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!

Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ

On October 21st, I went to check out the Oystercatchers in Wajiro. The newspaper mentioned 36 birds in the bay. So many! I wanted to see them. When I arrived mid-afternoon the sky was heavily overcast. The scene looked gloomy, with little color. Birds were very much spread out over the exposed mudflats. I realized I needed to plan this differently. A couple of days later, the sky was blue, the tide a little low, starting to come in. From where I was I could see birds clearly, their red bills stood out against the black and white. They were all feeding and a few made their way in my direction.

Eurasian Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ

First 2 birds

Then 3

A few more.

When the tide rolled in, they flew one by one

And gathered at a sandy plot at the mouth of a stream.

Counting... 45 birds!

Several Ospreys, ミサゴ were hunting. One pair got my attention

Some other waders were around, like these Far Eastern Curlews, ホウロクシギ

In a corner near the stream, 6 Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ looking tired after a long flight.

Far Eastern Curlews, ホウロクシギ

A surprising 500 Far Eastern Curlews visited Saga this autumn. A record number I think. But Fukuoka got its share as well. A flock of 40 or 50 hung around the mudflats and stayed in some of the paddy fields that had enough water for them to wade during high tide. Most, if not all were juveniles. 

A Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ was there too.

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

Migrants in the west, part 1

September 3rd. After a whole month I finally had the chance to go to the fields again. I started early, before the heat and before the dragonflies got out. It was a bit hard at first, not being familiar with the fields, where to expect waders etc. At first I saw little and I was happy to find 2 Stints

Red-necked Stints,トウネン

Oriental Pratincole, ツバメチドリ

Hard to see when you are lying down. Did the Swallows wake you up?

Nearby, in the usual ditch: 2 Green Sandpipers, クサシギ

A Curlew flying overhead, heading for Itoshima? Can I find you there?

Further west, at the river mouth was 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ, in company with a couple of Red-necked Stints,トウネン

Down the embankment, looking over the rice paddies I noticed 2 Black-winged Stilts,セイタカシギ

 

But they were back-lit, so I moved to get a better angle.

Found them, but no way to get close.

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ、Common Greenshank, アオアシシギ

Heading back east. Guess who was there?

ホオロクシギ

Also in fields on the way: 1 (just 1!) Dunlin, ハマシギ

and 3 Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ.

By now the light was too harsh. I needed a break.