Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ

Last photos of a very long day, September 3rd. The Godwits appeared and mixed with the Stilts. They seemed to get along well.

Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ

Friends?

All together now

💗

Black-winged Stilts,セイタカシギ

September 3rd, continued.

10 Black-winged Stilts,セイタカシギ. were gathered at this water-logged paddy field. It was hot, but I enjoyed watching them for a while. There were so many dragonflies, many photos were 'bombed' at the most critical places. But being me, I shot a lot anyway.

The juveniles look so soft and vulnerable with their big eyes.

I hope they will safely cross to their winter location

At the end of the afternoon the 2 Godwits appeared. Had they been there all the time? Hidden among the green rice plants? Maybe. I don't know

More later

Migrants in the west, part 2

It's midday now, September 3rd. I'm driving back from Itoshima to Imazu. The fields glitter in the bright sun shine. I should not take any photos anymore. But I finally meet some waders.

In just a second, before they all scutter to the back. No time to adjust camera settings.

A Dunlin, ハマシギ, Red-necked Stints,トウネン and a Common Snipe, タシギ

 2 Briefly appeared again

At the far side: 2 Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ. I cannot get close to them

Coincidence 😅

At the river bank, thousands of crabs, laughing at 2 Common Greenshanks, アオアシシギ

Grey-tailed Tattler,キアシシギ

The flock of Golden Plovers returned

Pacific Golden Plover, ムナグロ

And... my first ducks of the season:

Common Teal, ホシハジロ  and Tufted Duck, キンクロハジロ

At last a field with 10 Black-winged Stilts,セイタカシギ. I was worried, but they are here!

2 Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ joined the party.

More later

Migrants in the west, part 1

September 3rd. After a whole month I finally had the chance to go to the fields again. I started early, before the heat and before the dragonflies got out. It was a bit hard at first, not being familiar with the fields, where to expect waders etc. At first I saw little and I was happy to find 2 Stints

Red-necked Stints,トウネン

Oriental Pratincole, ツバメチドリ

Hard to see when you are lying down. Did the Swallows wake you up?

Nearby, in the usual ditch: 2 Green Sandpipers, クサシギ

A Curlew flying overhead, heading for Itoshima? Can I find you there?

Further west, at the river mouth was 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ, in company with a couple of Red-necked Stints,トウネン

Down the embankment, looking over the rice paddies I noticed 2 Black-winged Stilts,セイタカシギ

 

But they were back-lit, so I moved to get a better angle.

Found them, but no way to get close.

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ、Common Greenshank, アオアシシギ

Heading back east. Guess who was there?

ホオロクシギ

Also in fields on the way: 1 (just 1!) Dunlin, ハマシギ

and 3 Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ.

By now the light was too harsh. I needed a break.