Teardrop in the Coral

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

teardrop butterflyfish             Chaetodon unimaculatus

Forcepsfish

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

forcepsfish                                       Forcipiger flavissimus

little yellow butterflyfish

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

fourspot butterflyfish                         Chaetodon quadrimaculatus

C. ornatissimus

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

ornate butterflyfish                      Chaetodon ornatissimus

Bright Butterfly

Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

raccoon butterflyfish                    Chaetodon lunula

The raccoon butterflyfish is one of the more common species found on Hawaiian reefs.

Togetherness

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

ornate butterflyfish                  Chaetodon ornatissimus

Surprised

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

ornate butterflyfish               Chaetodon ornatissimus

Big Nose

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

big longnose butterflyfish          Forcipiger longirostris

Netted Pattern

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

reticulated butterflyfish             Chaetodon reticulatus

Ornamental

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

Ornate Butterflyfish           (Chaetodon ornatissimus)

Common long nose butterflyfish

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

Forcipiger flavissimus

Baby Reticulated

All Photos Copyright 2013 by Barry Fackler

 The reticulated butterflyfish (Chaetodon reticulatus) is an uncommon species in Hawai'i. Over the years I've seen the occasional pair at Honaunau, but they are usually moving rapidly and don't like to be approached. 

These photos are of a juvenile reticulated that I found a few weeks ago. Although I don't see it on every dive, it favors a discrete area of the bay and is usually there.

Hopefully, I'll be able to keep tabs on it as it grows and keep a photographic record of its growth. We'll see!

Chaetodon ornatissimus

Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) are among my favorite photo subjects because the are really cooperative, unlike many other tropical fish. Here's a couple shots from a recent dive.

Photos Copyright 2013 by Barry Fackler

Ornate Butterflies at cleaning station

First off, my apologies to anyone who might have been following this blog only to have me let it go for a couple months. Betty & I spent a good deal of the summer visiting with our kids & grandkids on the mainland. Once back, we got ready for company as my brother Chuck & his lovely bride Jeanette paid us a visit. Come early December, my Mom will be here to visit for a month. So it has been, and will continue to be, a little busy around here.

Photo Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler

Yesterday was a beautiful and sunny day at Honaunau. I've been trying out different settings on my SeaLife DC-1400 and think I may have hit upon a good combination. Early in the dive I saw this cleaner wrasse working on an ornate butterflyfish pair. This was early in the morning and with previous settings my background would be stark almost totally black. But this gave me a more natural and softer blue background which I like better.

Photo Copyright 2012 by Barry Fackler

I hope you enjoy these photos and I'll try to post more shortly. Aloha!

Tinker's Butterflyfish

 A friend of mine asked me to send her some photos I had of a Tinker's Butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri) and I figured that, while I had them out, I should post them. They're not of the greatest quality because they were taken on slide film years ago, made into prints, and then scanned into the computer.

Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler

These were taken during a boat dive off of Old Airport Beach. The fish guide books say these occur mostly at depths of 150' or more but this pair was at around 70'. They are considered a rare sight due to over-collection for the aquarium trade as well as their preference for deep water.

Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler"

This was the only instance where Betty and I have seen this particular species. Other divers at Honaunau have reported seeing them there, but at crazy depths beyond recreational SCUBA range. I don't want to see them that bad.

Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler

They are pretty little fish with an unusual and bold black/white diagonal and bright gold accents. I hope to see more of them again one day!