HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 
Common Snipe — here 1 1 November 2008 at the Honouliuli unit of Pearl Harbor 
National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii — is notoriously difficult to distinguish from 
Wilson's Snipe. The best distinguishing features of Commons are the pale under- 
wing coverts and the wide pale trailing edge of the wings. The pale underwings 
of this individual were observed but never adequately photographed; however, 
this lucky shot does show the wide pale trailing edge of the wings. Photograph 
by Peter Donaldson. 
cent years, but there are only two previous 
records from Laysan. A petrel that landed on a 
cruise ship mid-Oct was photographed before 
it was released and was later identified as a 
Kermadec Petrel; another was found on a 
cruise ship in late Nov (RD). Kermadecs are 
believed to be rare in the Region, but their sta- 
tus is poorly understood due to spotty pelagic 
coverage. One Hawaiian Petrel (Endangered) 
was observed from Keokea Beach Park, n. 
Hawaii I. (RP et al). Sightings from the shore 
on Hawaii I. are rare. Tubenoses are seen reg- 
ularly on boat trips off Kauai 1., but a count of 
30 Newell’s Shearwaters (Threatened) on a 
trip from Port Allen. Kauai I. to Lehua I. and 
back 23 Sep (DK) was unusually high. A 
Brown Booby of subspecies brewsteri was ob- 
served on Laysan 1, 20 Sep-r QC, ED, MH, 
MM). Brown Boobies are common in the Re- 
gion, but the Brewster’s subspecies is rare. 
Single White-faced Ibis were observed 15 
Oct and 4 Nov at Honouliuli (MW) and 21 
Aug-r at Kealia (MN). White- 
faceds have been rare but regu- 
lar for the past several years. 
One Peregrine Falcon was re- 
ported — an imm. at Palikea, 
Oahu 1. 2 Oct (EV). 
PLOVERS THROUGH 
TERNS 
Single Black-bellied Plovers 
were observed on Molokai I. 17 
Aug-27 Oct (ADY) and around 
Pearl Harbor, Oahu I. 20 Aug-i- 
(PD). A Semipalmated Plover 
was at the Waiawa unit of Pearl 
Harbor N.W.R. 18 Sep (DKi, 
KP). At Kealia, there was a Semi- 
palmated 18 Sep, 3 were there 
16 Oct, and 4 were there 6 Nov 
(MN). A Lesser Yellowlegs at Kii 
5 Sep-4 Oct (PD) may have moved to the Pearl 
Harbor area. A Lesser Yellowlegs was observed 
at Honouliuli 21 Oct and 4 Nov (MW) and at 
Waiawa 8 Nov (PD). A Spotted Sandpiper care- 
fully studied at Ohiapilo 30 Sep (ADY) was a 
rare find. This seems to be the first report from 
Molokai I. A Hudsonian Whimbrel that lingered 
in s.-cen. Molokai I. 5 Aug-r might have been the 
same individual seen in the area the previous fall 
and winter. Four Bristle-thighed Curlews at 
Kahuku, Oahu I. 1 Aug (MW) and 2 at Koheo, 
Molokai I. (ADY) were almost certainly recent 
migrants — summering Bristle-thigheds had 
been very sparse this year. The high count over 
the fall was of 21 at Kii 13 Sep (PD). One Bris- 
tle-thighed was observed at Kapoho, Hawaii 1, 
15 Sep-14 Oct (AK), and 2 were spotted at Ki- 
lauea Point N.W.R., Kauai 25 Nov (LT). Bristle- 
thigheds are regular in some areas on Oahu 1. 
and Molokai 1, but are much less frequently re- 
ported on Hawaii and Kauai. A Semipalmated 
Sandpiper found at Ohiapilo 24 Jul was last seen 
there 4 Aug (ADY). Single Semipalmat- 
eds were also observed at Hanapepe, 
Kauai I. 4 Sep (ph. JD) and Waiawa 27 
Sep (ph. PD). Semipalmated Sandpipers 
are rare in the Region. The only other 
peep reported was a Least Sandpiper at 
Kealia 18 Sep (MN), Leasts are regular 
but uncommon in the Region. Pectoral 
and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers are regular 
migrants in the Region, but the numbers 
this year were low. The high counts for 
Pectorals were of 10 birds at Kealia 16 
Oct (MN) and 5 birds there 8 Nov (MN). 
