キリアイ, Broad-billed Sandpiper

I like this bird. It can be hard to distinguish when 1000s of birds line the shores of Kyushu in migration season, so when this single one flew in on our Butagoya marsh I was quite glad.

See last year's post of Daijugarami (click)

note the dragonfly!

When you look well you can see his tongue.

With Red-necked tint, トウネン　

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ 3

It looks safe to drop my guard and take a bath.

Look how green that water is. Would that be good or bad?

I'm glad to see those feathers are still white.

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ 2

Yes, it's still there and... with company. Another young Black-winged Stilt! A female I think.

  

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ 1

The fields won’t be short of water for a while after these rainy weeks. Some waders returned early from their summer business up north. I went over for a look after Obon and found this juvenile Stilt all by himself among the Plovers and Sandpipers.

2 Wood Sandpipers タカブシギ keeping him or her from harm...?

It looks so young and fragile. Will it be there tomorrow? 

What's new?

Now that Obon (Japanese religious festival, a bit like our X-mas) is behind us and all that TV business over and done with the days seem empty. Today's sailing schedule was postponed... again... So much rain, no interesting birds... 

Fortunately a Kingfisher came to rest on a mooring line not far from Alishan. Probably disturbed at his usual hang-out by the Tamori-cup boating parade. He made me feel good.

2 Common Sandpipers were there as well.

A short stop at Imazu revealed small number of waders:  Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,　ウズラシギ

When this beautiful morning sky drew me to the seaside park...

...I noticed something odd:

An albino Tree Sparrow? That's what it seems.　スズメ　(passer montanus)

Too conspicious!

Brown Hawk Owl, アオバズク, more families.

I can't get enough of these funny little owl babies!
There are a few more breeding sites in northern Kyushu and when the chicks leave the nest, we get a chance to watch them during the day. The little ones sit patiently, watching the world with great curiosity on their first day out. Every now and then they stretch their wings, eager to practise and explore. At night they will fly and catch their first cicadas. And after a few days they'll be gone. But for now here they are, all so very cute and adorable.

The following group Mum (left) and 2 chicks were most entertaining. Watch this:

Winner of the cutie pie contest!

The following family, 2 parents on the outside, 2 chicks in the middle took it very easy. While the youngsters watched their surroundings, the adults slept mostly, keeping one eye open.

Below we have another mother on the right, 3 babies on the left. Just out of the nest. Father??? Somewhere nearby I think. He'd stayed out of sight during most of the previous 2 weeks, probably watching from a secret hideout. After dusk he'd show up to help with the feeding.

They seemed a bit disturbed by my presence. Better leave them at peace.
See you next year.