Birding Tour USA: Hawaii – ABA & Endemic Birding in the Pacific

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Birding Tour USA: Hawaii – ABA & Endemic Birding in the Pacific
February 2025

 

Hawaii – commonly referred to as the ‘Aloha State’ with its welcoming atmosphere, is a tropical paradise that is about as unique as they come. Once an independent nation, years ago, Hawaii is now an officially recognized US state, making up one of the 50 US states. Hawaii is comprised of a string of islands known as the Hawaiian Archipelago, located far out in the Pacific Ocean, isolated from the rest of the world. There are eight primary islands that feature in the archipelago, namely – Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi (Big Island).

Hawaii Akepa is one of the many Hawaiian endemics, and a highly sought-after species.

 

Hawaii is well known as a prime vacation and wedding destination, and has a great many highlights featuring some of the best surfing in the world and the largest naval command in the world. Hawaii’s biodiversity and in particular its avifauna is somewhat less well-known, and historically hasn’t accounted for much of the tourism boon to the region – but this is steadily changing.

Due to its isolation from the rest of the world, Hawaii has a very high rate of endemism and features a number of strange and peculiar-looking birds, found nowhere else. It is extremely unfortunate that indeed a great number of various Asian and European species were introduced to these islands, as these, together with other introduced taxa, and the spread of mosquitos and malaria, have all had a devastating impact on the local biodiversity, and especially its birdlife. A large number of species have become extinct, with many more species now rare and thinly distributed, and on the precipice of extinction.

This tour targets all three endemic elepaio species including this Kauai Elepaio.

 

The official recognition of Hawaii and its birds, as countable for the official ABA checklist, has encouraged a great deal of American based birders to venture to these islands, in search of the many unique species found here. Although the region has drawn in ‘world-birders’ seeking to add these endemic species to their world lists, this inclusion has had a widespread positive impact on raising awareness of the plight of Hawaii’s threatened birds. It is thus with a great deal of pride that we have added a birding tour to Hawaii, as we strive to continue help raising awareness of the plight of Hawaii’s endemic birds, and indeed help various conservation bodies throughout the state of Hawaii.

Our birding tour takes in the three main and easily accessible islands, O’ahu, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi (the latter more commonly known as Big Island). Here we focus our efforts on getting to the different sections of higher-altitudinal montane forest, in search of the various endemics and specials that still persist, while also ensuring we try and find as many of the various introduced species as possible. Some of the island’s most sought-after endemics include such species as Iiwi, Akiapolaau, Palila, Apapane, Akekee and Anianiau, through to more widely known species such as Nene (Hawaiian Goose) – which is also the official state bird of Hawaii. Other desirable species such as Bristle-thighed Curlew, Hawaiian Petrel, White Tern, and Laysan Albatross also form core targets on our tour.

Hawaii’s blend of highly localized birds, jaw-dropping coastal vistas and the feeling of being in a tropical island paradise – all the while adding species to both your world and ABA lists, make Hawaii a destination not to be missed!

 

Itinerary (10 days/9 nights)

 

Day 1. Arrival in Honolulu, O’ahu

Today is your arrival day, and you can arrive at your leisure. Upon arrival in Honolulu (HNL) you will be transferred to our comfortable lodge, where we will spend the next three nights. Should there be time available in the afternoon, we may do some local birding nearby, getting familiar with some of the more regularly occurring species (see under Day 2 below for more details). We will gather in the lobby at 6pm for our welcome dinner.

Overnight: Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel, Waikiki

 

Day 2. Birding O’ahu – Waikiki to the Koʻolau Range

Our first morning will be spent birding around the Kapiʻolani Regional Park. One of the star species here is White Tern, while Pacific Golden Plover is another sought-after species at this site. A wide array of introduced species can also be sought and include the likes of Rose-ringed Parakeet, Zebra and Spotted Doves, Java Sparrow, Common Waxbill, Red-crested Cardinal and Yellow-fronted Canary. The rest of the day is spent outside of Wakiki in the forests of the Koʻolau Range where we will be primarily searching for the endemic Oahu Amakihi and the Oahu Elepaio. Both of these species are red-listed as per the IUCN Red List (being Vulnerable and Endangered, respectively). Indeed, rather tragically, many of the other endemic species occurring throughout the Hawaiian Islands are also red-listed and many of them Critically Endangered. Further introduced species, such as White-rumped Shama, Warbling White-eye and Red-billed Leiothrix can be seen in this area as well.

Overnight: Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel, Waikiki

 

Day 3. Birding O’ahu – The north shore

Our day will be spent birding and exploring the coastal region along the north shore of the island. Although perhaps more well-known for its picturesque beaches with world-class surfing, the secluded coves and tracts of shoreline, along with the vast family farms (with crops of coffee, coao and many others) are home to the highly sought-after Bristle-thighed Curlew, along with a wide range of other targets such as Wandering Tattler, an endemic subspecies of Black-necked Stilt and the endemic Hawaiian Coot. Further introduced species such as Saffron Finch and Chestnut Munia can also be found in the area.

