We’ve had a barn owl visiting our property in Maui for 8 years now. I wonder if its the same one still.

I was walking down the drive at sunset, taking a stroll, and I should have had my camera with me because the barn owl flew right over my head.

He landed in a tulip tree about 100ft away, and seemed quite settled there, so I headed back to the house to fetch my camera. AND yes ! he was still there when i returned..

What a Beautiful bird !  Next time I should have my camera with me.. Tomorrows another day !

Bart De Zwart :-

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Big waves again at Jaws this week, and quite late in the season, which is quite unusual !  But with lots of wind this time – for the windsurfers..   No surfers this time, too windy!   The wind and waves were accurately predicted for Tuesday this week, and sure enough the forecast was spot on..  Cameras were at the ready on the cliffs, eagerly waiting for the windsurfers to arrive on their jet skis any time after 9.30am..   About 11am, Bart De Zwart, our good friend for many years arrived first, with his windsurf board and rolled up sail across the back of the jet ski.  Rigging the sail from the back of a jet ski was tricky says Bart, but he managed it..  It wasn’t quite so easy for Diony Guadagnino, his sail blew into the water from the back of the jet ski, while on route to the Jaws surf break from Maliko Gulch (the launch site). The wind was so strong he was really lucky to have been able to retrieve it and without further delay joined Bart at the reef. Bart had already started windsurfing the waves, which were steadily increasing in size.  Bart was on a 4.8m sail which was perfect for the conditions….  The two windsurfers were soon joined by two more and the display they gave was amazing and very entertaining.  I have been to Jaws and seen surfers riding those waves many times, but windsurfers Jaws, that was a first for me too, and SO worth waiting for..

Diony Guadagnino :-

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I watched and photographed all four of the windsurfers, right  from the time Bart arrived up until about 1.30pm.   I needed to leave  to go get some breakfast… and besides I had used up all three of my memory cards, so couldn’t have taken more photos if I wanted to..

Bart De Zwart :-

Enjoy. !!!

See more photos on Barts Blog –>  Kanaha Kai Blog – based in Kahului, Maui

Spring has arrived in Maui.  The Cardinals have been singing at the tops of the tall bamboo, claiming their territory and attracting their mates.

I have a pair of Red Cardinals that have been singing their hearts out just outside the house, and I have started putting out sunflower seeds on the deck railings.  In no time the male started coming for the seeds, soon followed by his pretty mate, and he breaks open the seeds and then leans forward to feed her while she begs for the food. She must be laying eggs already, although I haven’t watchied close enough to see where she flies to, to try to spot where she is nesting.  The male is getting very tame now.

So out came the camera.. The shutter scared him. I was too close, but he came back both times for more food.  Greedy little thing.

Yet to get a picture of him feeding his Mrs, so watch this space….

 Check out my Maui Blog HERE

Bart De Zwart :-

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Big waves again at Jaws this week, unusually  late in the season!  And with lots of wind this time – for the windsurfers..   No surfers this time, too windy!   The wind and waves were accurately predicted for Tuesday this week, and sure enough the forecast was spot on..  Cameras were at the ready on the cliffs, eagerly waiting for the windsurfers to arrive on their jet skis any time after 9.30am..   By 11am the first arrived (Bart De Zwart) a good friend for many years arrived first, with his windsurf board and rolled up sail across the back of the jet ski.  Rigging the sail from the back of a jet ski was tricky says Bart, but he managed it..  It wasn’t quite so easy for Diony Guadagnino, his sail blew into the water from the back of the jet ski, while on route to the Jaws surf break from Maliko Gulch (the launch site). The wind was so strong he was really lucky to have been able to retrieve it and without further delay joined Bart at the reef. Bart had already started windsurfing the waves, a little tentatively at first,, but he soon loosened up and got right into it… It was so amazing and very entertaining to watch.  I have been to Jaws and seen surfers riding those waves many times, but windsurfers Jaws, that was a first for me too.

Diony Guadagnino :-

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I watched and photographed all four of the windsurfers, right  from the time Bart arrived up until about 1.30pm.   I needed to leave  to go get some breakfast… and besides I had used up all three of my memory cards, so couldn’t have taken more photos if I wanted to..

Bart De Zwart :-

Enjoy. !!!

See more photos on Barts Blog –>  Kanaha Kai Blog – based in Kahului, Maui

2009 went out with a big BANG, well lots actually. I had a birds eye view of about 9 different firework displays from where I was at midnight seeing in the new year of 2010.

But Dawn and Dusk on New Years Eve were even more spectacular and rare!!! New Years eve brought a Blue Moon – which means the second full moon in one month and not the colour ‘Blue’..  I snapped some photographs of the Blue Moon at dawn AND dusk. Here are some .. The next New Years Eve Blue Moon wont occur again until 2028

DAWN – New years eve…

DUSK on New Years Eve…

Other pics from Hawaii :

JAWS Maui, Hawaii

Today brought in the biggest waves of the season to Jaws, the famous surfing wave in Maui, Hawaii.

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JAWS – PHOTO GALLERY SLIDESHOW

The surfers and their buddies on the jetskis were out in large  numbers. The rescue boats were there too of course. The swell started early this morning and by 11am some of the sets coming in were huge. I arrived to take these photos around 9.30 am just as all the locals were leaving to go to work. The pinapple field had a traffic jam i both directions, but it was worth it! Totally worth it. Some serious photographers camped in their trucks and had a great spot first thing this morning, but i have no complaint, i had a great spot too, in the shade.  I got the best weather of the day, even though when i left the waves were still building, the clouds had arrived and a north easterly wind had arrived, which made the waves surfaces pretty choppy.  By the time i arrived home, i heard a report thru the grapevine that three jet skis had been totalled on the rocks at the bottom of the cliffs.