Tsunoshima 1

The bird I came for wasn't there and I was slightly disappointed, but others made up for it.

Cormorants on the rock. Between the big Temminck's Cormorants, ウミウ were several Pelagic Cormorants, ヒメウ. Smaller and more kind of elegant, with a metallic green glow on their feathers that shines when the light is right on sunny days.

The quiet and gentle sea of the early morning 

Between the rocks the thick soft velvety leaves of the Haeguk Aster, ダルマギク

Black Kite, トビ

Male Blue Rock Thrush イソヒヨドリmatches the colors of the red rocks and the blue sea

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ stayed in the same place for several hours

Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ about to move north

Lots of purple in the fields. Henbit Deadnettle, ホトケノザ

Spring green had just started to show in Sun Spurge,トウダイグサ

Flower of the Sago Palm, ソテツ

Last photos of the day: Sunset 

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ

March 29th late afternoon. I found them! From the bridge looking south I saw them at the far end of the river. Feeding at low tide they slowly moved my way. The first migrating waders of the season!

4 birds staying rather close together

The one at the back seemed the youngest

A family?

Bath time

There was actually one more bird at a different place nearby

Around Imazu, March 29th

Cherry blossom is in full bloom. It's tempting to join the crowds and enjoy in the sun. But we are not supposed to have parties and Corona is still a major threat. Enduring 6 weeks of no energy after the 3rd vaccination I really don't want to take any risks. Touring Imazu is pretty safe.

Many ducks have left. A few Northern Shovelers, ハシビロガモ remain

The Oriental Magpies, カササギ are building their various nests

Bull-headed Shrikes, モズ are in pairs

In the reeds the ever so cute Eurasian Penduline Tits, ツリスガラ

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

In the rivers at low tide 5 migrating Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ

and several Common Greenshanks, アオアシシギ

My favorite flowers: Five-leaf Akebia or Chocolate vine アケビ

Wild Radish, ハマダイコン

Summer snowflake スノーフレーク