I Hawaiian Islands 
Midway Atoll 
Atoll Pearl and Hermes Atoll 
NORTHWEST HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 
Alaka'i Swamp.^^ 
Kaua‘i I. 
Kilauea Point N.W.R. 
Ni'ihau 
Lana‘i 1^0 
0‘ahu Campbell N. W.R. 
^ Moloka'i I. 
Honolulu .. . . 
Haleakala 
Kaho'olawe if* ^Kealia Pond N.W.R. 
■Mauna Kea 
Aimakapa Pom 
Kailua-Kon 
Mauna_ 
Loa 
Johnston Atoll 
Peter Donaldson 
P ersistent easterly trade winds usually 
dominate the weather around the 
Hawaiian Islands in the spring. Trade 
winds did persist through early spring, but 
the weather pattern turned winter-like in 
mid-April. Low-pressure areas and cold 
fronts continued to affect the islands through 
late May. Rainfall distribution was very un- 
usual, with some normally wet locations set- 
ting records for dryness, while normally dry 
locations had unusually wet weather. These 
weather anomalies may well have affected 
bird behavior, but the observations received 
did not provide a comprehensive enough pic- 
ture to draw any conclusions. Observer cov- 
erage was low this season. 1 received reports 
from two pelagic trips — not nearly enough to 
give much idea of the distribution of pelagic 
birds around the islands, but another small 
piece of the puzzle. 
WATERFOWL THROUGH 
ALBATROSSES 
A Greater White-fronted Goose was seen at 
Kahuku, Oahu 1. (MW), and 2 were observed 
in s.-cen. Molokai 18, 23, & 26 Mar (ADY). 
Greater White-fronteds have been historically 
rare in the Region but have been regular in re- 
cent years. Single Cackling Geese were seen in 
Kahuku, Oahu I. 11 Mar (MW), at Kilauea 
Point N.W.R, Kauai 1. 17 Mar (GA), and at 
Kona S.T.R Hawaii I. 24 Mar (GA). Cackling 
Geese are uncommon and regular in the Re- 
gion. These were the only migrant geese re- 
ported through the spring. A male Garganey in 
breeding plumage was spotted at the Kona 
S.T.P. 30 Mar (RD; RP), 31 Mar (DL), and 19 
Apr (ph. RD). Garganeys are rare but regular in 
the Region. Peak counts for the commoner mi- 
grant waterfowl species included 126 Northern 
Shovelers at Kealia Pond N.W.R. 16 Apr (MN), 
50 Northern Pintails at Kealia 19 Mar (MN), 2 
Green-winged Teal at Ohiapilo 6 Apr (ADY), 
and 21 unidentified scaup at Kealia 19 Mar 
(MN). These are all rather low 
counts. Some migrant shearwa- 
ters came in close enough to be 
observed from shore. Six Sooty 
Shearwaters were seen from the 
beach at Punaluu Hawaii 1. 21 
Mar (GA). A pair of Blue-gray 
Noddies was on Laysan I. 14-22 
Apr, and one was observed 
there 11 Jun-21 Jul (BS, MS). 
Blue-grays nest on some of the 
high, rocky islands but have 
been rarely reported on Laysan. 
had seen a Peregrine at the same location 5 
Dec. A Peregrine was on Laysan 1. 23 Mar-14 
Apr (BS, MS) was unfortunately apparently 
preying on rare Laysan Finches (Endan- 
gered). A Peregrine was also seen at Ohiapilo, 
Molokai 1. 8 Apr (ADY). Peregrine Falcons 
are rare, but regular, in the Region. 
