I had settled onto the beach with a book when a Gray Whale appeared just beyond the sand. For nearly half an hour, it rolled through the shallow water close enough for us to see its eye.

Maui brought colorful birds, unfamiliar calls, and memorable sightings everywhere we explored. These were some of the birds that caught my attention as we traveled around the island.

Kīlauea Point gave us a chance to watch Kauai’s seabirds soaring above steep cliffs and gathering around the historic lighthouse. It was an unforgettable introduction to one of Hawaii’s most remarkable birding locations.

Kauai introduced us to an incredible variety of birds, from colorful introduced species to native Hawaiian birds found nowhere else. These were some of the most memorable birds we encountered during our island adventure.

Our Kauai condo lanai gave us a comfortable place to watch the island’s birds. Even while relaxing at the condo, there was always something colorful or unfamiliar moving through the trees nearby.

A short layover in Honolulu gave me enough time to explore the airport gardens and watch Pacific Golden-Plovers beside the runway. In less than an hour, I found seven kinds of birds and added four lifers before continuing to Kauai.

Every spring, young hummingbirds appear in the trees outside my apartment balcony. I watch the fluffy fledglings squeak from the branches, test their wings, chase tiny insects, and wait for their mother to bring another meal.

A young Snowy Owl appeared on a rooftop in Cypress and quickly became an Orange County celebrity. We visited this exceptionally rare Arctic traveler twice, watching her rest among the neighborhood’s chimneys with her bright yellow eyes and enormous feathered feet.

Navajo Bridge is one of the most remarkable places to watch wild California Condors. During our visit, we saw adult condors 54 and H9 with their wild-hatched daughter X2 soaring above the Colorado River.

An eight-hour LA Birders pelagic from Marina del Rey took us through Redondo Canyon, along Palos Verdes, and out to the 270 Bank. The day’s remarkable encounters included a rare Horned Puffin, a Manx Shearwater, spinning phalaropes, and a Wilson’s Warbler far offshore.

A fall pelagic trip from Dana Point took an unexpected route after an oil spill was reported off the Orange County coast. The day brought two remarkable Red-billed Tropicbirds, plenty of seabirds, and Brown Pelicans gliding through the boat’s wake.

The MindShift BackLight 18L carries my camera, large telephoto lens, binoculars, water, snacks, and other essentials without feeling oversized. After years of birding and photography trips, it is still in daily use in 2026.