Back from America in time for my birthday, I had to snorkel. With rains and wind it wasn't much warmer here in Kauai. We managed to stay in the water 30
minutes! But so glad to see my fishy
friends followed by looking for whale spouts and breaches near the lithified
sand dunes just past Shipwrecks Beach.
My camera mask did not work so these underwater pics are all Gil's (Gil the human).
Moorish Idol
One like this was called Gil in Finding Nemo
Blue Spine Unicorn fish
these guys don't usually stick around for photos
Orange Spine Unicorn Fish
The spine is obvious by the tail eventhough he doesn't really have the horn
Orange Band Surgeon Fish
the band is always orange rimmed with blue
but the olive green body can go from very pale to very dark instantly
We don't know what triggers it.
This is just past Shipwrecks Beach - all the hardened sand dunes are very dramatic
We saw lots of whale breaches, three different pairs or groups cavorting
Just right of center on horizon is the after-breach splash
Very windy afternoon!
February: North Shore
Home on the north shore, I'm back in the groove, it is nest building
time for the boobies – dads bring materials to mom, she uses it or not and he
goes back for more.
The Laysan Albatross pairs have chicks by now and the non-nesting youths are just looking for love, in this case behind my car.
Red Footed Boobie
with a blue bill, scouting for nesting material and riding wild air currents
This Greater Frigate bird is scouting the boobies
looking for food she can steal
Laysan Albatross or Moli (mo-lee) in Hawaiian
I think I will name my car Moli after seeing this picture
New Moli chick
The parent keeps the sun or rain off the new chick - as it gets older it will resist being sat upon
The parent keeps the sun or rain off the new chick - as it gets older it will resist being sat upon
Some of the feathers on the adult here are pretty frayed - maybe he/she will molt next year
We are seeing chicks of all ages among the Nene, this one is pretty new
The adult here also needs to replace feathers it looks like
Pyros
The Friday night
potlucks continue at Black Pot beach next to the Hanalei Pier, weather permitting. This was a large cardboard box that fell out of the old washing machine dream and sent sparks to the moon. Yes, the folks do clean up afterward, every week.
Back to the water
And yes, the whales are jumping on the north shore as well. As fun as it is to see them occasionally from topside, we can only imagine the goings on down under.
And yes, the whales are jumping on the north shore as well. As fun as it is to see them occasionally from topside, we can only imagine the goings on down under.
This is a Humpback, not an Orca.
I just happened to catch its white underside as it slammed back into the water.
No mistake about this being a Humpback
Yea! Its good to be home.
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