Overnight: Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel, Waikiki

Bristle-thighed Curlew can be seen on O’ahu.

 

Day 4. Flight to Kaua’i and birding Kaua’i

We have the morning at our leisure as we have a mid-morning flight to Lihue on Kaua’i. Following our arrival, we will begin exploring Kaua’i’s beautiful north shore. We will focus our efforts around the rugged cliffs of the coastal Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and the freshwater-dominated Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. One of our main targets at Kīlauea Point is the stunning Laysan Albatross – small numbers of which breed here. Other species we’ll be searching for are Red-footed and Brown Boobies, stunning Red-tailed and White-tailed Tropicbirds and Great Frigatebird (a similar, yet different species from the Magnificent Frigatebird occurring on mainland USA). Nene (also known as Hawaiian Goose), which is the state bird of Hawaii, usually provide us with great views throughout the day as well. Hawaiian Duck will be one of our main targets at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.

Overnight: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, Kapaa

Nene (also known as Hawaiian Goose) is the state bird of Hawaii.

 

Day 5. Birding Kaua’i – Kōkeʻe State Park          

We will dedicate the day to birding and exploring the glorious Kōkeʻe State Park. This lush mountainous park offers the best endemic birding on the island, and we will spend our time birding the rainforests for a wide assortment of difficult-to-pronounce specials such as Kauai Amakihi, Apapane, Anianiau, Kauai Elepaio and even the rare and IUCN Critically Endangered Akekee. This area also plays host to further introduced (yet countable) species such as Red Junglefowl, the difficult-to-see Japanese Bush Warbler, and Chinese Hwamei. Aside from this exciting endemic birding, we are also assured to enjoy incredible vistas of the Waimea Canyon, known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’.

Overnight: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, Kapaa

 

Day 6. Birding Kaua’i and flight to Kona, Big Island

We have a full morning available to us to continue birding and exploring Kaua’i. We will search for Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush today in particular, although we will need some luck to see this species, along with any of the island’s specials we may have missed, listed under Days 4 and 5 above. We will undertake an afternoon flight to Kona, on Big Island (also known as Hawai’i) from where we will settle in for the afternoon, and spend the next four nights.

Overnight: Royal Kona Resort, Kona

 

Day 7. Birding Big Island – Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge

One of the most important birding sites for endemic Hawaiian species, throughout all of the Hawaiian Islands, is the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. Dominated by montane cloud forest, with a strong suite of native plants and general wildlife still largely persisting, we will spend the entire day birding this wonderful protected and highly restricted area. Some of our target species here include the likes of Hawaiian Hawk, Omao, Hawaii Creeper, Hawaii Akepa, Akiapolaau, Iiwi, Hawaii Amakihi and Apapane. Whilst exploring the area for these species, and others, the ancient ohia trees that dominate the area will take you to a time period long past, allowing us to better understand the plight of Hawaii’s endemic species.

Overnight: Royal Kona Resort, Kona

Akiapolaau is another highly sought-after Hawaiian endemic – just look at that beak.

 

Day 8. Birding Big Island – Pu’u La’au, Mauna Kea and surrounds

We have a full day set aside to explore other important birding areas on the island – ranging from the high elevations of Pu’u La’au on the slopes of the dormant volcano, Mauna Kea, along the Saddle Road, to the more coastal Waikōloa area. Two important endemic species that we will focus our efforts on today are the Hawaii Elepaio and the Critically Endangered (IUCN) Palila. Various other new species we are unlikely to have seen yet might include Short-eared Owl, Wild Turkey, California Quail, Erckel’s Spurfowl, Black and Grey Francolins, Chukar Partridge, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Eurasian Skylark and African Silverbill.

Overnight: Royal Kona Resort, Kona

 

Day 9. Pelagic Birding off Big Island

Today we will undertake a pelagic trip out of Honokohau Harbor. Together with our trusty captain and boat, we will spend most of the day out in the deep. In between the more regularly occurring species, we’ll keep a keen eye open for the likes of a wide range of exciting and fast-flying gadfly Pterodroma petrels, namely Hawaiian, Juan Fernandez, Mottled, White-necked and Black-winged Petrels, Christmas and the Critically Endangered (IUCN) Newell’s Shearwaters, Leach’s and Band-rumped Storm Petrels, Masked Booby, South Polar Skua and more. Indeed, the truly exciting aspect about pelagic birding is that you can never truly predict what you’ll see out there! More regularly occurring species typically seen include Wedge-tailed and Sooty Shearwaters, Bulwer’s Petrel, Great Frigatebird, the stunning White-tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Sooty Tern and both Black and Brown Noddies. Occasional cetacean sightings also feature on these trips.

Following an excellent day out on the water, we will enjoy our final dinner together, and reminisce about the many exciting birds we would have seen.

Overnight: Royal Kona Resort, Kona

We’ll be on the lookout for White-tailed Tropicbird and more on our pelagic day trip.

