Bulletin #155 - Native Birds of the Big Island - Hawaii

As some of you know, my wife developed lymphoma in late 2010 and died in August 2011. The story has a happy ending as I met Lisa, a nurse who had looked after Linda. Lisa and I were married in March and honeymooned in Hawaii in April. Lisa loves the outdoors, birding, and has taken to photgraphy with gusto. We had a fun vacation taking all sorts of photos of birds, scenery, flowers etc. In a couple of months, she has progressed to the proficiency that took me 3 years! I will be showing some of her photos on this blog in the future.

Many of you, who are birders, know that the Hawaiian Islands have been decimated of their endemic birds by the presence of humans and the rats, cats, pigs, cattle, sheep etc that were introduced, as well as agriculture. Additionally, mosquitoes were inadvertently put into the ecosystem in the mid 1800's by whaling ships. These mosquitoes spread avian pox and avian malaria to the highly susceptible native birds.
Hawaii has the highest percentage of extinction of their native birds of any place on earth. The remaining birds occur at elevations over 3500 feet on the remnant patches of native forest and are difficult to find. We used a guide service to bird for a day and found some of the endemics on the 'Big Island' as Hawaii is known by locally.

The bird most commonly associated with Hawaii is the Iiwi (Vestiaria coccinea). This red bird with black wings has a long curved bill. It is found in the rainforest consisting of koa and ohia trees. The ohia has red blossoms somewhat like a bottle brush tree. It is endangered, but still fairly common on all the main islands.

Iiwi

Here is another photo of an Iiwi probing for nectar in an ohia blossom.

Iiwi and ohia bloom

The other red bird with black wings is the Apapane (Himatione sanguinea). It differs form the Iiwi by having a white belly and a short black beak. We did not see an adult, but the juveniles are olive rather than red. This one is showing some molt to red on his breast. The Apapane is also endangered and occurs on all the main islands.

Apapane - juvenile

The Hawaii Amakihi (Hemignathus virens) is a fairly common olive bird found in various forest habitats. It was recently split into separate species on 3 different islands (Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai). It is olive with a short curved beak.

Hawaii Amakihi

The Palila (Loxioides bailleui) was a lifer for me. It inhabits dry forest of mamane and naio trees on Mauna Kea mountain. It eats the seed pods of the mamane tree. It is gray with a yellow head and wings and it has a heavy bill for tearing open the seed pods. It is criticallly endangered and was one of the first three birds listed in the Endangered Species Act of 1977. The government set aside its habitat to save it in 1977.

Palila

The above birds were formerly classified as their own family Drepanididae, the Hawaiian honeycreepers. Now DNA research shows they all descended from finches and have been placed in the finch family.
Songbirds of several other families are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands as well. The Omao (Myadestes obscurus) is also known as the Hawaiian Thrush. It is obvious from its plump shape that it is a thrush. The Myadestes genus is the same as our Townsend's Solitaire. The Omao is gray brown backed and gray below. This bird posed beautifully for an extended period of time. There are 3 other Myadestes thrushes in the Hawaiian Islands, one on Molokai and 2 on Kauai. 2 of these three may already be extinct.

Omao

The Hawaii Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis) is a small songbird in the monarch flycatcher family. It has a long tail carried upright and its brownish coloration makes it resemble a wren. It is a small (5.5") forest bird. Here are 2 photos of this bird.

Hawaii Elepaio

Hawaii Elepaio

There are 2 other species of Elepaio - one each on Oahu and Kauai. These were formerly considered a single species, but recent DNA evidence showed enough variation, that they were split into 3 separate species. 2 color variations occur on the Big Island, but the DNA showed them to be identical.

For those interested, there was also a species of Crow, the Alala, on the Big Island. It went extinct in the wild in the last decade. Efforts, to breed it in captivity for restoration, are underway.

We saw some other birds that are native to Hawaii but not endemic. The first was the Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva). Locally it is known as the Kolea. This bird winters in Hawaii and breeds in western Alaska, making the 2500 mile trip over the north Pacific Ocean in about 60 hours. It was almost in full breeding plumage when we saw it in mid-April. It has a black breast and belly and speckled golden upperparts.

