Little Stint, ヨーロッパトウネン

Every year 1 or 2 birds stop by, but we hardly ever get the chance to see them up close. This was aslo at the far end of the field, but the bird stood out a bit from the other (Red-necked) Stiints and was easier to distinguish

October 6th, 今津探鳥会

The morning was dark and gloomy, but the weatherforcast had not predicted rain and proved right. We walked the biggest part of the usual course and spent most time watching ducks and waders at the tidal flats and the 2 lakes. Among the newly arrived ducks were:

3 male Mandarine ducks, オシドリ, each accompanied by 1 Teal, コガモ

A female? eclips Gargany, シマアジ

A Northern Shoveler, ハシビロガモ female

among others as in the previous blog post

A Whiskered Tern, クロハラアジサシ (?) flying overhead.

2 Different crabs crossed our path.

 アカテガニ, Akategani. 

ハマガニ, Hamagani

Both mudflat crabs, endemic to East Asia

After the meeting we took a short break. Some of us went to Taromaru to find the Little Stint (Next post) At 1pm we proceeded to the other side of the river and spent 2 hours picking garbage at the reed strip. After about 60 bags were filled the place looked just a little bit cleaner... We should do this every month - as long as the birds won't be disturbed.

Pectoral Sandpiper, アメリカウズラシギ and Siberian Stonechats,ノビタキ

Because of the bad conditions at midday the previous day I could not see well. The next day I took an early start, so my photos would become clearer and identification would not be so hard.

Dunlin, ハマシギ There were about 5 birds the previous day, now I saw just 2

Red-necked Stint, トウネン again

This bird had me fooled. It looks so different in spring, But what else could it be? 

Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ

And there is that Sandpiper again, the Pectoral Sandpiper, アメリカウズラシギ

Thank you for helping me with that, Mr K!

Ducks have arrived. just a few yet, more to follow.

Eurasian Wigeons, ヒドリガモ

Northern Pintails, オナガガモ

Osprey taking a bath, ミサゴの水浴び

And last but not least the Siberian Stonechats, ノビタキ

The rice is being harvested, they were due.

October birds

After the 2 typhoons and the temperatures still so high, you wonder what time of the year it is, but migrators have come and moved on, it definitely is October. In Imazu I ran into a group of birds, or did they run - fly into me?

Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ

Great Cormorants, カワウ on the hunt. But the fish was too big - he had to let it go

The Black-browed Reed Warbler, コヨシキリ was heard again, but it or they would not come out

At the Ura farm things were a little quiet. Just a few birds like Wood Sandpipers, タカブシギ

About 10 or 12 birds walked in and out of sight

Red-necked Stints, トウネン Maybe 6

2 Ruffs, エリマキシギ I think both female

1 bird that I had down as a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ but it looked different and so it was...

Do I see a pectoral line on that breast?

When the tide was high another bird started appeared.  Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ

Varied Tit, ヤマガラ

Early autumn many trees are fruiting. Birds gather to eat the fruit, nuts and/or seed. Varied Tits love the seeds of the Japanese Snowbell tree, エゴノキ

Red-rumped Swallows, コシアカツバメ. Around 60 birds flew over the fields after a typhoon. I could not see where they went to rest

In the pond nearby a couple of Little Grebes, カイツブリ just had their 5 chicks. A little late, but now that they survived this typhoon they might make it to winter

Japanese Snowbell tree, エゴノキ, flowering in May