Some vacations are just wunderbar! I grew up eating fried SPAM, and still love same. Imagine my surprise and glee when exploring back roads on the Big Island of Hawaii yesterday when I found this sign!!! (very near the southernmost point in the United States … not just the Lower 48).

Actually as we left Bowman’s Guest House yesterday morning, after a delightful stay of ten nights with Kent and Melanie, I convinced Molly that I might be allowed a quick bird right outside the gate. My five minutes were well spent, as the Java Sparrows posed nicely for me.

Our last dinner was a picnic on the Pacific Ocean where these Yellow-Billed Cardinals were a photographer’s dream in terms of image locations. We also watched sperm whale breaching completely out of the water, and performing some great flipper flapping (more on this fantastic sight later in its own post).

In closing, not only did we find SPAM on the South Point Road, but when I spied a small pond next to the road I finally was rewarded with seeing the Hawaiian state bird … the Hawaiian Goose or Nene.

We are now on the real touristy side of the island … quite the contrast.

This morning I went hiking near our guest house shortly after sunrise, and as noted before our lodging is a nature lover’s paradise. We are nestled on 6.5 acres between a state park and a wildlife preserve. The sounds of nature put us to sleep each night.  Browse to Molly’s post which explains how we followed the Bowmans from Alaska to Hawaii … with a 15 year interlude (her post has lots of pics of our guest house).

Anyhow, back to birding. As I started my hike I could hear a Hawaiian Hawk screaming in the distance. Following my ears after a 1/2 mile walk I found a juvenile Hawaiian Hawk begging for breakfast. Although I spent over 30 minutes with this youngster, it was evident that Ma and Pa Hawk expected the Juvie to hunt on its own this morning. Before providing this morning’s pics and video, I realize I never gave the link in a prior post explaining this birds royal link … thus “The Bird that Soars in the Heavenly Space” You will be browsing to Ka Wai Ola … “which has been serving up news for the lāhui since 1980, covering the people, issues and events important to the Native Hawaiian community.”

Juvenile Hawaiian Hawk  (video link for email subscribers)

I finally had time to go out birding shortly after sunrise two days ago. Although rain was not in the forecast, Hawaii decided otherwise and as I started to bird a drizzle filled the sky progressing to a steady rain. As the old adage goes, when God gives you lemon, make lemonade! I curtailed my hike and then drove slowly through the area.

Lemonade! Or in my case, I found newly formed puddles that attracted birds by providing bath opportunities. I even saw a new lifer (Yellow-Fronted Canary) as it sang in the rain! Obviously photographic conditions were lousy due to dark skies and rain, but the combination of burst mode and throwing away lots and lots of pictures … I bring you … Hawaiian Rain Birds!

Singing in the Rain: Yellow Fronted Canary (video link for email subscribers)

Bath Time!

Yellow-Fronted Canary and Saffron Finch

Saffron Finch

Yellow-Billed Cardinal

Common Myna (the sun popped out!)

House Finch

Grub Time!

Yellow-Billed Cardinal

Just Hanging …

Yellow-Fronted Canary