Spring Tide at Daijugarami

It is September and still very hot. The birds have mostly lost their summer plumage and are now in all shades of grey. Very hard to find the favorites. But luckily I had help.

2 Nordmann's Greenshanks, カラフトアオアシシギ were discovered among the Common Greenshanks, アオアシシギ. They didn't have their spots, so the only way to tell them apart was by the size of their legs and maybe the bi-colored bill and short neck. 

Greenshanks in flight - like a formation of jets 

One of several Greater Sand Plovers, オオメダイチドリ

At the top of high tide, when all the mud is submerged the birds fly and look for dry and safe places to land. The fence makes an easy observing location, but in order not to disturb them we keep our distance and stay at the higher sea wall.

Eurasian Curlews, ダイシャクシギ forcing their way in, creating some excitement.

Knots, plenty of Great Knots, オバシギ  and just a few Red Knots, コオバシギ  3rd from left below

Some unexpected visitors! White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト

Once the tide starts running out the birds return to the mud and birders can descent again.

Red-necked Stints,  トウネン　resting on the stones don't seem to be too scared of us. 

A block of concrete, covered with mostly Dunlins, ハマシギ　 

A Great Knot オバシギ　flying in.

Below that a flock of 8 beautifully marked Broad-billed Sandpipers,  キリアイ

The Knots often are the last to fly. below Red Knots, コオバシギ  2nd, 3rd and 5th on the left

  

2nd and 3rd, maybe and 4th too. The first one is a Dunlin, ハマシギ

Lost in the crowd, Lesser Sand Plover, メダイチドリ

A Dunlin, ハマシギ with rings... Where would he have come from?

At last, far off in the distance, the Long-billed Dowitcher, オオハシシギ I had hoped to see.

There were other birds: many Grey Plovers and Kentish Plovers, some Godwits, Curlews, Whimbrel, Marsh Sandpiper and more. I just looked at a few. The long-waited Spoon-billed Sandpiper was not recorded.