Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Baby Eagle Ray at Honaunau

Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler





These are some recent photos of a juvenile Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) that has been frequenting Honaunau Bay for the last several weeks. This first photo was taken late last month when I was on a solo dive.

Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler









Betty and I saw it again two weeks ago. We were on our second dive of the day when we saw it out in the distance. We were pre-occupied with looking for the male Whitley's Boxfish we had seen in the area on our earlier dive. As a result we mostly ignored the ray. A few minutes later it came up right alongside us and started digging in the sand for food.


Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler









The ray stayed nearby for around two minutes before winging away. It was a pleasant little encounter affording us a nice look and the "baby".


Monday, May 9, 2011

A Rare Sighting!

Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler

 Last weekend Betty and I were diving at Honaunau when we happened upon a male 
Whitley's Boxfish. These are seldom seen in Hawai'i although the females are quite common.

Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler

According to the book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, the large, blue males are most abundant in the Marquesa Islands. Females of this species are golden brown with cream-colored markings and have none of the vibrant blue coloration of the males.

We found this fish on a small coral head on the sand bottom beyond the reef drop-off at a depth of around 80'. We returned to the coral head on our next dive but he was gone. I made another dive to the coral head this past weekend but, again, no male Whitley's was there. This is only the third instance in eleven years and around 1200 dives on the Big Island that I have seen a male Whitley's Boxfish.