High mountains 2

The morning was cold, but even here it warmed up to about 16 °C midday. The summer visitors had not arrived yet, but pairs of nesting resident birds supplied enough entertainment.

Eurasian Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ

Coal Tit, ヒガラ

While the resident Tits moved about in pairs, Thrushes and Bramblings made flocks of 10-20 birds. 

Brambling, アトリ

Once on the ground, they blended in with the leaves. How many birds are there?

Japanese Andromeda, アセビ in full bloom. 

I love the shape of the flowers. Like turned-up vases. I heard they are poisonous. Would deer not eat them?

To be continued

Achi kochi Around Fuk

Acollection of accidental sightings around the prefecture

Bramblings, アトリ in a Chinese Tallow tree, ナンキンハゼ

A female Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ around Kanatake

A Japanese Great Tit,シジュウカラ, picking at a cicada husk that was still attached to a tree in January

Gulls at Muromi River. Every now and then, I get the urge to study them. I'm getting so bad at identifying them! The ones below are Vega Gulls, セグロカモメ, I'm most certain. They are easy, as long as they are not too young and have pink legs 😉

What about this lot? Some have small bills. Mew Gulls? カモメ?

Mt. Kuju, after a long time

The heat of the summer has long passed. We hadn't made it back here since then. This place seems to be my second home, and I feel the need to report on it. End of November. There was not much, However, one thing surprised me. A Goldcrest in the trees above 800m elevation. Maybe it's not rare, but I had never seen one here.

Goldcrest, キクイタダキ Not a pretty picture, just reporting

Even when there are few birds to see, we can always rely on a Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ

Thrushes, Grossbeaks, Bramblings and Finches were heard from the top of the canopy. A White-backed Woodpecker flew by. One Dusky Thrush, ツグミ landed briefly in front of me.

So did a Brambling, アトリ

Autumn colors had faded, but there were pretty red and purple berries 

Many moths were fluttering low to the ground. All a dull kind of beige

One looked slightly different

There were no beetles, nor butterflies around the sap trees. But an amazing number of killer bees!

Giant Hornets, オオスズメバチ

Oronoshima

The planned 3 days' stay didn't happen. I wasn't surprised. In the city the weather might seem calm, but out there it's a different story. On the 3rd and last day I could finally take the morning ferry, and run to work. Then after lunch I had to run back to the harbor to make it in time for the returning ferry. Hilarious! It's a wonder I managed to take any photos for this post. Birds were everywhere! In the morning a big flock of birds of various sizes was swooping around the west side of the island. Raptors were following in pursuit. Hawks, Falcons, at least 1 Hen Harrier. At midday the small birds were hiding and I heard them from the undergrowth beside the road. Some sneeked out:

Brambling, アトリ male

female

Elegant, or Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

Goldcrest, キクイタダキ

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

Falcon, but which? Peregrine? Amur? Hobby?

Adult male Peregrine says Mr. H. ハヤブサ

In the harbor, a Lark-type bird was perched on the dock. I ran, thinking it might be something special. 

But I think it's just an ordinary Eurasian Skylark, ヒバリ

One of many Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ. A male with a bad foot. Good luck, buddy!

At sea, through the window, Brown Booby, カツオドリ

There were 2 or 3 birds, near the entrance of the bay

Small birds

The weather continues to be chilly. I went out on a sunny day, but needed a thick windbreaker! There is still Cherry blossom in the parks. The people who walk around are mainly foreign tourists.

A small flock of Bramblings アトリ landed briefly in one of the trees

Varied Tit, ヤマガラ looking for food. Do you have a nest?

Coming home I found Alishan with a visitor. I'm looking forward to your next visit - with your babies

Barn Swallow, ツバメ

I'm waiting for the blue and yellow flycatchers. Shouldn't be long now!

Imazu in February part 2

Continued from previous post

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

Towards the west, a big flock of Bramblings is skimming the fields. Just like some years ago.

More than 1000 birds