It's getting warmer little by little. The birds feel it as well. We all become a bit more active - as long as it doesn't rain...
The Long-eared Owl, トラフズク. Hiding in a tree with dense foliage, it could never be seen completely. Just when the wind picked up its face appeared and at a lucky moment it would even have its eyes open.😆 I don't know how many there were, I just saw one
Another favorite Owl among bird photographers is the Short-eared Owl, コミミズク. It appeared briefly and only once. I was delighted to get the chance to capture it, however far away. But I felt a bit sad that others missed out..
Still around, but at a different place from 3 months ago. Maybe because there weren't any more grasshoppers to eat when it became too cold
Occasional winter visitor to Kyushu, the Chinese Grey Shrike, オオカラモズ
Between the hundreds of Pipits are a few unusual ones. If you park your car alongside a field you might see some. But the farmers don't like to be bothered. So I moved on...
However, I found Richard's Pipit, マミジロタヒバリ alongside a small canal; 2 or 3 different birds
A visit to Isahaya results in images of raptors of various sorts and sizes. Some people spend hours waiting for the Harriers, particularly the male Hen Harrier. It is a magnificent bird that flies low over the fields, looking for prey. And when you see it, it certainly fills you with awe. On the other hand, the female frequently hunts and shows herself many times a day
Female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ cruising the reed beds outside the dike
There were Buzzards and Falcons as well. It's a marvelous place for people who like birds of prey.
February 4th. The forecasted rain didn't come, but the clouds remained. Very few small birds showed up. Imazu has become a raptors paradise
Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン
And so everybody watched this pretty bird looking out over the fields.
