If you are in these photos and want a print, let me know – send me a message from the contact form at www.anitaharris.com or email me using the email address shown on the images.
These kids certainly looked like they were having a fantastic, fearless and fun time on the waves at Ho’okipa, a well known surf spot on the North Shore of Maui. They were surfing at pavilions and I took the photos from the rocks.
On the slopes of the volcano called Haleakala, on the island of Maui, in Hawaii, there is a little camp ground just inside the boundaries of the Haleakala National Park, called Hosmer Grove.
I have been to this grove many times, as there are trails leading from the camp ground to some overlooks, which (if you are lucky), from where you can watch rare Hawaiian birds flying around above and below you. If the weather permits, and the clouds aren’t rolling in from below and around you, its worth having your camera with you just incase.
Well, yesterday, I didnt even get to leave the car park to walk the trail. Right behind the sheltered seating area was a flowering lobelia bush, as it turns out one of the only ones around flowering that day. That shrub had at one time five rare Hawaiian Honeycreepers, the I’iwi, on it at the same time, visiting it to feed on the nectar of the flowers. The whole time I was there my camera hardly stopped clicking. I photographed many I’iwe, Apapane, Amakihi and one Aluohio that posted on a tree stump.
View my Maui Birds Gallery for more photos, but here are a few of my favourites.
The I’iwi – Hawaiian Honeycreeper, feeding on the nectar from the flowers on the Lobelia
The Amakihi – Hawaiian Honeycreeper
The ‘Alauahio – The Maui Creeper - (very similar in appearance to the Hawaiian 'Amakihi. One can tell them apart by their bills - the 'Alauahio has a shorter, straighter bill - so named because of its feeding habits. It creeps along trunks, branches and twigs, flipping over bark and lichen in search of insects and grubs)
Now that Dad has turned up, its one big happy family… Arent they so cute…
The Goslings have a Dad after all - yippeeee!!! I was so convinced the Mother goose was a single parent to her goslings. I had never seen the male goose at all while she was incubating her eggs, and I would have expected him to be guarding his partner while she was on her nest for the 5 weeks, and even perhaps share the incubating with her when she needed to come off the nest to feed. Swans do, Canada geese obviously don’t. Perhaps its normal for the male to stay away to avoid attracting attention to the nest site. Anyway, he is here now, and guarding his young family as they explore around the lake learning what is edible and what is not.. And they are certainly learning that bread is very tasty.
They come to about three feet from me now, infront of mum and dad. I expect they will be eating out of my hands in the next couple of days if all goes well.
Mum and babies doing great!
I thought the first night would be a dangerous night, there are so many hungry foxes around with cubs to feed. But mother Goose still has 6 goslings.. I’ll get out there with my camera later (and a slice of bread) and add some more photos (if its not raining that is!).
They must have hatched yesterday, because they were off the nest today for the first time in their tiny little lives.
Proud mother of 6 goslings, proudly showed off her offspring and tried to show them what bread is. Mum us very tame, so if the babies survive the dangers around them they will grow up not fearing me.. And I will be able to get close and personal with my camera. I didnt do too badly today..
Its already a sad story because the babies have no dad to protect them from danger. Lets hope mum is a good mum, and keeps the foxes away. So far its good news. Mother and babies doing great.. Their first day on the water and they’ve taken to it like ducks…
I’ll be able to watch and photograph them every day, weather permitting of course.
(Official website for Hawaii Photos <—here)
Posts
All Comments
