Winter trip - Yokoshima reclamation land

From Hitoyoshi to Tamana, at the northern side of Kumamoto. Here we often visit the Kantaku, a reclamation area, as well as a campsite with hot spring. Known to be open during the holidays. Birding at the Kantaku was very slow. Except from a friendly Buzzard, everything was very far. Small birds, if present, could not be captured. As seems the case in most areas outside parks.

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

As other years, the male Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ or ハイチュウ flew at the same field, far from the road.

Does this pattern strike you as funny, too?

Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ. Cheeky as always

While Jaap did "n bergie" I roamed the area around the Reigando Cave and Unganzenji temple.

Old statues in a poorly maintained set-up. 

Several Varied Tits, ヤマガラ were moving in a tree with black berries. Maybe 4 birds. Nowadays, that seems a crowd. One Daurian Redstart was fiercely guarding the tree, but didn't want to pose.

What are those berries? Cleyera japonica, サカキ ?

Saga, end of December

 The jobs are done, I can take a break. Before our yearly wintertrip we dropped by in Saga.

In the park at Higashiyoka: Red-breasted Flycatcher, ニシオジロビタキ

Common Starling, ホシムクドリ in a flock of White-cheeked

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ mobbing a Crow. 

Among the Rooks, a number of Daurian Jackdaws, コクマルガラス. All dark colored.

On this warm, sunny December day it was barely a surprise to see this pretty butterfly.

Japanese Oakblue, ムラサキシジミ

Starlings

While on the hunt for swans that appeared to be long gone, I ran into these Starlings on the wire. 2 Red-billed and around 12 Common Starlings were in a flock of 100+ White-cheeked at the end of a sunny afternoon. All lined up on wires in long rows. 

Red-billed Starlings, ギンムクドリ

In the big flock around 10 or 12 Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ

The next day, the Red-bills had moved on, but more Commons joined the crowd

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.