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  4. SAIPAN

BIRD ISLAND NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2009

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Rufous fantails (Rhipidura rufifrons) are small birds with true "type A" personalities. They are pretty much ALWAYS flittering around, darting this way and that. They use their tail as a very effective rudder and air brake. Quite frankly, I am finding it nearly impossible to get any GOOD photos of them because of their constant frantic maneuvers. But they are fun to watch, and do present an entertaining (if also frustrating) photographic challenge.
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Rufous fantails (Rhipidura rufifrons) are small birds with true "type A" personalities. They are pretty much ALWAYS flittering around, darting this way and that. They use their tail as a very effective rudder and air brake. Quite frankly, I am finding it nearly impossible to get any GOOD photos of them because of their constant frantic maneuvers. But they are fun to watch, and do present an entertaining (if also frustrating) photographic challenge.

saipanCNMIbird islandadrufusfantail

  • Pretty majestic place, even in black and white. Yep, Tom: I figured if I was going to include a few videos for my own entertainment (and hopefully for that of some others, too), I should at least include a black and white for you.
  • But it's also hard to beat that cool, deep aqua-blue. By the way, if you look at the "MAP THIS" feature, the photos are marked where I was standing when I took them, not where the subjects of the photos are.
  • These first few photos were taken from the easily-accessible public Bird Island Overlook.
  • Always changing. Always active. Always spectacular.
  • Rufous fantails (Rhipidura rufifrons) are small birds with true "type A" personalities. They are pretty much ALWAYS flittering around, darting this way and that. They use their tail as a very effective rudder and air brake. Quite frankly, I am finding it nearly impossible to get any GOOD photos of them because of their constant frantic maneuvers. But they are fun to watch, and do present an entertaining (if also frustrating) photographic challenge.
  • The native name for Rufous fantail is Na'abak, which basically means "something which will get you lost." With their seemingly erratic wanderings, I think that attempting to follow one would indeed be rather foolhardy.
  • I'm not sure what species of butterfly this is, but it is quite common on Saipan.
  • The top of the wing is much darker, with bright white markings, while the bottom has more various earth tones (I'm referring to top and bottom surfaces when the wings are open).
  • I believe that this is a Golden white-eye (Cleptornis marchei).
  • Not as constantly active as is the Rufous fantail, but more shy and secretive. That habit, along with the fact that they live in dense tangan tangan forests, makes them a photographic challenge, also.
  • I have taken a trail (from which I took the previous photos of the birds and butterflies) north, and am now at a small, remote overlook at the top of a cliff.
  • We will be down on that beach in a little while.
  • At 3 minutes and 56 seconds, maybe just those of you who are real wave lovers (as am I) should venture to watch this video. The rest of you may find it a bit long.
  • White tern, also called fairy tern (Gygis alba). A beautiful bird. It can be mesmerizing, watching these guys roaming about.
  • The more accessible Bird Island Overlook is above the white cliff to your right from Bird Island in this photo.
  • Couldn't resist a few more "snaps" of these guys as I made my way back along the trail.
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  • Same species you've been seeing in the earlier photos, but this is the coloration of the top of the wings.
  • There are 2 species of tree common here with nearly identical flowers. This is either Beach hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) or Rosewood (Thespesia populnea). It is my understanding that the Rosewood tree has more elongate leaves, whereas the Beach hibiscus leaves are more round (being about as broad as they are "long." Given that, I think this is Beach hibiscus.
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