 

 

Day 10. Departure from Kona, Hawaii

The tour comes to an end today, and you can depart home from Kona Airport.

 

 

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.

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Hawaii: Set Departure Trip Report, February 2023

30 JANUARY – 08 FEBRUARY 2023

 By Jacob Roalef

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The clown-like I‘iwi stole the show and was the top bird for the trip!

Overview

This ten-day set departure tour of Hawaii began in Honolulu with exploration of the island of O‘ahu and then proceeded to two more of the Hawaiian Islands: Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i (also known as the big island). We visited several fantastic birding locations, including the Ko‘olau Range, the North Shore, Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, Koke‘e State Park, Pu‘u La‘au, Mauna Kea, an open ocean pelagic and the paradise of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge.

We recorded many amazing bird sightings, including a variety of endemics, seabirds, and introduced species, giving us an impressive list for the Hawaiian Islands in the short space of ten days. Avian highlights included White Tern, Red-tailed and White-tailed Tropicbirds, Red-footed and Masked Boobies, Red Avadavat, Laysan Albatross, Black Francolin, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Bristle-thighed Curlew, I‘iwi, ‘Akiapola‘au, ‘Anianiau, ‘Apapane, and an ABA area rarity in the form of Grey-tailed Tattler. We were also successful with the island sweeps of the ‘Amakihi and ‘Elepaio species, plus many others.

A total of 91 bird species were seen, along with a couple of fantastic mammal sightings including a mega pod of Melon-headed Whales, a few lounging Hawaiian Monk Seals, and newborn baby Humpback Whale! Other wildlife highlights were Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, Flying Fish, and an optional night excursion to see Manta Rays up close and personal in the water. Full bird and mammal checklists can be found at the end of this report.

This young Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi was one of three species on the different islands.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 30^th January 2023. Arrival and welcome dinner.

All participants arrived in Honolulu and were transferred to the hotel for check-in and a bit of rest after the long journey to the middle of the Pacific. We met at 6pm in the lobby for group introductions and our first dinner together at the lovely hotel restaurant where we managed to note a few of the common species like Spotted Dove, Red-vented Bulbul, and Common Myna. It was then time for sleep in preparation for our first full day of birding.

Day 2, 31^st January 2023. Birding O‘ahu – Waikiki to the Ko‘olau Range

After a tasty breakfast at the hotel, we loaded up in the van to begin our Hawaiian birding adventure. We wove our way through the traffic and ascended in altitude towards the Tantalus Ridge. We noted several of the more common species as we drove, like Zebra Dove and Cattle Egret. The view of the city below was spectacular, with a lovely rainbow included, which was only fitting for the rainbow state. It didn’t take long after getting out of the van for us to hear our top target up here . The conditions were a bit challenging, with a constant drizzle of rain, but it did not deter our group and we soon had excellent views of the endemic O‘ahu ‘Amakihi. We descended the mountain and arrived on a busy street in Honolulu where, for some reason, a group of White Terns had decided it was the perfect location for nesting! These were absolutely stunning birds, and such a strange setting to see them, with loud traffic all around. From here we headed off to Kapiolani Park, very close to the famous Waikiki Beach. The trees and grasses here were loaded with notorious species introduced to Hawai‘i, like Common Waxbill, Java Sparrow, Yellow-fronted Canary, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Red-crested Cardinal, and Saffron Finch.

The angelic White Tern was a treat to see along the busy streets of Honolulu.

It was now time for lunch, so we made an order to go and enjoyed some local poke bowls at the Lana‘i Lookout, where we were treated to an incredible show of Red-tailed Tropicbirds flying by and displaying close. We even managed to spot one on a nest in the nearby cliffs. Next up was our other top target for this island – another fantastic endemic. We headed off for a short hike into the nearby valley, equipped with waterbottles and insect repellent. Along the route to our destination, we saw a few more exotic species like Red-whiskered Bulbul, Red-billed Leiothrix, and White-rumped Shama. After a fair bit of searching, we managed to spot the star bird, the endangered O‘ahu ‘Elepaio! We were very lucky to watch a pair of these amazing birds as they constructed their nest. This was the perfect sight to cap off our fantastic day of birding on O‘ahu.

Day 3, 1^st February 2023. Birding O‘ahu – The North Shore

With both of our top target species for O‘ahu in the bag we were off to a great start, and ready to tackle a few more target species today. After breakfast we headed to Sandy’s Beach and Makapu‘u Lookout, where we picked up our first Red-footed and Brown Boobies of the trip. Our next stop was the Ka‘elepulu Wetlands, with fantastic views of the endemic Hawaiian Coot, along with the Hawaiian subspecies of both Common Gallinule and Black-necked Stilt. From here we continued our journey around the island and arrived at the Marine Corps Base, which hosted a nice wetlands area allowing us to scope out a locally rare Caspian Tern. We also enjoyed a few close Scaly-breasted Munias, our first for the trip.

This Red-tailed Tropicbird, along with its friends, put on quite the show for us.

