I'd like to second the recommendations about the tours led by Hawaii Forest?and Trail. This is a small but we-ll run ooutfit, and the prices are reasonable. It's really the ONLY way to visit the wonderful Hakalau Forest, especially if you actually want to see the birds found there! Also, the trail systems in that area are very complex, and one could easily get lost there without a guide. It's the only place where one can still find the lovely Akepa, and the forest itself is gorgeous -- worth the price of the tour even if you didn't see ANY birds!? I'd also advise using them to go to the Palila spot, to minimize disturbance to this rapidly declining species. The Palila is my favorite Hawaiian endemic, and it's so sad that their extinction in the next decade or so seems to be almost a certainty at this point... Hope you get to see them -- they are very elegant birds





Mark





In February I took the Rain Forest and Dry Forest tour with Hawaii Forest and Trail. I wanted to do the Hakalau Forest tour but it was full. The tour I did take was very good. It?s a very long day and involves a decent amount of hiking but not too strenuous. The guide was very knowledgeable about birds as well as botany and Hawaiian culture. I highly recommend it. Among other birds, I saw



- Iiwi

- Appane

- Amakihi

- Elepaio

- Akipolauu



http://www.hawaii-forest.com/index.php/tours/hawaii_birdwatching_tour_rainforest_and_dryforest_birding_adventure



I did a bunch of other birding in other locations. If you bring a scope, I recommend going to South Point, the southernmost point on the Big Island (and the US). I saw shearwaters far off shore but could not ID them without a scope.







From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [ mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu ] On Behalf Of Georgia Conti
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 9:08 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] RFI - Big Island Hawaii




The dump and sewage treatment ponds on the Kona side of the island are good places. I got a Garganey there a few years ago.





Georgia Conti


Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico