Haleakala is the world’s largest dormant volcano, having last erupted in the 1790’s. Its crater has many cinder cones. Many trails lead from the summit and various locations around the rim of Haleakala into the crater and a number of cabins (which must be pre-booked) provide hikers (who have to be very well prepared for all fast changing weather conditions) with overnight shelter as many trails are many miles long. Not only do the weather conditions change minute by minute but also the scenery from inside the crater. Its spectacular.

I’ve just completed Novembers Full Moon Crater hike which took us 2 days to complete. The first day was a clear blue day, a little chilly at the start, but perfect once down below the summit on our decent into the crater down the sliding sands trail. The second day it rained virtually non stop. But having the correct clothing and rain gear meant both days were great fun and enjoyed by us all. Most of the photos though were taken on the first day, because it was too wet too even get the camera out of the bag on the second day.

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I’d never heard of a REVERSE sunset not to mention seen a reverse sunset with the rising Full moon. The first photo above is exactly that. Its when the sunset colours are seen in the East as well as the West.

… And the difference is Photoshop

I’ve had another rainy day in the UK, and rather than being outside with my camera, I’ve been working through some images from Maui on my computer (in the dry!)…

Sunflower from Haiku

I just love pink and purple !!!

Now this really is cheating! but FUN !

It was a beautiful day today, and there were no clouds on the West Maui Mountains all morning, which is quite unusual. The surf was big again, and lots of surfers were out surfing the waves in Hookipa Bay, and the birds were chirping all around me as I wandered around. Spring is definitely in the air.

Java Sparrows and their young in the Bamboo, waiting for me to get out the way so they fly across to the deck for their last feed of the day.

       View across Turtle Bay yesterday morning.

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And more Java Sparrows waiting very patiently for their last feed before flying of to roost somewhere on Maui’s North Shore..  [View More Maui Birds]

Boxing Day at Hookipa, and the waves were rather large. Even the Housefinch in the tree was being entertained.

When the kingfishers in my back garden become territorial, and the weather is like it is today, then I just have to sit in my back garden (very patiently) and wait for them to come. And if I am lucky, like I was today I can get them to sit on a perch (that I placed in the water) right in front of me..

Kingfishers are  very territorial, and as they compete for their fishing territory they still need to feed and catch fish. Usually they announce their arrival as they fly on to their next fishing perch, but today they were flying silently, perhaps trying to avoid their rivals.

The kingfisher that perched in front of my today is an adult male  – you can tell its adult by the red legs, and that it is male  by the all black beak (the females lower mandible is red )

View my  UK BIRDS Gallery , UK WIDFOWL Gallery, and my UK WILDLIFE Gallery here

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I Checked out the field again, where I took yesterdays photos of the Stone Curlews, and just as I approached it a flock of 8 got Stone curlews too flight, calling out as they went. I counted another 5 that didn’t  fly off, and they were even closer to the road than yesterday and seemed pretty relaxed with my presence.. So I got a little closer,  tucked in behind a stone wall (a common sight on Fuerteventura’s landscape)  again and took these photos. All photos taken on Canon EOS 40D wth a 400mm Zoom lens, zoomed in all the way. I should buy myself an extender one of these days…

I have uploaded a few more photos into the Fuerteventura Wildlife Gallery, from where you can view the images as a slideshow.

View More photos in galleries of UK Wildfowl, UK Birds, Yellowstone Birds, Maui Birds, UK Wildlife

Stone Curlews in Fuerteventura! Always hard to spot, but a family (I counted eight in one go) took flight from a rocky field when startled by a dog who spotted them from a distance and mistook them possibly for chipmunks and began to give chase. When the dog saw flying chipmunks he gave up the chase straight away. No chance!! AND far too hot to run anyway. .

The Stone Curlews took flight from the dog, and landed again almost straight away, obviously not too alarmed  by the dog once they saw what it was. They began to group together and then slowly made their way closer.

Hiding behind one of the many stone walls, I slowly made my way closer and closer, snapping away. I think they were aware I was there but didn’t seem all that bothered by me as long as I made my way slowly and quietly. Eventually though I got that little bit too close and my feet made a little noise on the stony ground and they took flight, again just a short one. But just a little too far for my lens.

Like I said, Stone Curlews are hard to spot in the one above… very will camouflaged and only best spotted while they are moving. the moment they become stationary, the become virtually invisible.

Thursley wildlife and birds in a Surrey Garden

Spiders webs glistening at Thursley common, in the bright sunshine on a dewy morning this last very hot weekend

Tame garden birds waiting for mealworms to feed their hungry babies.

Yesterday, a single parent Canada Goose took her 6 newly hatched goslings out onto the water for the very first time. They didn’t yet know what food is, but they began to catch on quite quickly after mum showed them that my bread is edible. Mother is very tame, so she swims up to me real close bringing her tiny cute furry babies right with her.

This gorgeous new family live on a lake at the back of my house, and the female must have arrived with her mate just over 45 days ago to build a nest and start her family by laying 6 eggs. It takes 9 days to lay 6 eggs followed by 36 days of incubation  . I never saw the male so I can only imagine he must have been taken by foxes sometime after mum had  laid the 6th egg. So mum must be fox wise now and will hopefully have learned a very valuable lesson to keep her goslings safe.

I took these pictures yesterday, thinking perhaps I may not have another photo opportunity to photograph her with all her six goslings. There are so many natural dangers around her, but this morning she still has all six. So now I can begin to hope for their survival.  I have my fingers crossed… 

Anyway, here are yesterdays photos. For more news and photos click my link —-> ‘Anitas wildlife blog’ <— click link  -  Gotta go,  feed the wildlife…

Last weeks visit to Trentham Monkey Forest was delightful.  I have just received an email that 4 healthy new born baby girls arrived in the days following my visit.. The first one of the season the very next day ! … A photo opportunity missed. but I have no complaints I am happy with my photos..

Visit Trentham Monkey Forest yourselves and experience a walk amongst the 140+ Babary macaques roaming free in 60 acres of beautiful English woodlands. Spot the new born May babies. Stroll through the forest and be transported into a different world. It is truly amazing, and loads of fun -  even on a cold and wet day.