After lunch it was time for a short hike along the Kahuku Golf Course. The course was littered with Pacific Golden-Plovers and Zebra Doves. We eventually reached our destination and were immediately treated to a pair of Bristle-thighed Curlews, a highly-desired species and top target here. We spent some time here and enjoyed these amazing birds before hiking back to the van, where we saw our first Northern Cardinal. Our final planned stop of the day was a brief look at the nearby Kahuku Aqua Ponds, which netted us Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone, both firsts for the trip. During our drive back to Honolulu, Mandy spotted a small group of Red Avadavats while we were stuck in traffic! A fantastic sighting, as these little birds can be incredibly difficult to find and are highly localized. Everyone managed views and then we settled back into the traffic and continued along to the hotel and dinner.

Day 4, 2^nd February 2023. Birding Kaua‘i – Hanalei NWR

Today the morning consisted of a more leisurely breakfast, packing, and a trip to the airport to catch our flight to the next island, Kaua‘i. We landed around noon and began our adventure on island number two. First on the agenda was lunch, which we enjoyed outside and spotted Hawaiian Goose, Great Frigatebird, and Western Meadowlark while we ate. With our bellies full, we headed off to the Princeville Golf Course and experienced the wonders of parenthood up close and personal. We met a local Laysan Albatross father named Larry and watched as he cared for his recently hatched chick. Truly a special moment with an incredible bird. We continued our search of the area and spotted a Snow Goose mixed in with the Hawaiian Geese, and there was a small flock of Chestnut Munias nearby as well.

Larry the Laysan Albatross allowed us some views of his parenting skills.

After our lovely time on the golf course, we headed off to Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge to search for our next target. It didn’t take long for us to spot the endangered Hawaiian Duck. As we scoped a few birds from the road, Mandy turned around and all of a sudden saw a tiny duckling at our feet! Surely it was a Hawaiian Duck with no mother around, so it was up to us to save this poor little bird and do our part to help protect this species. We had quite an adventure with our little duckling as we tracked down some refuge employees who would be able to properly care for it and get it the help it needed. It is not everyday that one gets the opportunity to be a part of a rescue team for an endangered species! The day was now winding down, so we finished up with an early evening watch at the Kilauea Lighthouse. Here we enjoyed hundreds of Red-footed Boobies as well as some soaring Laysan Albatrosses and Great Frigatebirds. A few Humpback Whales were also seen way offshore. A great finish to our first day on Kaua‘i.

Day 5, 3^rd February 2023. Birding Kaua‘i – Koke‘e State Park

The weather forecast for the morning made it clear that we would be in for a battle against the constant misting rain, as is typical in the wet forests of these islands. Nonetheless, our group was ready for this and not deterred. We headed into Koke‘e State Park, with a quick stop at Waimea Canyon first, to take in the views of what is deemed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. While we were there, the clouds and fog rolled in, and the rain began. We noted a few birds, including Red Junglefowl and Warbling White-eye. We made it up to higher elevations in Koke‘e and managed to find our first endemic species, ‘Apapane. The birding was slow in these conditions, but we still managed to get views of two more endemic species, ‘Anianiau and Kaua‘i ‘Elepaio. We headed back down to the state park lodge to dry off a little and get some warm food and drinks.

We were excited to find this rare Grey-tailed Tattler to finish the day!

After lunch we decided to venture back to the top of the mountain here, as we were still missing one of the key endemics. While the rain was still misting, we managed to hear and then spot the Kaua‘i ‘Amakihi quickly! This is certainly the toughest of the four target endemic species here, so it was great to get some views of a male. After this we began our journey out of the wet forests and back down to the coastline. Along the way we spotted our first Northern Mockingbird and African Silverbill of the trip, and then reached the Salt Ponds. It wasn’t long before we were onto an interesting bird in the water here. As we got closer, it became clear that we had spotted a rare vagrant Grey-tailed Tattler! An excellent find to go along with the Wandering Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, and Black-necked Stilts here. We made it back to the hotel where we enjoyed a well-deserved and delicious meal after a very successful day.

Day 6, 4^th February 2023. Flight to Hawai‘i, the big island

We all met up this morning for a tasty breakfast at the hotel as usual, but while we ate, we saw something rarer than any bird- a thunderstorm on Kaua‘i! While it often rains on the tropical islands of Hawaii, actual storms with high winds and lightning are incredibly rare . In fact, a few of the locals we spoke to said this was only the third storm here that they’d seen in their entire lives. Of course, this was amazing to see, but unfortunately meant that our morning birding plans had to be cancelled because it was too dangerous in these conditions. Instead, everyone got a nice break mid-trip to catch up on rest, work on photo editing, and enjoy the rooms of this wonderful hotel.

