Spring birds around Fukuoka 1

Over the last 2 months I regularly stopped by that place near the pig farm to check out any new comers. These Common Shelduck, ツクシガモ were often there when the mudflats were submerged. About 6 of them.

This year not so many migrating waders stopped by, but the Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ

was one of them.

And so was the Red-necked Stint, トウネン

 Here in company of a Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

The most exciting day was when a Ruff, エリマキシギ flew in. The male was molting and showed a fair amount of summer feathers, but not much of the crop feather that we all would like to see one time. Before that he'd left for the northern breeding grounds.

A Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ seemed to be his constant companion

 Much earlier in spring a Kentish Plover, シロチドリwas spotted. 

Difficult to spot in the grey environment. I would probably have missed if it wasn't for T.

Not an unusual sight, but a favorite for the camera:

Oriental Greenfinch, カワラヒワ perched on ハマダイコン (Raphanus sativus) flowers.

Last a Eurasian Skylark, ヒバリ

who insisted in having a photo taken, while collecting nesting materials in front of my lens.