Just Like Spring

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, singing. It's like Springtime in Southern California. The peaches are blooming and the birds are starting to nest. This little hummingbird has staked out the top branch on my apricot tree.

Who was Anna anyhow? Was she a famous ornithologist? A California settler? No, she was Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli. This little hummingbird was named after her by René Primevère Lesson, a French naturalist and surgeon, who served in the French navy during the Napoleonic wars.

Buckeye Butterfly

Buckeye Butterfly, Junonia coenia, Mission Trails Park. The adults are found in sunny/grassy fields and the caterpillars live on plantains.

Feels Like Spring

Aloe speciosa (or some close cousin in Asphodelaceae) blooming in the front yard. This year, probably due to the warm January and wet November/December here in Southern California, the Aloe are all blooming early. None of their flowers are quite as dramatic or as stately as the Aloe speciosa. Ironically, there are normally two Aloe speciosa blooming in the front yard each February. However, possibly because the bigger one is crowding out the smaller one, this year there was only one...but with twice the flowers as normal.

Nemo, is that you?

Percula clownfish, Amphiprion percula at the Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Spider Lilly in the Rain

Crinum amabile, Spider Lilly in the rain at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear Fruit, Makapu'u, Oahu. Do you suppose these brightly colored fruit have something to do with how the Opuntia cacti received its common name, Prickly Pear?

Boogie Board...

Boogie Board sans surfer, Makapu'u Beach.

Holy Tentacles!

Porites lobata, Coral head, Hanauma Bay, Oahu. Have you ever looked at a coral head up close? It's a wonderland community of tiny creatures. You can see the myriad of little tentacles waving in the current in this photo.

Smells Like Apricot!

Blc. Orange Digger 'Kiilani'. This lovely Cattleya has hard, waxy substance, a glossy sheen, rich orange color and, best of all, has the faintest smell of apricots and oranges.

Agave attenuata

Agave attenuata in bloom. These don't bloom very often but they make up in quatity what they don't do in frequency. The nectar is also a favorite with the birds.

Fishing for Christmas Dinner

This family was out fishing for Ulua (big Jacks) that run along the Makapu'u coast for Christmas dinner. I didn't notice them in the picture at first but when I zoomed in to the scenic shot, there they were! It's amazing how pictures reveal details that we might otherwise miss.

Taking Shelter from the Wind

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly (or Passiflora butterfly) taking shelter on the ground from strong gusty winds blowing over Makapu'u.

Happy 2011!

Wishing you all the best for 2011! Happy New Year! Goong Hee Fat Choy! Goong Hee Fa Tsai! Haouli Makahiki Hou! Bonne Annee!

O'io for dinner?

Bonefish, O'io, Albula glossodonta. O'io are fast swimming fish that live off of crabs, shrimp, small fish and crustaceans. True to their name, they're pretty bony so the locals scrape the meat off the bones and make them into seasoned fishcake patties. This nice man was willing to pose with a huge O'io (bonefish) that he had just caught with a thrownet (you need to be realy fast to catch an O'io with a thrownet so he's pretty doggone talented in my book). He said he was having O'io fishcake for dinner.

The Amazing Mr. Frog

Frogfish, Orange Frogfish, Antennarius species. The frogfish is capable of walking (alternating fins forward) or "galloping" (two fins in unison) on its pectoral (and pelvic/ventral) fins and also of swimming. Young frogfish can even jet around by forcing water out of their gills!

Frogfish are also called angler fish because of the "bait" or lure that they can waive around to attract a good meal. The rod is called the illicium and the "bait," the esca, all part of a modified series of dorsal fins. When not in use, the illicium and esca can be withdrawn into a cavity between the second and third dorsal fins. When prey is successfully lured to the frogfish, the frogfish rapidly (6ms!) opens its mouth creating a sudden suction that draws the prey into its mouth. They can consume prey as big as themselves, even toxic lionfish, without ill effect.

The Angry Myna

Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, Waikiki, Oahu. This mynah appeared wet, possibly from the recent heavy rains. Whatever the cause, he sure looked cranky!

A'ama

Grapsus tenuicrustatus, a'ama, thin shelled rock crab, Oahu, Hawaii.

Makapu'u

Makapu'u, Oahu. The waters off of Makapu'u are deep and are known for harboring large ulua (jacks), a favorite of Hawaiian fisherman.

Surfing

Surfing! What did you spend Christmas doing?

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

Indulge your inner Santa with a little Christmas cheer! Hope this holiday season finds you all with friends, family and loved ones. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the holidays!