Oahu

[Bird Brain]

Hi everyone.  I'm heading out tomorrow morning for vacation in Oahu!    I will be back online late April.

[Moira]

Lucky you!  Have a wonderful time.

[Bird Brain]

Thanks Moira.  

I've wanted to visit there since I was a little kid - finally going ... counting the hours!  

[Kin Lau]

Enjoy - there's some good birding there too. Loved the Cattle Egrets all over the place.

[Lloyd]

And plenty of Black-Crowned Night Herons, too. When we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village last year they were plentiful. Keep your eyes open for the White Terns which never seem to stop flying and were spotted by me every day at the Fort DeRussy Beach Park on Waikiki Beach. Make sure you visit the Dole Plantation where you can also do some birding but their store has very unique Dole branded merchandise that you'll not find anywhere else. Plus they have great treats there, too.

[JimmyM]

Jo-Anne,
Have a good vacation - good birding !
Jim

[Bird Brain]

Thanks Kin, Lloyd and Jim.   Arrived here late last night (Sat. April 16th) then woken up at 4am by birds chirping and singing!    

Birds sighted today (Sunday, April 17th):

Common Myna x 50+ ... they are everywhere!
Zebra Dove x 30+, including one displaying courtship behaviour ... super cute little doves.
Spotted Dove x 3 ... can definitely see why they are also known as Lace-necked Dove.
Rock Dove x 40 ... they appear quite large here, very colourful and bright red feet/toes
House Finches x 5
Mallards x 2 (1m, 1f)
White Tern x 1 - flying above Ala Wai Canal (my hotel room faces this canal)
Black-crowned Night Herons x 2
Red-crested Cardinal x 1 ... Wow!  

Lots of fish in the canal, including one early this morning that jumped up out of the water then "skipped" three times.   :lol:   This reminded me of when a person "skips"  a stone across water.  

I had hoped to see some Sea Turtles swimming around at Waikiki Beach today but had no luck.  Will try again another day!

Lloyd ... Dole Plantation is on my list for this week.  Thanks for your information.    

Today's weather:  hot, sunny, humid, light breeze, +29c/84f ... this is the forecast for every day this week!  

Apparently it snowed in Mississauga today/Sunday?  (bwahahaha!)    (sorry, couldn't resist!)

[Kin Lau]

Try to get out to the parks early in the morning, preferably out of the city - that's where we got our Hawaiian Stilts. There might still be Pacific Golden Plovers around.

[thouc]

Nice sightings, but can't help being a bit sad as most of the birds on the list are non-native to Hawaii.

Common Myna, Zebra Dove and Spotted Dove from Asia.
House Finch from North America.
Red-crested Cardinal from South America.
Rock Dove and Mallard of course.

[egret]

Have a great time!

good for YOU

Maybe see you at the Lakeshore
in summer )


Egret

[Dr. John]

It is tough to see native birds on Oahu, except for the seabirds, because so many have been introduced. Try some of the somehwat more natural areas such as Waimea Valley - Hawaiian moorhens are easily spotted there.

-John

[Bird Brain]

Kin ... I've been sighting Pacific Golden Plover yesterday and today.

For now, a few other sightings:

Red-vented Bulbul - including one tiny baby being fed.  Wow!

Japanese White Eye

Common Waxbill - beautiful little birds.  

Other sightings:

Butterflies - Gulf Fritillary, Cabbage White and Monarch.

Lizards (?) - Brown Anole and 3 bright green critters with a few red markings.

Thought for sure I had sighted a Hummingbird at Foster Botanical Garden but according to staff there, I most likely actually sighted a Hummingbird Hawk Moth.  

Dragonflies - #1 large, bright blue, lime green head.  #2 medium size, bright red/orange.  Anyone know what these might be?  Thanks.    

[Howieh]

What!! no redwinged blackbirds? Hope you don't feel guilty about being away - don't worry, the local RWBBs will just have to find someone else to headpeck! Btw, are you staying in Oahu the whole time or will you be visiting other islands? Anyway, have a great time and come home safe (they're waiting for you!).

[Bird Brain]

What!! no redwinged blackbirds? Hope you don't feel guilty about being away - don't worry, the local RWBBs will just have to find someone else to headpeck!

:lol: Too funny!  They have enough of my scalp to keep them going for awhile.  

Btw, are you staying in Oahu the whole time or will you be visiting other islands? Anyway, have a great time and come home safe (they're waiting for you!).

Thanks.  Yes, staying in Oahu for the whole week - will be visiting the North Shore tomorrow to go to Dole Plantation, Chinaman's Hat and Ko'olau Mountains.

Tonight was exciting - after dinner, went for a walk at Waikiki Beach and sighted Sea Turtles.  Yippee!!!    One was medium size and one was Huge!  Another 7 sightings followed but I'm not sure if it was the same 2 turtles or not.  Watched a truly spectacular sunset tonight - bright orange/pink in the sky and bright pink on the water.  I'm really enjoying seeing the lit torches here at night as well - at the beach and along the main streets in front of restaurants.

[Rob'in'To]

Glad you are having an awesome time Jo-Anne!