There were few unusual shorebirds report- 
ed. A Black-bellied Plover was spotted at 
Kealia 12 Mar (MW), and 2 were seen in 
Hanalei Kauai 1. 15 & 18 Apr (JB). A Greater 
Yellowlegs was seen in the same area 15 Apr 
QB). A hudsonicus Whimbrel remained on s.- 
cen. Molokai 1. through at least 29 Apr 
(ADY). At least 23 Bristle-thighed Curlews 
were still in Kahuku, Oahu 1. 4 Apr (PD). Ten 
Bristle-thigheds on Molokai was the high 
count there (ADY), one was at the Kona Vil- 
lage Hotel, Hawaii 1. 7-17 May (ADY), and 
one was spotted at Kilauea Point N.W.R., 
Kauai 1. 29 May (EV). Few Bristle-thigheds 
are reported in the main Hawaiian Islands 
away from Oahu and Molokai. Two Least 
IBISES THROUGH 
SHOREBIRDS 
A White-faced Ibis was ob- 
served at the Honouliuli Unit 
of Pearl Harbor N.W.R. 1 Mar and 4 Apr (PD) 
and one was seen at Kealia Mar-t (MN). 
White-faceds have been regular for several 
years in low numbers. A Peregrine Falcon was 
spotted flying by a high-rise condo in Waiki- 
ki, Oahu 1. 9 Mar (MW). The same observer 
This unusual photograph taken at Kona Sewage Treatment Plant, Hawaii 23 March 
2009 shows one pair each of American Wigeon and Eurasian Wigeon. The leftmost 
bird is a drake Eurasian, the second bird from the left is a female Eurasian, the sec- 
ond bird from the right is a drake American and the farthest right bird is a female 
American. Note the subtle differences in the underwing pattern. Photograph by 
George L Armistead. 
Q h Two reports came in from birders offshore. A tour group went on a dedicated pelagic trip in the Kaulakahi Channel 
.3fl sw. of Kauai I. on 17 Mar. Notable seabird observations included a Mottled Petrel, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, a Christmas 
Shearwater, and 3 Gray-backed Terns (GLA). Birders on a regular sightseeing cruise in the Kaulakahi Channel 19 Apr found 20 
Laysan Albatrosses, 4 Black-footed Albatrosses, 12 Bulwer's Petrels, 25 Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, 2 Newell's Shearwaters, 
a Christmas Shearwater, 2 Gray-backed Terns, a Common Tern and a Pomarine Jaeger (DK). Laysan and Black-footed Alba- 
trosses are winter breeders in the Hawaiian Islands. Laysans are regularly reported in modest numbers on pelagic trips, while 
Black-footeds are reported in small numbers. Christmas Shearwaters, Newell's Shearwaters, Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, 
and Gray-backed Terns are summer breeders in the main Hawaiian Islands but are reported in low numbers on pelagic trips. 
Mottled Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters, Common Terns, and Pomarine Jaegers are regular migrants to the Region. Sooty Shear- 
waters are sometimes observed here in large numbers, Pomarine Jaegers are regular in modest numbers, while the other 
species are regular but rare in the Region. 
Sandpipers were seen at Kealia 12 (ph. MW) 
& 19 Mar (MN). There was a Pectoral Sand- 
piper and a Dunlin at Kealia 12 Mar (MW). A 
Red Phalarope was seen in a salt pond at 
Hanapepe, Kauai 1. 8 Mar (ph. RS). These 
species are all regular but uncommon in the 
Region. Dowitchers were unusually scarce in 
the main Hawaiian Islands, but 18 Long- 
billeds were observed on Laysan 1. 1 Apr-6 
May BS, MS). This is a high count for the nw. 
Hawaiian Islands. The previous high count 
was of 9 wintering on Laysan 1991-1992. 
GULLS THROUGH PASSERINES 
A Laughing Gull was seen at Kealia 16 Apr 
(MN), and 2 were seen at the Kii Unit of 
James Campbell N.W.R., Oahu 1. 3 Apr (PD). 
A Franklin’s Gull in was at Kealia early May 
was joined by another in late May (MN); one 
at the Kaunakakai S.T.P, Molokai 1. 26 May 
522 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