The storm eventually stopped around 11am, right when we needed to check out. We met up in the lobby, left our luggage there with the helpful staff and ventured out for a bit of birding. We decided to grab some lunch and take it to the nearby Poipu Beach Park and enjoy it by the water. In addition to a tasty lunch we enjoyed a few great wildlife sightings, including Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles and a pair of Hawaiian Monk Seals lounging on the beach. We still had a short time left, so we headed over to Opaeka‘a Falls to enjoy the scenic view. Here we spotted a pair of White-tailed Tropicbirds circling the cliffs, and a Red Junglefowl hen jumped into the van and wanted to go with us! From here we headed back to the hotel to gather our luggage and go to the airport to catch our flight to the third and final island of the trip, Hawai‘i (the big island).

Day 7, 5^th February 2023. Birding Hawai‘i – Mauna Kea and Waikoloa

Our first morning on the big island started with breakfast and then a trip to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant, because no trip is complete without a visit to a water treatment facility. The place was teeming with birds and we added many new species for the trip, including Cackling Goose, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Black Francolin, Ruff, White-faced Ibis, and Yellow-billed Cardinal. After a thorough search of the treatment plant, we made the long journey to Pu‘u La‘au and the dry forests of Mauna Kea. We explored the trails here for a couple of hours and picked up our first two endemics of the island, Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi and Hawai‘i ‘Elepaio. We also caught a few fleeting glimpses of the difficult to see Japanese Bush Warbler. Atunchtime we headed to the town of Waikoloa. Along the way we spotted an Erckel’s Spurfowl up on a fence post, and noted a few Eurasian Skylarks displaying in the distance.

In town we decided to enjoy lunch outside, in the beautiful sunny weather, and we were treated to a small group of Rosy-faced Lovebirds busily flying around and working on nests. After we finished eating, we headed off to the local skatepark, where we searched for a few new species. We managed some fantastic views of Grey Francolin and African Silverbill. We didn’t find our top target, so we drove around the neighborhoods and, not far from the park, we stumbled across the gorgeous Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse. There were eight birds in total and they were right next to the road, offering us some jaw dropping views. To close out the day we drove up to higher elevations along Kaloko Drive, where we spotted a few Kalij Pheasants, before it began to drizzle and fog rolled in. It was time to head back to the hotel, have dinner, and do our checklists, adding many new trip birds today.

This female Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse was possibly even more striking than the male!

Day 8, 6^th February 2023. Birding Hawai‘i – Hakalau Forest NWR

Today was probably the most anticipated day of the entire trip. One could feel everyone’s excitement at breakfast, as we would get to visit the pristine and amazing Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, one of the only remaining tracts with native trees and vegetation. Before entering the restricted forest we briefly ventured to higher altitudes and found a small group of Chukars along the side of the road. We then entered Hakalau and were greeted by a few Hawaiian Geese in the parking area. The morning started off with some light rain, as is expected in this wet forest, but thankfully the rainstopped after about 45 minutes and it turned into a stunner of a day, which is rare for this forest. The native birds reacted in turn to the sunshine, and we were soon surrounded by endemic species, with the most numerous being the clown-like I‘iwi and Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi. By the time we sat down for a picnic lunch, we already had views of ‘Akiapola‘au, ‘Oma‘o, Hawai‘i ‘Elepaio, and Hawaiian Creeper. We were serenaded by I‘iwi and ‘Apapane as we enjoyed our lunch, certainly an unforgettable experience. After lunch, we managed to find the final endemic we needed, the Hawai‘i ‘Akepa, as well as some better views of the incredibly unique ‘Akiapola‘au. Our time inside of Hakalau was certainly one for the record books, and it was easy to see why this is the top highlight location of the trip.

On our way out of the forest and back to the main road we drove down the dirt and gravel roads, which contained more open areas, where we spotted the ‘Io (Hawaiian Hawk) perched on top of a distant tree. Thankfully it stayed long enough for us to get scopes on it and enjoy this fantastic endemic species. It was now late in the afternoon, and we began the long journey back to the hotel. Along the way, we got on to a Short-eared Owl and watched as it hunted an open farm field. One could not ask for a better day of birding in Hawai‘i than the one we had today.

The chestnut color on this Hawai‘i ‘Elepaio was typical in wetter areas.

Day 9, 7^th February 2023. Kona Pelagic Birding

We were up early today, loaded up the van and headed down to the boat docks, where we enjoyed some tasty breakfast in preparation for a full day out on the water. Pelagic birding in Hawaii is different from most places, since there are no gulls here to follow the boat and chumming does not work, so the best plan is to find as many bait balls of small fish as possible. We had our game plan and set off soon after dawn. It wasn’t long before we spotted our first of many Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, the default species for the day. The birding was slowand things quickly became a mammal show when we spotted the spout of a Sperm Whale and watched as it dove deep into the water. While this was a very rare sighting here, the top mammal highlight had to be a mother Humpback Whale with her calf of less than a week old. We got to watch as she constantly swam underneath to push the calf up to the surface to breathe, since it was not yet old enough to do this on its own. At the same time, these massive whales were surrounded by a mega pod of the smaller Melon-headed Whale. These smaller whales were certainly annoying the mother Humpback, but it was an unforgettable experience to be surrounded by marine mammals.

