Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Pacific Golden Plover |
 Red-crested Cardinal |
 Zebra Doves |
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 Common Myna |
 Maui |
 Molokai |
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 Molokai |
 Humpback Whale |
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A chance to spend a long weekend on the north west end of Maui also gave me a chance to do some casual birding in this area of the island. Unfortunately, the best birding spots are at the other end of the island. Hosmer Grove and Mount Haleakala are the best spots for endemics such as Maui Creeper, Hawai'i Amakihi, I'iwi, Apapane and Nene. Hawaiian Coot and Hawaiian Stilt can be seen around Kanaha Pond and Kealia Pond. I have seen these birds on a prior trip so didn't make the 2.5 hour drive back out there again. Instead, I did some casual birding aroung Kapalua and Lahaina and enjoyed some of the introduced birds along with some winter visitors. I also did a whale wathcing trip from Lahaina that didn't produce any pelagics but lots of Humpback whales and some sea turtles. A Brown Booby was seen from shore one afternoon.
In winter, Pacific Golden Plovers are plentiful as they are across most of Hawaii. These birds are easily seen around any short grass. Other common birds include Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Red-crested Cardinal and Common Mynah (all introuduced and non-native species).
Brown Booby
Cattle Egret
Pacific Golden Plover
Zebra Dove
Spotted Dove
House Sparrow
Common Myna
Starling
Japanese White-eye
Java Sparrow
Nutmeg Mannikin
Red-crested Cardinal
Humpback Whale
Flying Fish
Sea Turtle