A morning at sea

We (as in my birding friends and me) chartered catamaran Fu Kyo and gathered at 6 am to explore the waters outside the bay. Despite the forecast saying little wind, we had quite a few knots, not from the south, but the west. The result was a choppy sea. Too many waves made it very hard to detect small birds, but we found one Auklet and had to do with what ever flew over and sat on the rocks for the rest of the trip. I was happy Fu Kyo's stability made this trip possible and we definitely want to do this again one day!

Sunrise in Hakata Bay

Our one and only Rhinoceros Auklet,  ウトウ

Pelagic Cormorants,  ヒメウ

A pair of Ospreys and their nest on Ainoshima,  ミサゴ

Monthly Sunday meeting of WBSJ in Imazu

It's nice to have so many eyes doing the job. We can chat and exchange infomation.
Migrating season has started, Stonechats seem to be everywhere. Some winter visitors that haven't left yet are now in summer dress. It's the best time of the year.

Garganey,  シマアジ

Naumann's Thrush,  ハチジョウツグミ

This is why renkon fields are so important for birds: They can scan the mud for food without exposing themselves. I hope farmers in Imazu will always be growing lotus root.

 The last 2 Saunders's Gulls, シマアジ　sporting black heads

Siberian Stonechat, ノビタキ. They are so cute, I can't stop watching them. First the male: 

Next the female:

The last 2 just wanted to have their picture taken: Oriental Greenfinch,  カワラヒワ

And Little Ringed Plover, コチドリ 

A windy day in Kabashima

It was blowing 30 knots or more, the flycatcher that we had come to see had left. Through the inlet little birds were blown in and kind of crash-landed in front of us. There were Warblers, and Stonechats. We heard the voice of Japanese Robins,

Siberian Stonechat,  ノビタキ

It was awfully cold, but insects started to appear, creating a sense of spring

From above the waves around the cape seemed enormous. Shearwaters were having fun.

Streaked Shearwater,  オオミズナギドリ

But this captain most certainly not.

Our harbor 2, Dunlins and Sanderlings ハマシギ と ミユビシギ

They fly in thick flocks, from their resting place to feeding grounds and back. They chose an unusual place to reside: the end of a pontoon among cruising yachts and sport fishing boats. I can see them from our dock. At low tide they like to feed on our ramp at times.

Dunlins, ハマシギ　and Sanderlings, ミユビシギ

Dunlins,  ハマシギ

Sanderlings, ミユビシギ

The Japanese name of Sanderling, ミユビシギ means three toed shorebird. They miss the one toe at the heel that we see with Dunlins and most other shorebirds.

　 Dunlin, ハマシギ

　Sanderling, ミユビシギ

Once more Sanderling, ミユビシギ 

 

Side by side

happy together