The birding aspect took second place on this day, but the action did pick up more in the afternoon when we found several bird piles. Mixed in amongst the groups of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were Brown Noddy, Brown Booby, Sooty Tern, and Leach’s and Band-rumped Storm-Petrels. Towards the end of the day, we got onto the Hawaiian subspecies of the Black Noddy, which may be a future species split. The birding was certainly excellent, but the whales will forever be the outstanding memory for this day. We finally made it back to shore and we were all exhausted after a long day on the water in the sun, so we had a rest at the hotel to freshen up before our final dinner of the trip.

Seeing close to 1,000 Melon-headed Whales was certainly a top highlight!

Day 10, 8^th February 2023. Departure day

Today we all enjoyed breakfast together, before saying our goodbyes and heading to the airport. This had certainly been a fantastic trip around the Hawaiian Islands. The previous night, I took count of everyone’s top five favorite species of the trip and the results (in no particular order) were: I‘iwi, ‘Akiapola‘au, Laysan Albatross, Bristle-thighed Curlew, and ‘Apapane.

 

Bird List – Following IOC (12.1)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. Species seen only on the pre-trip day of this trip are marked with (+) after the common name.

The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CE = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.

Common Name	Scientific Name
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Nene (Endemic) – VU (Hawaiian Goose)	Branta sandvicensis
Cackling Goose	Branta hutchinsii
Snow Goose	Anser caerulescens
Eurasian Wigeon	Mareca penelope
American Wigeon	Mareca americana
Hawaiian Duck (Endemic) – EN	Anas wyvilliana
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis
Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae)
Wild Turkey (Introduced)	Meleagris gallopavo
Common Pheasant (Introduced)	Phasianus colchicus
Kalij Pheasant (Introduced)	Lophura leucomelanos
Red Junglefowl (Introduced)	Gallus gallus
Grey Francolin (Introduced)	Ortygornis pondicerianus
Black Francolin (Introduced)	Francolinus francolinus
Chukar Partridge (Introduced)	Alectoris chukar
Erckel’s Spurfowl (Introduced)	Pternistis erckelii
Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae)
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Introduced)	Pterocles exustus
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove (Introduced)	Columba livia
Spotted Dove (Introduced)	Spilopelia chinensis
Zebra Dove (Introduced)	Geopelia striata
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
Common Gallinule	Gallinula galeata
Hawaiian Coot (Endemic) – VU	Fulica alai
Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-necked Stilt (Hawaiian)	Himantopus mexicanus
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Bristle-thighed Curlew	Numenius tahitiensis
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Ruff (Rarity)	Calidris pugnax
Wandering Tattler	Tringa incana
Grey-tailed Tattler (Rarity)	Tringa brevipes
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus
Black Noddy	Anous minutus
White Tern	Gygis alba
Sooty Tern	Onychoprion fuscatus
Caspian Tern (Rarity)	Hydroprogne caspia
Tropicbirds (Phaethontidae)
Red-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon rubricauda
White-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus
Albatrosses (Diomedeidae)
Laysan Albatross	Phoebastria immutabilis
Northern Storm Petrels (Hydrobatidae)
Leach’s Storm Petrel – VU	Hydrobates leucorhous
Band-rumped Storm Petrel	Hydrobates castro
Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels (Procellariidae)
Black-winged Petrel	Pterodroma nigripennis
Wedge-tailed Shearwater	Ardenna pacifica
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)
Great Frigatebird	Fregata minor
Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae)
Masked Booby	Sula dactylatra
Red-footed Booby	Sula sula
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Western Cattle Egret (Introduced)	Bubulcus ibis
Ibis and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Hawaiian Hawk (Endemic) – ‘Io	Buteo solitarius
Owls (Strigidae)
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus
African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae)
Red-masked Parakeet (Introduced)	Psittacara erythrogenyus
Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Introduced)	Psittacula krameri
Rosy-faced Lovebird (Introduced)	Agapornis roseicollis
Monarchs (Monarchidae)
Kaua‘i ‘Elepaio (Endemic) – VU	Chasiempis sclateri
O‘ahu ‘Elepaio (Endemic) – EN	Chasiempis ibidis
Hawai‘i Elepaio (Endemic) – VU	Chasiempis sandwichensis
Larks (Alaudidae)
Eurasian Skylark (Introduced)	Alauda arvensis
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)
Red-whiskered Bulbul (Introduced)	Pycnonotus jocosus
Red-vented Bulbul (Introduced)	Pycnonotus cafer
Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae)
Japanese Bush Warbler (Introduced)	Horornis diphone
White-eyes (Zosteropidae)
Warbling White-eye (Introduced)	Zosterops japonicus
Laughingthrushes & Allies (Leiothrichidae)
Red-billed Leiothrix (Introduced)	Leiothrix lutea
Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Mimidae)
Northern Mockingbird (Introduced)	Mimus polyglottos
Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae)
Common Myna (Introduced)	Acridotheres tristis
Thrushes (Turdidae)
‘Oma‘o (Endemic) – VU	Myadestes obscurus
Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
White-rumped Shama (Introduced)	Copsychus malabaricus
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)
House Sparrow (Introduced)	Passer domesticus
Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae)
African Silverbill (Introduced)	Euodice cantans
Java Sparrow (Introduced) – EN	Padda oryzivora
Scaly-breasted Munia (Introduced)	Lonchura punctulata
Chestnut Munia (Introduced)	Lonchura atricapilla
Common Waxbill (Introduced)	Estrilda astrild
Red Avadavat (Introduced)	Amandava amandava
Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae)
I‘iwi (Endemic) – VU	Drepanis coccinea
‘Apapane (Endemic)	Himatione sanguinea
‘Akiapola‘au (Endemic) – EN	Hemignathus wilsoni
‘Anianiau (Endemic) – VU	Magumma parva
Hawai‘i Creeper (Endemic) – EN	Loxops mana
Hawai‘i ‘Akepa (Endemic) – EN	Loxops coccineus
Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi (Endemic)	Chlorodrepanis virens
O‘ahu ‘Amakihi (Endemic) – VU	Chlorodrepanis flava
Kaua‘i ‘Amakihi (Endemic) – VU	Chlorodrepanis stejnegeri
House Finch (Introduced)	Haemorhous mexicanus
Yellow-fronted Canary (Introduced)	Crithagra mozambica
Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Western Meadowlark (Introduced)	Sturnella neglecta
Cardinals & Allies (Cardinalidae)
Northern Cardinal (Introduced)	Cardinalis cardinalis
Tanagers & Allies (Thraupidae)
Saffron Finch (Introduced)	Sicalis flaveola
Red-crested Cardinal (Introduced)	Paroaria coronata
Yellow-billed Cardinal (Introduced)	Paroaria capitata
Total Seen	91

