Maui, Hawaii - 19 Nov 2007
6am – The seas were a bit rough this morning, and upon arriving into port I took several images of the coastline and surf crashing upon the breakwalls. Rain had been falling along the coastline, and we managed to see a rainbow just off shore. Within an hour the skies would be clearing, and we could begin to see toward the summit of Mt. Haleakala, the largest of the dormant volcanoes in the Hawaiian Chain.
9am - We rented an SUV from Alamo and headed off toward Haleakala . The winding road up the mountain afforded us wonderful views of the pastures, valleys, and ocean. We spotted a Pueo (Short-eared Owl) soaring over the grasslands, and stopped to take several images of the soaring owl from the car. I attempted to digiscope some flight shots, and had fair success. Stopping at the Visitor’s Center I saw a Pacific Golden Plover on the lawn, and finally got several nice close-ups before it wandered off. Around the back of the center a Northern Mockingbird flew up onto a dead snag overlooking the valley, and stayed long enough for a couple snapshots. Driving to the summit we stopped and photographed numerous Silver Sword (2), (3) along the slopes of barren slopes. Great views were had of the crater calderas (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and observatories before clouds and rain moved in.
9am - We rented an SUV from Alamo and headed off toward Haleakala . The winding road up the mountain afforded us wonderful views of the pastures, valleys, and ocean. We spotted a Pueo (Short-eared Owl) soaring over the grasslands, and stopped to take several images of the soaring owl from the car. I attempted to digiscope some flight shots, and had fair success. Stopping at the Visitor’s Center I saw a Pacific Golden Plover on the lawn, and finally got several nice close-ups before it wandered off. Around the back of the center a Northern Mockingbird flew up onto a dead snag overlooking the valley, and stayed long enough for a couple snapshots. Driving to the summit we stopped and photographed numerous Silver Sword (2), (3) along the slopes of barren slopes. Great views were had of the crater calderas (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and observatories before clouds and rain moved in.
Driving back down the slopes we found a small flock of Chukars next to the road, and stopped and got several nice views as they clambered up the rocks out of site.
We then stopped at Hosmer Grove and I hiked the trails up the side of the hill. Numerous Amakihi and Apapane were flying overhead and singing in the brush. I was able to get several seconds view of a Maui Creeper before it disappeared into the trees. Several Ring-necked Pheasants flew overhead, and were later heard calling in the distance. Driving back toward the ship several Red Jungle Fowl were seen alongside the road.
Dropping Robin and Esther off at the ship, I turned around and headed toward the Kanaha Pond, which is a Wildlife Sanctuary for the endangered Hawaiian Stilt and Hawaiian Coot. Driving along the backside of the sanctuary I spotted (6) Coot through the fence. While photographing them through the fence it started to rain. Jumping back into the car I drove a bit further and spotted a dozen or so Cattle Egrets next to the road. Rolling down the window to photograph them I got drenched! Soon, however, the rains let up and I continued on around the preserve and found the entrance. A small parking lot and a gate was found next to the highway and I pulled in. A single Hawaiian Stilt was next to the fence and allowed both digiscoped and telephoto images (2). Farther up the path, next to the cement bird blind a Coot was feeding in the grass. This bird had a large red shield on its forehead, while others in the preserve had all-white foreheads (2). In all I spotted six Stilts (2), (3), (4) and four Coots inside the preserve. I also managed images of a Common Myna and a Black-crowned Night Heron before returning the car to the airport and heading back to the ship.
