around it and Red-footed Boobies flying in twos and threes in front of it. Around the picnic area were Rock Doves, at least a bit more wild than the white ones at Kapiolani Park. Alas no sign of Red-tailed Tropicbirds, a disappointing miss. My luck turned again when a female Greater Frigatebird started to fly around Sea Life Park.
Over to Nu'upia Ponds and some guaranteed Black Noddy's. The Noddys were there but the staked out Caspian Tern was no where to be found. No time to waste as there is a long drive out to the North Shore. A quick stop at Crouching Lion Restaurant to scan for White-tailed Tropicbirds came up blank.
A through search
at Romy's shrimp ponds for the staked out Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, and Red Knot was a washout. Bummer! I
was really counting on them. Now down to Turtlebay Sewage Treatment Ponds to look for some more staked out birds.
Winner, as three Canvasback (photo right: drake Canvasback at Turtle Bay Sewage Works, O'ahu, February 2006 ©
by Brendan Doe) and a rare Redhead were still in the first pond. With some redemption I was off to James Campbell
NWR. I checked out the Sewage Treatment Plant next to James Campbell and I flushed a Ring-necked Pheasant. In the
ditch along side of the road I had two Hawaiian Moorhen. There was a Tour going on at James Campbell but I had
asked the tour leaders Dave and Abby Watson beforehand not to tell me anything and in fact I stayed well away from
the tour. ( I also met a visiting birder Gil Ewing, who later told me he had seen a Black-bellied Plover near where
I was scooping for birds but didn't tell me as he knew I was doing a Big Day. A bit disappointing news now in retrospect).
Continuing on. In one of the ponds were four stunning male Eurasian Wigeons. Along the main berm were at least
five Bristle-thighed Curlew. In all I saw a total of twenty one Bristle-thighed Curlews at James Campbell. Out
in the back part of the refuge there was a pond being drained and so a lot of mud was showing. In the pond with
many Black-crowned Night Herons and Ruddy Turnstones was a lone White-faced Ibis. Its red eye now showing well.
The pond also contained three Long-billed Dowitchers. Out at the outer ponds next to the dunes where all the Bristle-thighed
Curlews roost I scanned the area and found the staked out Marbled Godwit. In the back of the pond in some heavy
vegetation was a drake Blue-winged Teal in nice breeding plumage. My last stake out bird was a Whimbrel that would
come to roost with the Bristle-thighed Curlews. It was starting to get dark but as if on cue he flew in and even
showed his white back as he started to preen. I searched for Barn,and Short eared Owls on the way out of the refuge.
Sighting Short-eared Owls are a fifty /fifty chance and today I struck out.
It was 1830 and dark and the last chance to see a new guaranteed bird was an Albatross out at Kaena Point. I
thought I would go for it. I had forgotten just how long a hike it really was! Eight miles round trip at night
with a flashlight! Finally out at the point and sure enough Layson Albatross on the nest. A quick glance at them
and now a long walk back to the trailhead. The whole drive home still looked for an owl. No luck. When I got home
it was 2330 and so I walked my dog hoping to hear a Barn Owl but it started to rain very hard and I had had enough.
I finished the day with 65 species a new high for me even though I missed some staked out
birds. The next night walking the dog I had a Barn Owl calling at about the same time!
Kurt Pohlman, O'ahu, Hawai'i, February 2006
