Amur Falcon, アカアシチョウゲンボウ

Surprise! There were 3 birds hunting in the fields in a rural area far from the sea. How did they get here? The first bird, a youngster, was not concerned about us being around. (3 pers) The second bird was a female adult. She was faster, flew higher. The 3rd bird I saw at a distance was probably a juvenile...  Mum and 2 kids?

Bird 1, juvenile

Bird 2, Female adult

Bird 3, juvenile

Amur Falcon, アカアシチョウゲンボウ

The Falcon I hoped to see. I was told the juveniles cannot fly big distances yet and make stop-overs during migration in Kyushu. In the morning there were no other people. Very few birders showed up that weekend. In the afternoon 3 or 4 birders came to watch. The legs and face markings aren't red yet. I suppose that's because it is such a young bird.

The bird was very active, flying back and forth many times.

It didn't hover the way Kestrels do, but quickly dove down to grab its prey and eat it mid-air.

Waah, coming straight at me! What do you want? I have nothing for you...

Just curious?

That was a nice encounter, hopefully not the last. 💓

アカアシチョウゲンボウ, female Amur Falcon in Fukuoka

 Lucky to catch this bird on its way south. She was hunting hoppers and caught several in the short time (about 1 hour) I got to watch her. It was only 9:00 in the morning when she left. 

It's a female, as usual. Do we ever get to see a male?

Looking for red 3

Yes, there it was, the Amur Falcon. Sitting on the electrical wiring, taking it's time preening, stretching wings, ruffling feathers. I had seen the bird before, but I had never been able to take any photos, so I went over the top.
As usual...

A young bird it seems. Maybe female, much darker than the common Kestrel. The legs and face markings have a rusty orange color, giving it the Japanese name Red-legged Falcon.

I'd love to see it in spring, in breeding colors, when they are really red. Next year maybe...

The sun broke through...

Then there was number 2, flying by, landing on another piece of wire.

One more Amur Falcon, アカアシチョウゲンボウ a little more mature it seems 

What a great day!  Good for some sunflowers.

October birds part 1

１０月の鳥 part 1

アカアシチョウゲンボウ,  Amur Falcon

  

ノビタキ,  Common Stonechat

いつも居る鳥:

カワセミ,  Common Kingfisher

トビ,  Black Kites

この二羽　何にをしていますか?  車見をしているの？

いつも早く逃げるカイツブリ,  Little Grebe

  

イソシギ,  Common Sandpiper

時々空へ見いてね

また来た  モズ,  Bull-headed Shrike  おかえりなさい

  

                     雄                                            雌

今日の勉強

鳥の場合には 雄 = osu と雌 = mesu

人の場合には 男性 = dansei と 女性 = josei

居る =  to be, exist   要る    =  to need, want, require

いつも居る鳥は　カワセミ

いつも要る物は　帽子 (hat)