Common Merganser, カワアイサ and some more

A whole weekend without jobs and duties for both of us? Where did that suddenly come from? I felt like celebrating. So we did. With a luxurious relaxing bath at a scenic hot spring, a stroll along the sightly river and a visit to exotic curry place. The weather was reasonable, though we started off with rain. Good for some mysterious scenery

Locals cleaning the beautiful river, burning debris at intervals. They understand the value of their environment.

Halfway down the river, a male Common Merganser, カワアイサ

Among the wintering ducks were a number of Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ

The Merganser again

A Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ came to take a rest on the opposite river bank

What is it... she?.. doing?

A female Merganser, all by herself.

but not for long

Together now

One day in the middle of November

The weather is so unstable, I don't know what to wear. On a warm sunny day I drove around the west, stopping at some of my checkpoints, not particularly looking for anything, just enjoying the sights and the comfortable sunshine. There were lots of ducks in the various ponds. Though some ponds were frighteningly bare; I was happy to see a single Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe, カンムリカイツブリ.

4 Chestnut-eared Buntings, ホオアカ were quickly moving in and out of the grasses

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ was there, too

The duck parade: 3 Common Pochards, ホシハジロ

3 Tufted Ducks, キンクロハジロ

Male and female Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ

Saunders's Gull, ズグロカモメ

In Itoshima a group of Grey Plovers, ダイゼン, who are not in a hurry to move south.

One of several Far-Eastern Curlews, ホオロクシギ

Are you all going to stay for the winter?

First week of November, part 1

Wintering ducks are coming in steadily. I was too busy to go out for a while, but on the 8th I took some time off and drove to the west. The American Wigeon that I heard about and wanted to see was still there. Lucky! Will it stay this season?

American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ

In a dark corner of that small river were a couple of Stilts, enjoying a bit of privacy。

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

Lady Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ has decided on her favorite spots

At the 2 ponds, where the Lotus leaves provide some shelter, 5 Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ

A Grebe showing its head feathers, left-over from the summer

Great Crested Grebe, カンムリカイツブリ

Winter weekend in the mountains

 I hoped to find some more snow birds, but the snow was either dirty or just gone by the time I got there. On a sunny day it felt like spring.

My usual encounter: Eurasian Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ

In my favorite up-side-down pose

Deer were calling. A male came very close. If only there weren't that many branches 😁😁😁

None of the birds came down to feed on the ground; all stayed high up in the trees. 

Coal Tit, ヒガラ

My neck hurts!

Frosty edges in the morning

Back to Fukuoka via the Mikuma River. There was a nice variety of ducks. Below Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ blending in with the wintery water colors

A dash visit of a Crested Kingfisher, ヤマセミ

Brown Dipper, カワガラス seemingly looking for nesting materials

Does this statue remind you of something? 

A short stop to see there were no storks in the regular pond. I watched the 10+ Spoonbills for a while.

Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ

What happened there?

Eurasian Spoonbills, ヘラサギ

Spring is coming!