Common Teals and some more

When I realized I didn't have any good photos of Common Teals, I stopped at the waterlogged fields in Saga, where reflection is good on a windless day.

 Common Teals, コガモ

It's a bit the same with Spoonbills. I see them so often, I hardly care to take notice.

Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ in Itoshima.

Some of the few sightings this winter of Common Reed Buntings, オオジュリン also in Itoshima

Whooper Swan, オオハクチョウ on the way back.

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  Greater Scaup, スズガモ

But actually at least one them was here the whole summer...

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

Shelducks on Ice

When the river is not completely frozen, ducks walk on thin ice

Common Shelduck, ツクシガモ

Half hidden in the grass, 2 Common Teals, コガモ

October in Imazu

 It rained again and the northerly winds picked up. Good conditions for spotting migrating birds. Some irregular visitors could be around. Despite the bad weather birders go out to the fields. Meaning, the ones that don't have to go to work... When I left the job and made it out there there was a lot of movement, but little left for me to be seen. Should I become a full-time birder? No, I won't go that far...

First Kestrel of the season, a female. チョウゲンボウ

Flying around, but mostly hiding in the ricefield, a mixed flock of Eurasian Teals, コガモ (2 on the right) and Garganeys, シマアジ (1 bird on the left)

It is clear how the beaks are different. The Teal has an elegant bill, the Garganey somewhat massive.

I hope I got this right

Pretty Garganey, are you a young male?

Intermediate Egret, チュウサギ it's time to stock up on food. 

Hundreds? of Snipes. It seemed so. They were litterally everywhere. They all seemed to be Common Snipes, タシギ to me. Did anyone see the odd one out? A Jack Snipe, コシギ???

The following day the scene had changed drastically. The sunshine made the river glow. I was happy to see the Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ in the river again.

A single Stint in a small creek. Red-necked Stint, トウネン

Still on the move, Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

The Kestrel was around as well, but didn't come close.

That's it for now.

In the meantime in the rice fields 3

Ducks have arrived. Mostly in eclipse. Will they stay? Maybe not these yet, but it's a atart. Winter is on it's way. That's hard to take...

Eurasian Wigeons, ヒドリガモ

Teals, コガモ

Garganey, シマアジ

Some Garganeys and Teals had been flying around for a few weeks already, but I couldn't find a place to photograph them.

The 3 Great Knots, オバシギ (same birds as before I think) on a walk

Winter trip river scenes

 Driving around Kyushu we chose our stops for the night near rivers and got up early for long morning walks.

Common Sandpipers, イソシギ at the Kikuchi River

Eurasian Teals, コガモ

Crested Kingfisher, ヤマセミ

Not a river, but a big water-logged field. Northern Lapwings, タゲリ

The reflection on this sunny windless day was perfect

A flock of Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ stopped by

Moving on to the Kuma River

Green Sandpiper, クサシギ

Sogi Falls

Female Tufted Ducks, キンクロハジロ were diving in the turbulent waters, undisturbed by the strong currents and down-pull

Near Sendai River. January 1st...

...better start early