Pacific Golden-Plover

The only native owl in Hawaii is known locally as the Pueo. It is a subspecies of the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus). It occurs on all the main islands.

Short-eared Owl

We also saw Ruddy Turnstones which are known as Akekeke, but didn't bother with photos as they are local here in Texas.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2012 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #154 - Spring Migration #3

Well it is over for another year and what a strange spring it was. I never saw even one example of some fairly common species such as Yellow-throated, Canada, and Nashville Warblers.
Three other species I saw only Tuesday May 8th after a rain.
There were reports all last week of Black-throasted Blue and Cape May Warblers at LaFitte's Cove. These are both very uncommon, but I missed them again this year, the Black-throated Blue by only 5 minutes on Friday 4th:(
However, there are always birds to photograph and the Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)provided my best photos ever of this species. This black and white male has a solid black crown with white cheeks. However, the notable feature is the orange legs.

Blackpoll Warbler - male

The female is black and white with a yellowish wash below. However, notice that she has the same color legs and this is the ID mark. I think this is the first time I have ever seen a female of this species.

Blackpoll Warbler - female

The Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) is a brown backed ground, dwelling warbler with a striped head and central orange stripe. It has a streaked breast and might be confused with a thrush, but it is much smaller. It is named for its nest that is built on the ground and resembles an oven. It is not named for its taste.

Ovenbird

The male Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) has a brown cap, throat and flanks. The face is black as are the wings with 2 white bars. He has an insect in his mouth in this picture.

Bay-breasted Warbler - breeding male

The Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) is a brown-backed thrush with spotted breast and no eye-ring. The lack of eye-ring distinguishes this bird from the similar Swainson's Thrush. The sexes are similar.

Gray-cheeked Thrush

An unusual photo was this Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus). Shrikes, as you know, capture insects, small reptiles etc and impale them on thorns or barbed wire to store them until eaten later. Normally, they are skittish, but this one flew onto a dead snag 15 feet from me and allowed a single photo before leaving. An important field mark of all shrikes is the heavy hooked beak. Here is a photo of the business end of this bird.

Loggerhead Shrike - detail

On May 8th at LaFitte's Cove, another birder told me there was a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) in the oak tree by the bench, above the drip. It was 8pm and had been raining a little. I found the owl, and as luck would have it, the flash was dead. I turned it off for a moment and luckily it recharged or dried out and I got a couple of flash shots. His ear tufts are in disarray due to the rain (looks like a punk haircut). Here is a frontal view.

Great Horned Owl

And here is the back of the bird.



Great Horned Owl

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2012 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #153 - Spring migration #2

We have not had a fallout this year so far and the weather suggests it will be unlikely in the next week or so. Birding has been rather slow everywhere on the coast from what I can read on Texbirds.

Still, a few birds can lead to some good photos. This weekend has seen an influx of the more sought after beauties, but few warbler species.

The perennial favorite of all is the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris). The gaudy male is unmistakable with his red breast, blue head and yellow-green back. This bird came to the drip at LaFitte's Cove and perched on a snag by the pond for his photo to everyone's delight.

Painted Bunting - male

Of interest, I noted the green feathers between the eye and bill. I had not noticed this before, but when I checked my other photos of this bird, they all have it. It is amazing how we can miss a curiosity like this.

He got down into the drip and took a bath as we all clicked away. This photo has his feathers on his head standing up and his head in a reflection. What a great bird! These were my best photos ever of this species.

Painted Bunting - male

Another favorite of mine is the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea). Last year I read and told you that the piranga genus of tanagers were going to be moved to the cardinal family. Apparently it hasn't happened yet. The male is red with black wings and tail. It has been a hard bird for me to get a good photo as usually when he is in the sun, the photos ar overexposed on the back and head in the sun. This bird was low down in some shrubs eating a berry. the time was 6:30pm, so no sun and a perfect exposure using flash. I like the photos with the bird doing something..eating, singing etc.

Scarlet Tanager - male breeding

Here is another photo a minute later in another pose with a half-eaten berry.

