Some odd bits and pieces 3

I only point my camera at Ospreys when there is really nothing else. This time I was in for a surprise!

A double banger!

Some odd bits and pieces 2

Wagtails after the rain

White Wagtail, ハクセキレイ

Some odd bits and pieces 1

 

End of October, a surprise at night: Fireworks! View from home.

Visitors for 1 day: Taiga Bean Geese, ヒシクイ

2 Blobs of grey and brown feathers. Fast asleep with their heads tucked away in their feathers. Only their size gave them away. They slept and slept, and I moved on. However, on my way home, I stopped to check and noticed they had moved and were more awake now. I decided to wait a little longer. 

Not long after...

Landing in the nearby fields, easy to spot

It's hard to see whether they are Taiga or Tundra Bean Geese. The smaller one in the back looks like Taiga to me. The other one could be either... Who knows?

Off again

Imazu update

What's new in Imazu? The Daurian Redstarts have arrived. On October 26 about 10 birds were playing hide and seek. There wasn't much else to report until November came. On the 1st, I saw the first Lapwings. Lots of Stonechats had come in with the strong winds. The Kestrel had a good time. On the mudflats and the connecting rivers all sorts of ducks were now getting ready for their winter stay.  Among the ducks were 2 Geese.

October 26th  Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ

Northern Lapwings, タゲリ Here they come!

Northern Pintails, オナガガモ

Lady Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

chasing Stonechats

Stonechats ノビタキ on a windy day. 

Brown Booby, カツオドリ

The winds are stronger, the waves higher, Boobies come in the Bay to look for fish. One bird out of 3 came close enough to the shore in Nishi-ku. But I had to wait a long time.

Brown Booby, カツオドリ

Japanese Cormorants, ウミワウ

Pacific Reef Egret, クロサギ

Oronoshima

The planned 3 days' stay didn't happen. I wasn't surprised. In the city the weather might seem calm, but out there it's a different story. On the 3rd and last day I could finally take the morning ferry, and run to work. Then after lunch I had to run back to the harbor to make it in time for the returning ferry. Hilarious! It's a wonder I managed to take any photos for this post. Birds were everywhere! In the morning a big flock of birds of various sizes was swooping around the west side of the island. Raptors were following in pursuit. Hawks, Falcons, at least 1 Hen Harrier. At midday the small birds were hiding and I heard them from the undergrowth beside the road. Some sneeked out:

Brambling, アトリ male

female

Elegant, or Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

Goldcrest, キクイタダキ

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

Falcon, but which? Peregrine? Amur? Hobby?

Adult male Peregrine says Mr. H. ハヤブサ

In the harbor, a Lark-type bird was perched on the dock. I ran, thinking it might be something special. 

But I think it's just an ordinary Eurasian Skylark, ヒバリ

One of many Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ. A male with a bad foot. Good luck, buddy!

At sea, through the window, Brown Booby, カツオドリ

There were 2 or 3 birds, near the entrance of the bay