More of Saga on April 18th

After the American guest at Higashiyoka on April 18, we drove to Shiroiashi to check out the lotus fields. Instantly, a long-time wish came true: A male Merlin was sitting on the wire! Last time I saw one was so long ago, I could barely remember it. 

Merlin, コチョウゲンボウ

It was close to a field with lots of Stilts. More than 20 birds. They are doing well, it seems

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

Next was the Stork family. A parent was flying around, looking for food...

Oriental Stork, コウノトリ

...and landed in a ditch near me. What a close-up!

I backed up the car and had another look.

The birds are clearly used to having people around

At the nest I could see 4 chicks! I hope they will make it to adulthood safely

Back around the old Lotus fields, where the water level was too high for small birds like Stints, but some others were there.

Marsh Sandpipers, コアオアシシギ

Wood Sandpipers, タカブシギ

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, ウズラシギ

Common Snipe, タシギ

The new-comers were announcing their present in a loud voice, but stayed mostly hidden below. Except for one, that stayed quiet...

Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

At the far end of one of the fields were about 6 Garganeys, シマアジ

Left over birds May

There really wasn't much to report from the west over the last 2 weeks of May. The few photos I took are below

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

Oriental Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

With a bit more colored surrounding

Black-faced and Eurasian Spoonbills,  クロツラヘラサギ、ヘラサギ not migrating maybe.

Oriental Magpie, カササギ

Varied Tit, ヤマガラ

Parent and child Eurasian Tree Sparrow, スズメ

Baby Black Kite, トビ growing up

Oriental Greenfinches, カワラヒワ eating from the thistles or whatever is left of them

Not seed, but larves? 

April 30 in Imazu

There are no water fields in the area. Where can the waders go? The images below are of a small group at the mudflats.

Red-necked Stints, トウネン. 2 birds

About 25 Dunlins, ハマシギ, a Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ and a Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

Another Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ. 6 birds in total

Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ again.

At the opposite side a Common Greenshank, アオアシシギ

Loudly announcing its presence: "I have arrived!" Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

Among the few Wigeons the Blackhead is still active. American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ

Imazu update of the first week of July

The weather was rather unstable. Hot, humid, rainy, windy. We saw it all. Surprisingly many birds showed up in Imazu. I could not attend the monthly WBSJ meeting and went there a few days later. Early in the morning the Reed Buntings were as loud as usual. Crakes were scurrying in the rice paddies. I was hoping to see Painted Snipes and scanned every row of rice plants, but there were none. The Yellow Bitterns were flying frequently. I think there are 3 birds and 2 of them might be nesting. There were many starlings around and shrikes. Both the common kind. 1 Tern came flying in, soon followed by a Peregrine falcon. Thus, all small birds disappeared. Towards Tajiri bridge I was surprised by a couple of Mandarin ducks. How different they look in summer plumage! That was the first week of July.

Yellow Bittern, ヨシゴイ

Whiskered Tern, クロハラアジサシ

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ male and female

Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

Ruddy-breasted Crake, ヒクイナ

Butterfly Dragonfly - Chotombo, チョウトンボ 

Common Bluetail - Aomon Itotombo, アオモンイトトンボ

Gomadara Kamikiri Longhorn beetle, ゴマダラカミキリ

Common Centaury, ベニバナセンブリ is a medicinal herb in Europe

Our native Hibiscus Hamabo, ハマボウ