FIRST QUARTER 2013 - WETLANDS

The West side: Wings

Bird Sanctuary – West side wetlands

           After the canoe race we took advantage of being on the west side and took the highway past the missile range to a sand mine/bird sanctuary.

The dredging going on supplies areas that lose their beaches due to natural phenomenon.  Anyway, the wetlands between the project and the highway are home to all of our endangered water birds.  It is very pretty if you avoid looking at the machinery at the far end.

We assume the license required is to take sand, not pictures

Moody day at the wetlands

native plant restoration here with iIima (ee-lee-ma) in right bottom corner

Back area, sand excavation behind the sandstone wall at rear

 

Hawaiian Coot

We were amazed at how many of Kaui's endangered water birds call this wetland home

 Two Nene with a moorhen on the water

Two Moorhens in chase - incredible they can walk on water without webbed feet
H. Coot behind them

Not all birds here, we enjoyed native plants and this little red endemic dragonfly

Hawaiian Stilt

I usually see these guys in water or flying but standing you really get how long those legs are!

Six Stilts and a Cat

My long awaited shot of them flying and sure enough they chose a lovely backdrop

After all it is the sand mine / bird sanctuary

Bat hunting

           Since the canoe race was on the west side, we decided to spend the whole weekend at Kokee.  It was really nice to just drive down the mountain instead of all the way around the island – by 7am.   And then to the sanctuary before heading back up the mountain.  
           Our bat hunting photo expedition was not successful again, however.   We bundled up and headed out to find Bat Alley just before sundown – like Gil said, it was too windy for the bugs to be out for them to catch.  We each saw one little bat, no pics, but sunset was spectacular through the Koa trees.

Bat Hunting

Maybe next time; 0 for 2 right now