Saga, part 4, Around the fields

 A visit to Saga is not complete without a stop at the Lotus fields.

After seeing so many in the morning, I felt exhilerated to find a few in a greener environment.

Red-necked Stints, トウネン

Below with a Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ

Red-necked Stints, トウネン again, at the end of the day

Finally I found what I hoped to see: Temminck's Stint, オジロトウネン

At the same time: 1 lonesome Dunlin, ハマシギ

It was getting late. Around 12 Stilts were gathered in one corner.

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ

Patrolling the canals: 2 Whiskered Terns, クロハラアジサシ

The next morning, a sunny day. Black-browed Reed Warbler, コヨシキリ were very vocal, but not easy to spot.

Just 1 bird among other Starlings: Common Starling, ホシムクドリ

Sand Martin, ショウドウツバメ

It hopped out of one field, right into the next. Richard's Pipit?, マミジロタヒバリ?

More than I expected.

Stonechats and some more seasonable birds

Tuesday, October 8th. The rain was supposed to clear in the afternoon, but that didn't happen. However, we set out in search of Stonechats. When we finally found them, they were far away and hardly came close. That is usually the case when birds have just arrived.

Black-browed Reed Warbler, コヨシキリ

Stonechat, ノビタキ  First of the season

In another field we found a Zitting Cisticola, セッカ with an insect. Is it still nesting?

On the way back, one young Whiskered Tern, クロハラアジサシ

A few days later, when the weather was clear and sunny the Stonechats, ノビタキ were still shy, but the urge to perch on a pole is strong

A little closer

In one of the 2 ponds a Northern Shoveler, ハシビロガモ was all by itself

The lonesome Tern, クロハラアジサシ was there as well, looking much nicer against the blue sky.

One Black-browed Reed Warbler, コヨシキリ flew by and briefly showed itself.

And later just one Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ could be seen in one of the rice paddies.

Many single birds today. I feel sorry for them

The last 2 photos are from October 6th. A Great Knot, オバシギ and a Red Knot, コオバシギ on the concrete wall at high tide. 

Left the Red Knot, コオバシギ       Right the Great Knot, オバシギ

Left the Great Knot, オバシギ       Right the Red Knot, コオバシギ

Imazu update, Oct 10th part 2

 On Sunday I managed an early start again and was rewarded with clear views of 2 Eurasian Wrynecks, アリスイ

The number of ducks is increasing. Eurasian Wigeon, ヒドリガモ and Eurasian Teal, コガモ

In the reeds are many warblers. They are Black-browed Reed Warblers, コヨシキリ

On to the river, where the tide was coming in fast. I was just in time to see 6 Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ 3 males and 3 females

At a small strip of exposed mud a group of Great Cormorants, カワアウ were showing off. 

They paraded slowly to the last bit of dry land on the right, blocking my best view of the ducks.

Come on guys, move on! 😀

2 Ladies taking a bit of time for themselves

It's high tide now, time to move

And off they were.

So many Egrets. Are they gathering for the rice harvest festival?

On the other side of the river were the Stejneger's Stonechats. ノビタキ

I saw only 2 now.

The last bird of the morning: female Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

What is she eating? A hopper?

また来てね! Please come again.

The kids at schools used to say that, and they are the first words I learned in Japanese.

Flower of the season