Scarlet Tanager - male breeding

The black, red, and white male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is an easy ID.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - male breeding

Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) have always been a difficult bird for me to photograph as they tend to perch near the treetops. This one at least was in a bare tree. The breeding male with black head, black wings with white bars, black tail and orange body is stunning.

Baltimore Oriole - male breeding

The best warbler for the weekend was this Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia). Notice the genus change from dendroica as I mentioned in the last bulletin, all the warblers have been renamed and reordered. The yellow beast with black streaks, gray head and back, and black face ID this bird.

Magnolia Warbler - male breeding

The female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is gray with yellow wing and tail patches.

American Redstart - female

The male Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)is all yellow with red streaks on the breast. The female lacks the streaks.

Yellow Warbler - male

 Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2012 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin #152 - spring migration #1

I have been extremely busy so far this spring and not able to get out much. I hope that will change. I did manage a few trips to LaFitte's Cove in Galveston, over the last few weekends and got a taste of the flood of birds to come later in the month.
For those of you who didn't know, the warblers have undergone an extensive rearrangement of genuses and relationships within genuses last summer. Read Ken Kaufman's blog to learn more about it. I will use the new names going forward.
The first warbler here is the early migrating Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina). The male has a black hood, yellow face and underparts and olive back. The lateral tail feathers are white and the bird fans its tail frequently.Very easy to ID.

Hooded Warbler - male

The female lacks the black hood, but has the suggestion of a hood. As it is rather non-descript, the white lateral tail feathers are important to make the ID of the female. The white feathers on sides of the tail can be seen on both these photos.

Hooded Warbler - female

The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is another stunning beauty. It is all yellow with blue-gray wings and no wing bars. It has a long beak. The sexes are similar, but the male is brighter. I find them difficult to distinguish.

Prothonotary Warbler

Next is another of my favorites (I guess I like them all!). The Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus) is brown above, beige below and it has a characteristic striped crown. They are an easy warbler to ID due to the head stripes. The sexes are similar.

Worm-eating Warbler

The Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) as the name implies is only black and white. It has a white median crown stripe that is its distinguishing field mark. This male has black cheeks. The female has white cheeks. It tends to feed like a nuthatch going up and down the trunks and large branches of the trees. This bird was very close and turned to look at me.

Black-and-white Warbler - male

Speaking of turning to look at me, this Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) assumed the childish pose of sticking his tongue out at the camera as if to say ' don't take my picture'. This bird is very similar to the Prothonotary above. However, it has 2 white wing bars and a thin black line from the eye to the beak. The sexes are similar.

Blue-winged Warbler

One of the more sought after birds in spring is the Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosus). It is olive above, yellow below, no wing bars and a black mustache. The male shown here has extensive black on the face.

Kentucky Warbler - female

Next is one of the more hard to ID birds. I think it is a Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus). It is hard to separate from the Warbling Vireo. However, this bird has a yellow throat and darkish line through the eye making me think it is a Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Vireo

An unusual sighting was a pair of Brown Thrashers (Toxostoma rufum) at the drip. I had never seen a pair of them together before. I presume it was a male who displayed by fanning his wings and tail to his mate.

Brown Thrasher - displaying

I am going on a vacation Saturday to a place where I have never photographed the birds before, so hopefully I will have some interesting pictures for you when I return.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2012 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.

Bulletin 151 - Monterey CA birds and wildlife

I had my first real vacation in a year, last week, and headed back to my favorite haunt, Carmel CA.  I have seen almost all the birds there, but my local guide, Rick Fournier had mentioned that he knew a location about 2 hours away, where roosting Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) could be found. This thin 16" long bird was a lifer and a real treat. In winter, all the guide books state that flocks may gather together and roost together in the same tree. Well, the pine tree was full of owls! I saw about 12-15, and the man whose property it was on said he had counted 22 birds in the tree! The sexes are similar and the bird is IDed by the long ear tufts, orange or rusty facial disk with a vertical black line through the eye. Here are 2 different birds.

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

   
Mostly they were hunched down, but the odd one was sitting very upright and appeared thin. The guide books call this the alert or camouflage posture.

Long-eared Owl - alert posture

Also on the property was an old barn that housed a Barn Owl (Tyto alba) (who would have guessed?). This was only the second time, that I ever had 2 owl species in daylight at the same location. What a treat!

