Higashiyoka, March 21

Arriving early is good. On March 21st is was essential. The birds that start flying when the tide runs in, and usually return to find a place to rest closer to the shore line, well, they didn't come back... All birds' pictures are either on the mud or at a distance.

Long-billed Dowitchers, オオハシシギ and Grey Plovers, ダイセン

Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ in front of the Spoonbills, who will feature in the next post.

Back-lit

Common Ringed Plover, ハジロコチドリ 

Only got to see a few Stints. This one seemed to be a Little Stint, ヨーロッパトウネン

With Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ

Longer legs, different posture and way of feeding. A little more contrast...

Now, who is who?

Many Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ were sporting black heads.

2 Flagged Dunlins, ハマシギ . Here is one:

Great Knot, オバシギ. Just one. But it's a start

Flying Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ

Eurasian Curlews, ダイシャクシギ

Look at the Spoonbills next!

Higashiyoka in March

The weather was good. A little windy, but mostly sunny. The high tide midmorning was not as high as expected, but the sightings were interesting.

3 Long-billed Dowitchers, オオハシシギ

Common Ringed Plover, ハジロコチドリ

Eurasian Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ

A flagged Dunlin, ハマシギ Too far for my lens to read a number. Maybe someone else...

One of several Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ  (in front)

I missed the Black-tailed Godwit this time, though I heard it was seen.

Lined up with the 2 Curlew species. Eurasian, ダイシャクシギ in the middle, Far Eastern, ホウロクシギ at the back

Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ. There were 2 birds, maybe 4

Some of the gulls had a striking white head, Mongolian Gull, モンゴルセグロカモメ?

The flock of Eurasian Curlews, ダイシャクシギ

Just when I was leaving, I saw this vaguely shaped bird on a steel buoy way out. When I recognized it I hurried back for a closer look, but it was still so far!

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク at sea!

Saga part 3: Far Eastern Curlews, ホウロクシギ

Continued from the previous post. Not only small birds, as the photo below might insinuate.

Early morning a whooping 500 Far Eastern Curlews, ホウロクシギ flew in. I have never seen this many!

They all wanted space and were often bickering at each other.

Below a Eurasian Curlew, ダイシャクシギ on the right and what looks like a very young one on the left

I was still in the neighborhood the following day, so I dropped by to see what it was like on a sunny day. The colors came out a lot better, but the shadows were deep. The patterns of feathers were not as well-defined as on the previous, mostly overcast day.

This day, the 9th, somebody discovered a Sanderling, ミユビシギ among the Dunlins, ハマシギ

Quite a feat, in this mass of grey feathers

Spring migration at Higashiyoka

I went to the tidal flats and got there 2 hours before high tide. The majority of birds were still far frome the shoreline, but soon the waves started to roll in. I observed my first target birds, the Ruddy Turnstones through the binoculars, waiting with pictures until they had come closer. Nevertheless, I took a few shots. Just in case. And that was just as well. About 20 or 30 min before the highest water level all small birds started flying and they flew and flew in tight flocks, sweeping through the sky. It was beautiful. But they didn't come back to stop and land. 

Ruddy Turnstone, キョウジョシギ

Grey Plovers, ダイセン in summer plumage. They look so solemn in their black and white outfits

Dunlins, ハマシギ in front (out of focus)

Just before the big take-off, a flock of Red-necked Stints,トウネン landed right in front of me.

Suddenly, they all started to fly and the mudflats turned quiet. Only the Spoonbills stayed. And some gulls.

Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ

After a thick half hour, the first birds came back. Curlews, Whimbrels and Godwits

ホウロクシギ、ダイシャクシギ、チュウシャクシギ、オオソリハシシギ

Small birds came later, when the tide was way out.