Olive-backed Pipits, ビンズイ and some more

The trees around the hotspring were starting to bloom Yamasakura attracted many birds. The flowers were pretty, but the White-eyes, メジロ were all moulding and looked rough.

Bulbuls were chasing the small birds that visited the trees, but they ignored the birds on the ground. Below the trees 3 Olive-backed Pipits, ビンズイ were quietly picking their way

Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ are gathering, getting ready to migrate. This female looked stunning with perfect eye and eyebrow feathers

Not Cherry blossom. Momo?

Bees sleep in flowers, I heard. I checked, but they were all wide awake at 8am

セイヨウミツバチ · Western Honey Bee

Hen Harriers, ハイイロチュウヒ and some more

 In the 3rd week of March went on a business trip in the south of our prefecture. After a long day of work, we drove a bit further south to a hot spring resort that we like for a well-earned rest. On the way, we stopped at the nearby reclaimed land area. There wasn't much light anymore, but I managed to capture a male Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ♂ - Surprisingly it was still around

2 Great Crested Grebes, カンムリカイツブリ in the sunset. I thought they were a pair and was hoping to see some amorous advances, but they quickly moved on when they spotted me. 

The following morning, we went back, but I only saw a female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ♀

Russet Sparrows, ニュナイスズメ were resting in the trees...

... occasionally dropping down for lunch

Chikugo River

This post is about a day trip with Billie, our RV, in the middle of March. Just the 2 of us to recover from the winter blues. I had heard about Mergansers and we decided to stay at a park near the river. In the morning, I walked up and down but didn't see any of my target birds. After lunch, when we continued upriver, I spotted 1 pair from the height of the RV, but the only place to stop and watch was a long way off..

They are there, Mr. and Ms Merganser, カワアイサ

A bit further east at a well-known checkpoint. A Buzzard perched in a tree was not a good sign. 

(I saw you there, Mr T, patrolling in your car)

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

When the left others flew in. White-bellied Green Pigeons, アオバト about 14 birds.

But not for long...

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

 Crested Kingfisher, ヤマセミ

At the end of the afternoon: Female Common Merganser, カワアイサ

Sorry for the low quality of the birds in flight. I will practice more!

Parks in the west.

In the 2nd week of March the weather was variably sunny or cloudy, warm or cold, windy or calm. I was still dealing with the cold I had caught the previous month. Days were good or bad. On good days, I went out and walked in the parks.

Yellow-throated Buntings, ミヤマホオジロ had become very pretty in their summer colors.

In the bath tub

The female Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ also got a bit more color

White-eyes in Plum blossom, ウメメジロ are popular and easy camera targets. However, getting a good shot with the deep pink flowers is hard!

The dam lake again; Eurasian Siskins, マヒワ

Another day. I wanted to try the Grey Buntings again, but on this beautiful day, there was no activity while I was around. I gave up. My cold was still bothering me, and though the sunlight felt warm and cozy, I returned home. 

Eurasian Siskins, マヒワ A flock of 10+ birds stopped briefly

A female. She's pretty. She's grey... but not a bunting

One of the males, sipping water in the darkest corner

Our friendly Rurichan stopped by a few times. Happy to see you!

East Asian eurya

Grey Buntings, クロジ etc at the dam

I needed a change from the west, so I drove to a dam lake area, wondering what would be there. I was hoping for Grey Buntings, クロジ. They were there, but I had to wait till the end of the afternoon for them to show up, and by then there was so little light... I didn't do well

Female Grey Bunting, クロジ

Male Grey Bunting, クロジ

A very friendly and obliging Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ

Wild birds around Alishan

He is not the prettiest male you have ever seen. Really, he is pretty ugly. He's got a crooked leg and can hardly walk. But he's got guts! He is our neighbor boy and he is always there. I love him 💓

Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリ