Smoke on the Water

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This photo was taken just about a year ago, on the morning of Oct. 28, 2007.  There was a large wildfire in an area a few miles down the coast from where I live.   The smoke plume from the fire wafted out across the ocean, and was visible from my back garden.  The smoke spoiled what had been a beautiful clear blue-sky day.  By the way, in case you are wondering, the fire burned a large area of open land, but there were no injuries, and no houses were burned.

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Boot Hill Graveyard at Tombstone, Arizona

Boot Hill Graveyard

Location: Tombstone, Arizona, USA

In honor of Halloween, I chose a photo of the famous Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona for this week's Ruby Tuesday entry.  (Note the ruby red car parked outside the fence, heh heh.)  I visited the historic town of Tombstone during a trip to Arizona with some friends earlier this year.

Winter in Hawaii Means Snow on Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea in winter

Location: Big Island, Hawaii

Many people are surprised to learn that it snows in Hawaii, but it's true.  Our two tallest mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, have snow caps for many months of the year.   Mauna Kea rises 13,796 feet (4,205 m) above sea level, while Mauna Loa's elevation is 13,680 feet (4,170 m) above sea level.

A few days ago, my fellow Hawaii-based blogger, Andrew Cooper, who works at one of the several astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea's summit, mentioned the first snow of the season on his blog, A Darker View.   It didn't last very long, but soon it will be cold enough at that elevation for the snow to begin to accumulate.   Most years, the snow atop Mauna Kea lasts until late spring.

Here is a photo of snow-capped Mauna Kea, which I took a few years ago.  We can see Mauna Kea from several spots in our garden, but I took this photo from my neighbor's field.  Think of it as a preview of things to come -- very soon.

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here is another photo that was shot on film a number of years ago.  This is the Bird of Paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae).  This plant is native to South Africa, but the one here was photographed in our garden in Hawaii.

Another Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii)

Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Back in August, I posted a photo of an Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii).  I wasn't entirely happy with the angle of that shot, but the moth flew away before I had an opportunity to shoot it from a different perspective.

Earlier today I was going through some photos I had taken back in the days when I was still shooting film.   I came across this one, which I had forgotten about.  As soon as I saw it, I decided to scan the transparency and post it here.  This one is a much better 'specimen shot' than the one I posted in August.   It shows clearly the wonderful patterns of color on the moth's wings.

Note: Several moths ago, I also posted a photo of a Hawk Moth caterpillar.

Afternoon Offshore Rain Squall

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Late one afternoon we watched as some offshore clouds began to pile up.  This cumulonimbus cloud formed before our eyes, and a rain squall ensued as the clouds moved along, parallel to our coast.  Unfortunately for us, the rain stayed offshore.

To see more SkyWatch images click here, or click the SkyWatch button at the top of this post.

Felucca on the Nile

Egyptian Felucca

Location: Nile River, near Luxor, Egypt

This is a Felucca -- a traditional wooden sailing vessel seen frequently along the Nile River in Egypt.   I photographed this one just outside of Luxor in southern Egypt.

The Edge of Devastation

Devastation Trail

Location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, Hawaii

Kilauea, reputed to be the world's most active volcano, is situated in the southeastern part of Hawaii's Big Island.   Kilauea is the centerpiece of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park -- a "must see" for visitors to this island.  I live about 100 miles from the volcano, by road.

Kilauea volcano has erupted 34 times since 1952.  A 1959 eruption at a vent called Kilauea Iki buried the surrounding forest up to two meters deep in ash and cinders.  Trees that did not burn outright were stripped of their leaves.  Today, nearly 50 years later, the whole area around Kilauea Iki is still covered by a layer of cinder, although some hardy plants and trees have begun to grow there once more.

A one kilometer (5/8 mile) hiking trail passes through the area that was devastated in 1959.  Not surprisingly, it is called Devastation Trail.  This photo, taken from Devastation Trail, shows some of the cinder and the remains of dead trees, as well as some new growth at the edge of the devastated area.  The bushy green trees are 'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), a tree endemic to Hawaii.

Java Sparrows (Padda oryzivora)

Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This is a pair of Java Sparrows (Padda oryzivora).  Despite the common name, these birds actually are a kind of finch, not a true sparrow.  Their beaks certainly do look more finchy than sparrowy, don't you think?

They are native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali.  It is believed that they first arrived here in Hawaii in the mid-nineteenth century as caged birds, and either escaped or were set free.  Environmental conditions in Hawaii must suit them, because Java Sparrows are plentiful now, particularly on the island of Oahu.  We began seeing them in our area of the Big Island about 10 years ago.  Java Sparrows love seeds, so they are enthusiastic visitors to our bird feeders.

Red Sky at Night, Sailors' Delight?

Red sky at night, sailors' delight;
Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

When there are suspended particles and aerosols in the atmosphere at sunset, shorter wavelengths (violets and blues) of the setting sun's light get scattered, while the longer wavelengths (red and oranges) are able to penetrate.  We see a sunset like this one.

