Marsh Tit sighting

The cold weather and lying snow (we have about four inches) has resulted in several rare garden birds making regular appearances today. This Marsh Tit (HD video below), was seen regularly on the sunflower feeder - which I have to say is a magnet for birds at any time of the year, but particularly when food becomes scarce.



These Marsh Tit pictures were taken under the low-light conditions that often prevail in January in the UK, so they are not great quality:

Birds in Survival Mode in the Snow

Here's a reasonable picture of the same female Bullfinch taken today with our Canon 500D / Canon 100-400mm EF zoom lens at F6.3, 1/125s, Exp Bias +0.3 step, ISO 800.

Wintering Chiffchaff

We were lucky enough to get a good sighting of a wintering Chiffchaff at Dinton Pastures Country Park, near Reading this week.

The bird was reported to be a Siberian Chiffchaff, but this has since been disputed by birding experts.

The bird did seem to have slightly different colourations than a UK Chiffchaff - having a greyer back. Also notable were the warm buff markings below the eye and blacker legs and beak.

That said, some UK Chiffchaffs over-winter in the south of the UK and the presence of some yellow on the bird's breast made it unlikely it was a Siberian Chiffchaff. To meet BBRC tristis criteria a Chiffchaff needs to have an absence of yellow away from the underwing. This bird appears to have yellow tints on its underparts so does not meet these criteria.

Urban Birds of Maui

Myna

Introduced to Hawaii from India in 1895, the Common Myna was brought in primarily for insect control. Mynas are widespread throughout the Hawaiian islands generally below 5,000 feet. Although technically a member of the starling family, they have similar characteristics to magpies, and enjoy collecting shiny paper or foil. They prefer to skip or walk rather than hop like cardinals and finches. These birds have done so well that the IUCN made the Myna one out of three birds that made it onto the 100 worst invasive species.

Red Crested Cardinal

Another introduced alien species to Hawaii, the beautiful Red Crested Cardinal was originally from Brazil and can also be found in other south american countries. These birds are often seen in pairs in parks and gardens and will readily visit bird feeders.

This particular bird was photographed at Ho’okipa overlook, near Paia on Maui's north coast - Ho’okipa being one of the world's top surfing destinations - but we found it also to be a great spot to see both species of Cardinal - the Northern Cardinal and the Red Crested Cardinal.

Japanese White Eye (Mejiro)

Another introduced species, the Japanese White Eye is normally found in Japan and throughout Asia, where it is known by its Japanese name "Mejiro". At 10cm in length, it is a sociable bird with yellow-green plumage and cream underbelly. A characteristic white ring around the eye makes it unmistakable. The Japanese White Eye feeds on fruit, flower nectar and small insects and can be seen at lower and higher elevations across Maui, including urban areas where it feeds on Hibiscus and other flowering plants.

Java Sparrow

The Java Sparrow (or Java Finch) is quite unlike any other sparrow you may have seen! This gregarious bird was introduced from Indonesia and can often be seen in urban areas and often in large flocks at bird feeders in urban areas.

15cm in length, it is a popular cage bird and is still widely bred in captivity.

The Java Sparrow primarily feeds from grass and seeds and the sexes are dissimilar - the male having an all-grey upper parts and a pink underbelly, whereas the female Java Sparrow is more fawn brown in colour.

Java Sparrows are considered a pest in Asia where they damage rice crops. As a result they have been banned from being kept as a cage bird in parts of the USA, including California.

Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal is a stunning songbird, also known as the Redbird or Common Cardinal. It is also found across the US mainland from Maine to Texas.

At 21cm in length the Northern Cardinal has distinctive bright red plumage and can be seen across Maui, particularly at lower elevations in trees, parks and gardens in urban areas. This male bird was seen at Ho’okipa overlook. Female Northern Cardinals are a buff brown colour with red tints and a red beak.

Spotted Dove

Introduced to Hawaii from China, the Spotted Dove is very common in urban areas across Maui and the other Hawaiian Islands and can frequently be seen feeding off grains, seeds and fallen fruit.

At 28cm, the Spotted Dove has characteristic black patch on its neck with attractive white spots - giving the bird its name and a pink underbelly.

Zebra Dove

Introduced in 1922, The Zebra Dove can be seen everywhere across the lowland areas of Maui from car parks, side walks to restaurants where it feeds off food scraps dropped by restaurant patrons. It is without doubt, Maui's most common bird.

Smaller than the Spotted Dove at 23cm, males can frequently be seen doing a courtship display where they bow whilst fanning their tail.

