Waipi’o Valley News There are some portions of the road that have a grade of 45% Waipi’o Valley is one of the most challenging places to visit on the big island of Hawai’i. There is an access road on the south entrance to the valley that has a 25% average grade. There are some portions […]
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area Kauna’oa Point connects two beaches This photo of four kiawe trees was taken while hiking between Hāpuna Beach and Mauna Kea Beach through the Kauna’oa Point. This hike is called the Ala Kahakai Trail, and it is located along the northwest coast of the big island of Hawai’i. Like almost […]
Indo-Pacific Rock-Boring Urchin – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data It’s also known as the burrowing urchin This photo was taken while on a snorkeling adventure with my wife off the coast of the island of Hawai’i. We were in the Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District, which is a marine protected area. We were with […]
Redbarred Hawkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern They have a small number of teeth in the roof of their mouths While on a dive off the coast of Honolulu, Hawai’i in which I was searching for nudibranchs, I came across this interesting looking fish. It seemed to be on the lookout from its hovel […]
Redbreast Sunfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern These fish were fearless Dropping under the water at Alexander Springs in Altoona, Florida, I was not expecting the water to be as crystal clear as it was. The visibility was easily one hundred feet, and the water was a crisp 72 degrees. Although this is a […]
Gray Triggerfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable If you depress the second spine, this will release the first spine This unique looking fish is called a gray triggerfish. It is a medium sized fish which will grow to be around nine inches long. Their coloration and pattern are hard to appreciate in the water, especially if it […]
Black Coral Shrimp – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data This shrimp can be found all over the world I encountered this semi-transparent shrimp while diving in Little Cayman. Confusingly this black coral shrimp is not on black coral in this photo. Instead it is on a sea rod which is attached to a vertical wall. In diving, we […]
Trunkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Varies They will hover above the sand and occasionally tilt their head down and blow water through their mouth This fish is only the size of a quarter, for now. It will eventually grow to be over a foot long and weigh up to seven pounds. It’s color and pattern will change. This […]
Common Merganser – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The males will grow to be larger than the females These interesting looking birds are called common mergansers. I came across these ducks in Yellowstone National Park. They were drifting down a very cold stream, as you can tell by the snow in the photo. The duck on the left […]
House Sparrow – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern House sparrows, like some other birds, use “grit” in their diets This is one of the most widely distributed birds in the world. It is native to the Middle East. It can also be found in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, and Australia. Some of this distribution is […]