Traditionally, the 'red sky at night' sailor's axiom holds, at least in the northern hemisphere, because weather systems tend to travel from the west to the east.  Thus, the dust and water vapor that refract the light are to the east of the sunset, meaning they have passed.  Conversely, a 'red sky at morning' means that the weather system is to the west and therefore still approaching.

In this case, however, the red sunset is not caused by a stormy weather system.   Instead the aerosols and particles in the atmosphere offshore are components of volcano smog -- called vog here in Hawaii.  On days when the winds are calm or relatively light here, emissions from Kilauea, the very active volcano on the southern part of Hawaii's Big Island, tend to settle over the island.  We don't like the vog haze -- it burns our eyes and makes our respiratory tracts congested -- but it does make for pretty and often dramatic sunsets.

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Location: Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

A few days ago I posted a photo of a male Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos).  Here is a photo of his mate.  Both were photographed in New Zealand, but this species is widely distributed around the world.

Hula Girl Hibiscus

Hula Girl hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinesis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This bright yellow blossom with the ruby red throat is the Hula Girl hibiscus, another cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinesis.  This hibiscus has several interesting characteristics that set it apart from other hibiscus varieties.   First of all, the blossom is larger than most.  The average Hula Girl blossom is about 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm) wide -- definitely the largest hibiscus blossom in our garden.   (In fact we think their size makes them look a bit like yellow satellite dishes!)

Another characteristic of the Hula Girl hibiscus is that, unlike most other hibiscus varieties, the blossom does not immediately wilt and die when it is picked from the bush on which it grows.  Because it stays fresh for quite awhile after it is picked, this variety is the one you will most often see worn by hula dancers in their hair, or tucked behind the ear, and that is said to be how the Hula Girl hibiscus got its name.

Male Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Location:  Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

The Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is one of the most common species of waterfowl in the world.   It is reputed to be one of the best known and most easily recognized species -- especially the male, pictured here.   It may be 'common' in one sense of the word, nevertheless I think that the Mallard also is one of the best looking waterfowl species anywhere, don't you?

Update:  Here is a photo of a female Mallard, too.

Double Rainbow in the Morning

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

A couple of weeks ago I posted a photo of a late afternoon rainbow on the mountain east of my house.  Now, facing the other direction, here's an early morning double rainbow.  This is the west-facing view from my back garden.   Sometimes when it rains a bit very early in the morning, we get to see a rainbow like this one over the ocean.

Cane Toad Mug Shot

Cane Toad (Bufo marinus)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Last month I posted a photo of a Cane Toad (Bufo marinus).   Here is another shot of the same individual.   I like to think of this one as a mug shot!

Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

I usually post flower photos for Ruby Tuesday, but for a change, here is an adolescent female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), with her ruby bill.  These birds are native to the eastern United States mainland.  They were introduced into Hawaii in the late 1920s.

Sumatran Giant Lily (Crinum amabile)

Sumatran Giant Lily (Crinum amabile)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This plant is known locally as the Sumatran Giant Lily (Crinum amabile).   I've also seen it referred to as the Giant Spider Lily in some sources.  According to Angela Kay Kepler's book Hawai'i's Floral Splendor [Honolulu: Mutual Publishing, 1997], this plant has been cultivated in Hawaii for more than a century.   For those of us with gardens located close to the ocean, the Sumatran Giant Lily has the advantage of being salt tolerant.  The blossoms smell good, too!  The plant is native to the Indonesia island of Sumatra, hence the name.

Poor Little Francolin Chick

Grey Francolin chick (Francolinus pondicerianus)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This tiny little bird is a Grey Francolin chick.  We found it in our garden, abandoned.  We examined it and could find no obvious injuries, but it was so weak it could hardly hold up its head.  We tried to give it some water, but the chick would not cooperate.  Finally, we put it in a cool, shady area where groups of adult Francolins pass through on their daily rounds, in the hope that its parents might find it.  When we checked on the chick an hour or so later, it had died.  My husband buried the poor little chick's remains in one of our flower beds.

Clouds over Kawaihae Bay

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This is the view from my back garden, facing south.  I took this photo late yesterday afternoon as heavy clouds collected over Kawaihae Bay.  Here on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii's Big Island the weather is very dry near sea level at this time of year.  We were hoping those clouds would give us some much needed rain, but in the end it just sprinkled a bit before the clouds dissipated.

Reflections on the Nile

East Bank of the Nile River

Location:  Luxor, Egypt

Recently we unearthed a batch of travel photos on slides that we had nearly forgotten about.  The photos were taken with my SLR camera in the pre-digital days.  My husband has been scanning the transparencies so that I can post some of them on line.

Here is the first of those. It shows a small settlement along the East Bank of the Nile River, not far from Luxor, in southern Egypt.