Aisatsu

Aisatsu

This blog is for family and friends, to share my feelings and photos with and for myself, to support my fading memory. Readers who have my site translated automatically, please refer to the original if necessary. Especially when it comes to identification. Any comments, anonymous or by email name are always welcome!.

Wednesday 30 March 2016

Eurasian Wryneck, アリスイ

What a surprise. First time for me to see it in Japan. My memory of a previous sighting is so blurry... I call this a lifer! Jynx torquilla





These unusual birds are able to turn their snake-like head nearly 180 degrees, hence their English name.


When threatened they twist their head, making hissing sounds, like a witch putting a spell on someone in the old days. This gave them the name jynx.






They use their long tongue to find ants and other insects.








Visiting a Sakura tree... but it has no flowers...



On the same day: Sakura in full bloom and a Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, コゲラ busy making a nest.




 Out at sea: Pelagic Cormorants, ヒメウ


  


Black-throated Loon (Diver), オオハム   far out


Sunday 27 March 2016

White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト

So pretty when the light is right and the surroundings clear. First a female landed gracefully, sliding out of the dark clusters of branches above onto the small clearing. Fallen Camellia (ツバキ) flowers and acorns littered the place.




 She didn't eat much and left after a few minutes. Next a very hungry male plopped down.






 






Showing off and eating acorns one after the other.


More than 10 went down his throat some where. Could he still fly?

Other birds payed a visit: Pale Thrush, シロハラ




went sensibly for the more digestible flowers.


same as a Brown-eared Bulbul, ヒヨドッリ


Feral Pigeon,ドバト shining in the spring light


Even the Carrion Crow, ハシボソガラス looked good


Black-faced Bunting, アオジ female


Many people walked by in the park, admiring Japanese Sakura


Eating from their pick nick bento's, feeding the gulls... Whatever non-birding people do in a park on a sunny day in March 


Black-headed Gull, ユリカモメ - molting  羽毛のぬけ


Crested Kingfisher, ヤマセミ 2

A few days later, at the same place as before:










other birds there were Mandarin Duck, オシドリ



Japanese White-eye, メジロ



Bull-headed Shrike, モズ



Raindrops



Saturday 26 March 2016

Waxwings in the park! Japanese Waxwings, ヒレンジャク

These love the Mistletoe, ヤドリギ and when the time is right they come and eat the lot,
The mistletoe attaches itself to the host tree and looks like a big ball of leaves with little waxy berries.
There was not much left when I showed up.