Barn Owl

 One the way back, my other target bird was the Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli). I had seen this bird once before in Arizona, but the coastal birds are much darker, so I wanted to see and photograph the other color variant.

Sage Sparrow - Pacific form

We also found both local species of bluebirds beside the road on the way back. The beautiful male Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is the only all blue bird in the USA.

Mountain Bluebird - male

The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is quite similar to the eastern. I didn't get a good photo of the male, but I did see a female hovering. I have never before seen a songbird hover. Of course other birds do this..kingfishers, some raptors (American Kestrel, White-tailed Kite). Here is the female photographed while hovering.

Western Bluebird - female

Along the coast, checking gulls in various plumages can be an intellectual challenge to try to match them to the guide books. Here is a Mew Gull (Larus canus) in Monterey harbor. Superficially it looks like a winter adult with the plain yellow bill. However, the feet can be seen beneath the water and are gray in color. The feet of an adult are yellow, and the juveniles are gray. So I think this is a second winter bird molting to adult plumage as spring nears.

Mew Gull - 2nd winter molting to adult plumage

One of the more interesting natural history events that a visitor can do in the Monterey area in winter is to see the hibernating Monarch Butterflies in Pacific Grove, a small town adjacent to Monterey. They proudly call themselves Butterfly Town USA. We all know and have seen photos of the Monarch Butterflies hibernating in Mexico. Well the Monarchs west of the Rockies just go to California rather than Mexico. There are a number of locations along the coast. Most are inaccessible in the forests of Big Sur, but there is a stand of trees in Pacific Grove that host the butterflies and can be visited. I have seen them on several occasions in the past. This photo was taken in the latter part of February in 2008.

Monarch Butterflies - Pacific Grove CA,  Feb 19, 2008

On this visit, there were scarcely any butterflies at all. The local docent said there was a very cold winter recently that caused a massive die-off  of the butterflies. There were only 3 small clumps in the trees. here is one of the 2 larger clumps but it was nowhere near the size of the ones in the photo above.

Monarch Butterflies - Pacific Grove CA, Feb 15, 2012

The smallest of the 3 clumps just had a handful of the insects.

Monarch Butterflies - Pacific Grove CA, Feb 15, 2012

When the temperature outside reaches about 55 degrees, the Monarchs rouse from their hibernation and start flitting about. You can see several with their wings open as the temperature that day was in the mid 50's. However, many try to fly and just fall to the ground. The visitors have to be careful not to step on these beautiful creatures as they wait to warm up. Here was a single one at eye level on a pine tree.

Monarch Butterfly

This is truly a marvellous sight and one of the true mysteries of nature. How these insects make their way back to the same location each winter, as the insects arriving in winter are several generation away from the ones who left in the spring? How is this information passed on? I had always assumed that this 3000 mile migration from Canada to Mexico was the world's record for an insect migration. However, in researching this, in 2009, it has been discovered that a species of dragonfly migrates from India to Africa for the winter and back again the next spring. They stop at the Maldives and Seychelles on the way. This can be more than 5000 miles each way and over open ocean! If interested, read this link on this remarkable journey.

I went whale watching in Monterey Bay to see the gray whales on their northward migration. We were told on the boat that this was the longest mammal migration of any species - as much as 4700 miles each way from the Chukchi Sea north of Alaska to the calving grounds in the Sea of Cortez of Mexico. So I thought this was a perfect fit with the longest insect migration above. Again I was surprised when I did my research for this bulletin, that the record now belongs to some Humpback Whales that summer off Antarctica and migrate to the Caribbean coast of Central America, a 5200 mile trip each way!

I had seen the Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) on an earlier trip, but now I wanted to photograph them. Unfortunately, we did not have any jumping, so I only get them on the surface when they spout.

Gray Whales

The only other mammals seen were some Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) in a large pod of perhaps 50 individuals. The young dolphins are dark gray but as they age they get lighter and almost white. They are IDed by the rounded head. This appears to be a very old individual and he is smiling at us.


Risso's Dolphin

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2012 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask for subscribe.