House Finch

An attractive medium sized finch of about 12.5cm - 15cm in length, the House Finch is predominantly a ground feeding bird which eats grains, seeds and berries. It will also feed at garden Nyjer feeders.

House Finches can be seen in many urban areas across Maui, particularly in parks and gardens. The male House Finch pictured right was photographed at Kalama Beach Park in Kihei.

Gray Francolin

Native to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, Gray Francolins are another introduced bird to Hawaii. They can be found in the dry lowland regions of Maui on the leeward side of Haleakala foraging in scrub-land for grains and small insects including termites.

The Gray Fracolin is also known as a Gray Partridge and the loud call of male birds is commonly heard early in the morning where they can be seen perching on the roof tops of buildings.

Hawaiian I'iwi feeding

I'iwi at Hosmer Grove

A video from my recent trip to Hawaii...

There's nothing much like these tropical birds in England, so hope you enjoy this footage of one of Hawaii's most iconic birds. Here we see an I'iwi and an Apapane having a minor disagreement over which should feed from the Lehua blossoms of the Ohia tree.

Wetland and Coastal Birds of Maui

Hawaiian Stilt

The Hawaiian Stilt or Ae'o has declined and some factors include that it was a popular game bird prior to 1939 and habitat loss. More wetland is being destroyed to make way for agricultural crops and 31% has vanished in the last 110 years. The introduction of mongoose, rats, cattle egrets and feral cats has also had an impact and many young stilts fall victim to predators, many of which wouldn't be here if they weren't introduced by us. They lay a clutch of up to four eggs and regularly pretend to be injured to distract potential predators.

White Faced Ibis

The White Faced Ibis measures between 46-50cm and has a 1 metre wingspan. These waders are a rare winter visitor from North America and have been seen on all main islands except Lanai. All birds seen in the Hawaiian islands have been juvenile with dull plumage and a slight sheen on their wings. They use their long curved bill to feed on leeches, snails and crayfish. Kealia Pond, on Maui's south coast often rewards with good sightings of this Ibis.

Hawaiian Coot

At around 35cm in length, the endangered Hawaiian Coot is similar to the North American Coot in appearance. Like many other ground-nesting Hawaiian birds it is threatened by introduced predators on Maui, like the Asian Mongoose. It's population is now thought to be down to around 2000 birds.

The Coot's habitat includes freshwater lakes and coastal lagoons, with Kealia Pond being a favoured spot on Maui.

Long Billed Dowitcher

Long Billed Dowitchers migrate huge distances from their breeding grounds in the Arctic Tundra of North America and Siberia. A rare visitor to Maui from their Alaskan breeding grounds, some birds arrive in October and depart back to Alaska by the end of April.

Occasional Long Billed Dowitcher sightings also occur in western Europe and I have a picture of a Dowitcher taken at the Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire, England in late July 2012.

Ruddy Turnstone

The Ruddy Turnstone is a small wading bird of the Sandpiper family about 22-24cm in size. Turnstones are a common winter visitor to Maui - again from their Artic breeding grounds. Breeding birds have reddish brown upper plumage, but most birds seen in Maui are in their winter non-breeding plumage. Ruddy Turnstones feed on insects, small crustaceans and worms in freshwater and tidal pools.

Sanderling

At about 18cm in length, the Sanderling is a common winter visitor to Maui from its breeding grounds in Alaska. It frequents coastal mudflats and sandy beaches, often in large groups. Sanderlings travel huge distances from their artic breeding grounds, having frequently been recorded some 3000km - 10,000km from their summer home in the Canadian Tundra.

Wandering Tattler

Similar in size to a Pacific Golden Plover at about 26cm, the Wandering Tattler breeds in rocky areas close to mountain streams during the summer in north west Canada and Alaska. Watch out for them on rocky areas of Maui's shoreline and beaches. This bird was photographed on Kamaole Beach, Kihei. Wandering Tattlers get their 'wandering' name due to their large range - with birds having been recorded wintering as far afield as the California coast and the Hawaiian islands, and some even travelling as far as South America, the South Pacific and Australia.

Pacific Golden Plover (Kolea)

The Pacific Golden Plover can be found all over Maui during the winter months, and is often seen catching insects on grassed areas such as golf courses. This bird was photographed on a Wailea golf course.

At 26 cm in size, it is similar to the American Golden Plover, but with longer legs and a more yellow colouration to its back.

