Hello Birders:

I'm back from a week's stay in Kona, Hawaii where birding was my primary goal.
Drove 750 miles+, never did get all the way around the island. Lots of land
to cover.

To maximize by birding efforts, myself and 3 others went with Naturalist Rob
Pacheco (Hawaii Forest and Trail) to Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge,
just above 6,000 ft. Got our target birds, finally. It was a 13 hour day.
Rob is permitted 12 trips a year into Hakalau Forest NWR.

Akepa, female and male (gorgeous he is) - new
Akiapola'au (crippling good look) - new
I'O (hawk) - saw 4; 2 sat over our lunch spot
I'iwi (what a beauty)
Oma'o (thrush) - new
Barn Owl (2- one perched, best look I've ever had)
Hawaii Creeper - new
Pueo (owl)
Elepaio
Apapane
Hawaii Amakihi (flock)
Red-billed Leiothrix

On the way to/from Hakalau:

Gray, Black, Erkel's Frankolins
Chukar
Calif. Quail
Ring-necked Pheasant
Eurasian Skylark (100's)
Wild turkey
Other, less exotic birds

And...a beautiful white rainbow

And Elsewhere:

Saffron Finches are "common", as are Yellow-fronted Canary, Yellow-billed
Cardinal, House Finches/Sparrows, Zebra and Spotted Dove, Northern Cardinal,
Common Myna, Nutmeg Mannikin, Japanese White-eye, plus Kalij Pheasant, Java
Sparrow, Rock Dove, White-tailed Tropicbird, Melodeous Laughing-thrush,
Warbling Silverbill, N. Mockingbird (1, the Ranger said it had been at this
park location for 10 years), and Koloa. At Aimakapa Pond (no longer a nude
beach area) I saw Lavender Waxbill, Black-crowned Night-heron, Lesser Yellow-
legs, Pacific Golden Plover, Cattle Egret, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Stilt,
Ruddy Turnstone, Wandering Tattler.

Too many mongoose(s). Saw a Rat and a Hoary Bat at Manuka State Park.

Happy Birding!

Joyce Meyer
Woodinville, WA
MEYER2J at aol.com