Red-throated Thrush, ノドアカツグミ 3

For just a few minutes in the morning between 8 and 9 our bird decided to show up in the trees where we could see him. I was happy for H-san to be there, so I finally had somebody to share this with!

Asian Rosy Finches, ハギマシコ

Not a common sight in Kyushu. There seems to be a number of them visiting Mt Sefuri every winter. I had yet to find them and this month I got lucky. Though the bird is kind of dull for a finch I was quite excited to see 10 or 12 and thought they looked rather pretty in the soft winter sunlight.

Also in the same area Eurasian Bullfinch, ウソ

Eurasian Jay, カケス

Red-throated Thrush, ノドアカツグミ 2

 It took me a while to find it again, but there it is! Among Dusky Thrushes, ツグミ perched in that tree.

A bit hard to id from behind :-)

 

Birds in December

December started quite warm. Looking at the early daffodils it felt like spring. But now the cold period is on its way. Halfway the month the Shelducks, ツクシガモ arrived. They are a nice decoration to the grey mud flats. 

The Common Starlings, ホシムクドリcame too. First 2, then 3, 4, 5

Not bothered by me at all, this Common Snipe, タシギ

The female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ seems to have a big territory. Or are there more then 1?

Saunders's Gull, ズグロカモメ

A resident Bull-headed Shrike, モズ looking out over the winter fields

A group of 7 Smews, ミコアイサ; 1 very pretty male, a younger male and 5 females.

Great Crested Grebe, カンムリカイツブリ

In another part of town: a pair of Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ

With Grey Heron, アオサギ

Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Grey Wagtail, キセキレイ

Red-throated Thrush, ノドアカツグミ

 A bit of a surprise between the Dusky Thrushes and the Bulbuls

In the same area:

Brown-eared Bulbul, ヒヨドリ

and Black-faced Bunting, アオジ

Kanatake walk, December 16th

It was cold and we watched the first snow of the season. It didn't last, but the forecast is promising more! I'm not sure if I'm happy about that. With the amount of snow as in the north we cannot go where we want to. And with the new surge of Corona cases we might not go that far anyway... 

The first snow bird: Bull-headed Shrike, モズ

Directly followed by Dusky Thrush, ツグミ

At the first pond: Common Pochards, ホシハジロ

It cleared up!   Female Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ

A little warmer even

Some purple and white colored leaves that had the flower team all puzzled

Kind of セブリナ

Kadsura japonica (サネカズラ)

Some caterpillar, ケムシ; maybe the last of the year. Though with a fur coat like that you can go anywhere

One of several Oriental Greenfinches, カワラヒワ

Same tree, nearly same spot: キノカワガ、Blenina senex

2 Japanese Grosbeaks イカル made an appearance, but from this distance it was hard to see. 

(The one on the right, the other 3 are Bulbuls)

120 school kids visited the same day, but this Grey Heron, アオサギ is not concerned.

Find the Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ It's really there

The smallest snail, カタツムリ of the day