Otherwise, counts of Pectorals were of 
only one or 2 birds; only single Sharp- 
taileds were reported (m.ob.). A Curlew 
Sandpiper spotted at Honouliuli 25 Oct 
(PD) may be the same individual seen 
there the previous fall. Curlew Sand- 
The relatively short, heavy-based bill, dull brownish-gray plumage, 
and partial webbing between the toes help distinguish this Semi- 
palmated Sandpiper (here 4 September 2008 at Hanapepe, Kauai Is- 
land) from other peeps, many species of which are visitors to the 
Hawaiian Islands. Photograph by Jim Denny. 
pipers are rare in the Region. Ruffs are not typi- 
cal backyard birds, but a Ruff joined Ruddy 
Turnstones and Pacific Golden-Plovers in a 
backyard in Pepeekeo, Hawaii 1. 12-13 Sep (ph. 
JJ). Another Ruff was found at Kealia 6 Nov 
(MN). A snipe observed at Honouliuli 10 Oct 
and 4 & 7 Nov (MW) was reported to have pale 
underwings. This was almost surely the same in- 
dividual seen well enough 8 Nov (ph. PD, RM) 
to be identified as a Common Snipe. Common 
Snipe are believed to be rare in the Region, and 
this is the first to be documented photographi- 
cally. The only phalarope reported was one Wil- 
son’s at Kealia 16 Oct (MN). No gulls were re- 
ported over the fall. A Common Tern at 
Hanapepe, Kauai 1. 25 Aug and 4 Sep QD) is 
likely the same individual that has been present 
for several months. A Common Tern was also 
seen at Kealia 18 Sep (MN). 
PASSERINES 
An imm. liwi was seen at Palikea, Oahu 1. 24 
Sep (PT) and 26 Sep (EV). liwi are very rare 
on Oahu: this was the first report in several 
years. liwi are locally common in some areas 
of Hawaii L, but one seen near tbe summit of 
Hualalai 12 Oct (RP) was the first seen in that 
area in years. One (possibly 2) Akiapolaau 
(Endangered) were seen at Puu Laau, Hawaii 
1. 30 Sep (RP). Akiapolaau are rare anywhere, 
but reports from Puu Laau are particularly 
unusual. The summit of Mauna Kea on 
Hawaii 1. extends to 4205 m, and the only 
birds regularly seen there are Chukars. Thus, 
a Northern Cardinal at the summit 21 Oct 
(BR) was most unusual, and a very lethargic 
Red-billed Leiothrix was captured on the 
summit 28 Oct (BR) and transported down to 
a lower elevation. 
Contributors: David Bremer, Joy Browning, 
Norma Bustos, Jennifer Chastant, Les 
Chibana, Donald Comis, Michael Coppola, 
Reg David, Jim Denny, Arleone Dibben- 
Young, Peter Donaldson, Lisa Dlugoleki, 
Doug Fowler, Ron Friesz, Mel Goff, Hawaii 
Forest & Trail (HFT), Matt Henschen, Jack 
Jeffrey, Lily Jenkins, Moriah Jenkins, Gerald 
Judge, Noah Keanini, Dave Kiehl (DKi), John 
Klavitter, Ann Kobsa, David Kuhn, Leona La- 
niawe, Dan Lindsay, Annie Marshall, Richard 
May, McKinzie Mudge, Mike Ord, Wendi 
Overmyer, Rob Pacheco, Kurt Pohlman, 
Brooks Rownd, Matthew Schaap, Steve Smith, 
Hal Stamm, Forest & Kim Starr, Erik Svetin, 
Stephen Tabor, Pbil Taylor, Leslie Tucci, Eric 
VanderWerf, John Walko, Michael Walther, 
Megan Westervelt (MWe), Lindsay Young. iQr 
Peter Donaldson, 2375 Ahakapu Street 
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782, (pdnldsn.bird@mac.com) 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 1 
177 
