More Pictures of Maui

On our first full day in Hawaii, we took Kel and Mira to Blackrock

to snorkel because turtles are regularly seen there.

Neither saw turtles that day but ended up enjoying snorkeling.

While watching them, I couldn’t help but notice this striking sailboat that pulled into the bay.

As it turned out, it was the sister ship to the one we took out the next day.

We spent the second half of the day back at the condo while Margaret picked up Cory and Kylan. Naturally, I checked out the birds like this Common Myna,

a “first” for me but one we saw everywhere we went on Maui.

This Bird of Paradise

wasn’t a first for me, but it was certainly one of the most distinctive flowers we saw on Maui.

First Impressions of Maui

We returned from a week-long trip to Maui Saturday, and I’ve begun to process our pictures. I took it as a good omen that Mira spotted these Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

right as we were leaving the airport. I didn’t take my regular camera and lenses, but couldn’t resist taking my Canon SX60HS.

Even though we left for the airport in the early-dark hours, there wasn’t much left of the day after we reached Maui. Despite great service on Hawaiian Air, we had barely enough energy to do some shopping, eat a meal and hit the sack that first day.

We were out on the beach early the next morning, though. Here Mira appears to be dispelling the forecast clouds away.

In reality, she was just taking a break from trying to dehusk a coconut she found while walking the beach.

Luckily, she had better luck dispelling the clouds than she has husking the coconut. Despite forecasts of rain for several days, we only endured 15 seconds of heavy rain on the entire trip.

I haven’t stayed in as fancy a resort since I took R&R in Bangkok, Thailand. The landscaping, particularly the flowers,

was fabulous. Perhaps not too surprising considering the amazing flowers we found throughout the island.

Pelagic Cormorant in Breeding Colors

I know that the Horned Grebes that seemed to be posing for me we’re probably posing for each other since there were several of them around. However there was nary a Pelagic Cormorant in sight when this beauty surfaced right in front of me,

arched its neck,

turned completely around,

again arched its neck,

completed its turn,

and disappeared,

not to be seen again.

Why can’t more birds be this cooperative?

One Last Glimpse Until Fall

On our last trip to Port Orchard I saw more Horned Grebes than I’ve seen in weeks, and most of them were finally in full, or near full, breeding plumage.

More importantly, all seemed eager to pose,

and as long as they were willing to pose

I was willing to shoot away.

Ultimately that meant having to spend longer than I wanted to sorting through and refining the shots. I was more than willing to do that because I’m pretty sure they’ll be gone before I get back again — if they’re not already off to their breeding grounds.