Mammal List

Common Name	Scientific Name
Mongooses (Herpestidae)
Indian Grey Mongoose	Urva edwardsii
Earless Seals (Phocidae)
Hawaiian Monk Seal – EN	Neomonachus schauinslandi
Rorquals (Balaenopteridae)
Humpback Whale	Megaptera novaeangliae
Sperm Whale (Physeteridae)
Sperm Whale – VU	Physeter macrocephalus
Oceanic Dolphins (Delphinidae)
Spinner Dolphin	Stenella longirostris
Melon-headed Whale	Peponocephala electra
Cloven-hoofed Mammals (Bovidae)
Mouflon Sheep	Ovis gmelini
Total seen	7

DOWNLOAD TRIP REPORT

Please see the downloadable PDF above with the full species lists included. This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.

USA: Hawaii – ABA and Endemic Birding in the Pacific

 Tour-specific Information

 

PASSPORT AND VISA

For US citizens, no visas or passports are required. You will need to bring along a government issued ID as they are sometimes required for hotels.

Non-United States citizens will require a valid passport to enter the country, and some may require a tourist visa. Please consult with your local US Embassy for more details and information. You may need to show your ID/passport at various hotels and for the boat departures on this tour.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly encourage you to purchase trip cancellation or interruption insurance in case you have to cancel due to illness or for any other reason, as tour payments are non-refundable as per our terms and conditions. We advise you to get a plan which covers all your medical care and evacuation back to your country of residence, repatriation, and trip cancellation due to illness just prior, or for any other reason.

 

HEALTH

Hawaii does not pose any major health risks. Its warm and humid climate as well as sometimes muddy terrain are the largest issues. Water will be available throughout the tour and please feel free to bring your own reusable bottle to refill throughout the tour. A good pair of hiking shoes/boots will help with the trails. We also recommend bringing along a walking stick/hiking poles if needed.

 

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Please make sure that you are covered by medical insurance in case of an emergency while on this trip. Without insurance the cost of medical care can be extremely high. Please notify us at the time of registering for this tour of any medical conditions you think we should know about (including allergies, heart conditions, epilepsy, etc.). This will greatly help us to cater to your needs and update emergency services if required.

 

WEATHER/CLIMATE

Daytime temperatures are generally warm 70–80 °F (21–27 °C), however temps will cool off considerably as we climb to higher altitudes on some days. Layers and jackets are a must to help with the wide range of conditions and wind. It is likely to rain at least once while on tour and we will be boarding a pelagic with cool wind blowing off the water. Waterproof and rain gear are essential to ensure comfort while on the tour.

 

ACCOMMODATIONS

We will be staying at comfortable hotels and resorts, as is the way on Hawaii.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

Our hotels should have decent access to Wi-Fi throughout the trip and phone service is typically reasonable near these areas and in the larger more populated cities. There are times throughout the trip where we will be out in the wilderness (on certain islands) so do expect to lose coverage in some places.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND PACE OF TOUR

Our tour of Hawaii covers three islands in only ten days however, the pace is more comfortable and relaxed overall with plenty of time to search for all target species. There are two flights involved as we island hop, so we will be dealing with airports which are typically a non-issue. Early morning starts are consistent with other birding tours, typically around 6 am. There are no evening/night birding events scheduled on this tour.