Black-Crowned Night Heron

At 64cm in length, the Black Crowned Night Heron is a year-round Maui resident. It is notable for its attractive plumage, stocky appearance and long white head plumes which get erected during greeting and courtship displays.

The male (pictured right) has a black head, with a dark grey back together with lighter grey underparts. The female has lighter brown upper parts. They frequent the waters edge and are an effective ambush-predator of small fish, crustaceans, frogs and aquatic insects.

Cattle Egret

Introduced to Hawaii in 1959, the Cattle Egret is abundant on Maui. It can be seen in abundance within urban areas where it hunts small insects on grass verges and is equally at home near bodies of water, where it feeds on small insects.

The Cattle Egret is a large member of the Heron family - with about a 90cm wingspan. It gets its name through its close association with large grazing animals where is feeds off ticks and insects - often sitting on the animal's back in the process.

Nēnē

The Nēnē is the official state bird of Hawaii and is endemic to the Hawaiian islands. It is only found on of the islands of Maui, Kaua'i and Hawaii. They are a descendent of the Canada Goose (but slightly smaller at around 63cm in length), and are protected under State Law and have an endangered status. It is estimated that there are some 250 birds living on Maui and around 800 in Hawaii as a whole and the bird is the subject of a significant conservation effort. The best chance of seeing a Nēnē is on a golf course or a grassed area inside Haleakala National Park.

The picture (right) was taken at the Haleakala Park Ranger's accommodation opposite Hosmer Grove, where this bird was grazing.

Brant Goose

The Brant Goose is a rare winter visitor to Hawaii. This bird was spotted at Kealia Pond, Maui - a long way from its summer breeding ground in the Yukon Delta of Alaska and its normal wintering region which spend southern Alaska to California.

It is a small goose measuring 55 - 66cm with a black head and neck and a characteristic white patch on the neck.

Black Noddy

The Black Noddy is a member of the Tern family found in tropical and sub-tropical regions, across the Pacific.

A stronghold for the bird on Maui is the rocky outcrops and ledges of Waianapanapa State Park close to Hana in the east of the Island - where this picture was taken. The birds are present in large numbers and can be seen fishing from the trail.

The Black Noddy can also be found at Hookipa on Maui's north coast.

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Forest Birds of Maui

Maui Amakihi

The Maui Amakihi is only found in native forests above 4,000 feet, and Hosmer Grove just inside Haleakala National Park is a stronghold.

These endemic Honeycreepers are the most common native forest bird and some have been domesticated and will feed from your hand without much enticement (like the one pictured right on a Hosmer grove picnic table). Females are a duller greenish-grey and all sexes vary from 11-12cm.

I'iwi

The I'iwi is fairly common on the Big island, Kauai and Maui, whereas it is rare on Molokai and Oahu, and may be extinct on Lanai.

This honeycreeper lives at an elevation of 4,000 feet and above and is shy and secretive. They lay between 1-3 eggs that are incubated for 14 days, then the chicks fledge at 22 days. I'iwi's have uniform black wings and tail, bright scarlet plumage and a long, curved bill that fits perfectly into Lehua and Lobelia flowers. Juvenile birds have green, yellow and black speckles. The best time to view I'iwi's is when the weather is cloudy, but not wet, as the flowers open up and produce more nectar. In warm sunny weather the nectar tends to dry out.

The I'iwi had a special place in Hawaiian culture. It is believed that feathers from over 30,000 of these birds were used to make 1 cape for the chief. They caught the birds by hiding in bushes and holding a favourite flower of the I'iwi, and when the bird inserted its bill, they pinched and captured it.

Apapane

The Apapane are known for their variant songs, including whirs, chirps and clacks. In fact, males are the only sex that sing and even sing whilst incubating. There are 10 recorded song patterns and 6 different calls.

On Maui, the current population is around 110,000 individuals, with most living on the slopes of Haleakala.



Although Apapane are the most common of the red Honeycreepers, they are still under threat from introduced predators, such as rats and mongoose, and diseases spread by mosquitoes such as Avian pox and Malaria.

Maui 'Alauahio

The Alauahio (or Maui Creeper as it is also known) is restricted to the high slopes of Haleakala and is relatively easy to see at Hosmer Grove (picture: right). Males are a yellowy-green, and lemon yellow below, some resembling a small warbler. Females are duller, and more streaked on the breast. Unlike other Honeycreepers, the Alauahio rarely takes nectar. Instead, they forage around trees and branches for insects. They are often seen travelling in pairs or small family groups.

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