Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

On Wednesday we drove up north again, past Hanalei to Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, the northernmost point on Kaua’i. We were looking forward to seeing frigates, albatrosses, and other birds as well as perhaps getting glimpses of whales. We were not disappointed.

Nene were everywhere, and we were able to get good looks at their feet, which are less webbed than those of other geese and which have claws for climbing on the lava rock.

Nene, Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, showing detail of feet.

The first thing we noticed were trees full of Red-footed Boobies.

Red-footed Boobies, Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

Despite their name, these birds are beautiful and graceful in flight.

Red-footed Booby flies overhead at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

 

A pair of Red-footed Boobies in flight, Kilauea Point NWR.

The huge Great Frigatebirds were amazing to watch as they flew overhead.

Great Frigatebird Kilauea Point NWR.

Great Frigatebird, another view.

Great Frigatebird in flight, viewed from above.

We watched a flying duel between a Red-footed Booby and a Great Frigatebird.

Great Frigatebird and Red-footed Booby duel near Kilauea Point.

The duel continues.

The frigate chases the booby back to the safety of the flock.

We saw many Laysan Albatross, but they fly so quickly that I was not able to get a good image of one. They look like flying tanks.

Laysan Albatross

We were able to see migrating Humpback Whales off the point, but they were fairly far away.

There's a whale there. Really.

We saw many more whales and other sea mammals on our catamaran outing the next day.

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