Most of the walking is along either roadsides or well-kept trails, completed at a relaxed pace. Terrain on a few trails can be rocky and muddy depending on the weather conditions so walking sticks/hiking poles are recommended, if needed. The majority of the hiking/walking is two miles/three kilometers or less but does involve some altitude and steeper climbs on certain days as we bird in the mountainous regions searching for endemic species. There will always be options to sit out certain hikes or mornings depending on how you might be feeling and your own personal capabilities.

 

WHAT TO BRING

Please kindly read the general list of what to bring on a birding tour, here.

Layers and rain gear are always a good idea when preparing for a wide variety of weather conditions, and we consider them essential on this tour. We also do recommend bringing Dramamine or other motion sickness medications, if you need them, as there are a few longer drives in the vehicle and a pelagic trip. Also, please bring along a face mask (or a few) to ensure we are able to follow local guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic as they will be required in certain areas.

Do not forget – Binoculars, prescription drugs (also bring the generic names for these drugs), toiletries, prescription glasses (and a spare pair), sunglasses, camera, batteries (for electronic equipment and chargers for re-chargeable batteries, if required), alarm clock, money pouch, field guide(s), daypack.

Key documents and cash – Passports, your travel or health insurance cards, photocopies of which can be carried by the tour leader in case of emergency, Covid-19 vaccine card, photos/screenshots of vaccine card, credit cards (see info above). US dollars for drinks, gifts, tips, items of a personal nature, etc., which are not included in the tour cost.

 

LUGGAGE

There should be enough space for each participant to bring one medium-sized suitcase as well as a personal bag to keep at their seat with them. Please do be mindful with large cameras or tripods if you choose to bring these along.

Download Hawaii: ABA and Endemic Birding in the Pacific Information

‘I would highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in seeing the beautiful endemic birds of Hawaii before they are gone, and enjoying the natural beauty of the islands. Mandy Talpas, the local guide, did an excellent job sharing her vast knowledge of the endemic birds, their habitat, and the diseases that are threatening them. Jacob Roalef, who also shared his vast knowledge of the birds, and Mandy were very attentive to everyone’s needs, which included 8 participants with varying degrees of birding experience. The beauty of the islands and endemic birds, as well as the camaraderie of the participants and guides made this tour one of the best for me! The accommodations and foodwere great too!’

Karen

‘I would highly recommend this tour to anyone that is interested in seeing Hawaii’s native birds on these beautiful islands. One of my favorites was the endangered Akiapolaau, referred to as Aki by our guides, which we saw in a restricted area by permit on the island of Hawaii. The Hawaiian name means “hammerhead,” because the Aki uses the shorter, lower half of it’s mandible to drill into tree trunks like a woodpecker for sap or insects, while the extended, curved upper half operates like a hook to extract the food. During our day spent exploring the restricted area for Hawaii’s endemic birds, three non-endemic (two males and one female) Kalij Pheasants walked across the path right in front of me. I also loved the fantastic coastal views where we observed Red-tailed, White-tailed, and Red-billed Tropicbirds, Red-Footed and Brown Boobies, and Great Frigatebirds, as well as spouting and breaching Humpback whales. I also enjoyed the opportunity to see Laysan Albatross nesting and walking around an upscale neighborhood, and Bristle-thighed Curlews perched in the cemetery from the golf course.’

Diane

‘The Hawaiian birding tour is a birding tour with a difference! With only a small bird list mostly, comprising of highly endangered endemic birds or many introduced birds from all over the world. The pace of the tour is a very relaxed one and perfect for those who want to experience top quality birds, top quality accommodation, an exuberant, passionate, knowledgeable guide who takes good care of you and delicious sea food with a wonderful one day pelagic with an opportunity of seeing Manta Rays up close and personal in the sea.’

Sue

‘All days were good but Day 8 in Hakalau Forest and Day 9 on the ocean were exceptional both providing sights to be long remembered. All of the endemic honeycreepers were well observed in nice weather in Hakalau Forest. The pelagic outing will stand out for the cetaceans – two sperm whales, a mother and calf Humpback and numerous Mellon-headed Whales!’

John

‘Jacob and Mandy were an excellent team who guided us through the mountains, forests and shores, as well and urban areas of Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii. Both guides knew their birds well. Mandy, our local guide, was very swift to identify calls and knows the habitats of many endangered endemic birds. She also knows individual birds and their histories. Both guides made sure we all saw the birds we were looking for each trip. The scopes came out quickly and there was often enough time to snap a cell phone photo through the scope. Jacob has an amazing grasp of names and places and did an excellent job of compiling our E bird lists. They tour guides informed us each night before of the coming schedule which was very helpful. They worked seamlessly together and we benefited from their camaraderie. Hotel, food, transportation, side trips – all were excellent. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me. I am grateful to all involved for providing such an exceptional tour.’

Janice