More birds in the city parks

In a park the east, where I saw the Japane Thrush. At the same time a White's Thrush appeared. It didn't seem to be in a hurry to move on. 

White's Thrush, トラツグミ

A small flock of White-bellied Green Pigeons, アオバト sat in the trees and came down to "drink" acorns 😊(as Japanese say)

At another park a コサメビタキ, Asian Brown Flycatcher flew by once

Grey Buntings, クロジ. I finally got more than a glimpse. Will I ever see them up close?

Closer to home: our neighbouring Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリ

(Japanese) Great Tit, シジュウカラ

Others in the park

One morning I arrived early and headed for the 'komadori kaidan'. Something was there! I could see it, hear it. There were 2 or 3. Soon they appeared: 

Red-billed Leiothrix, ソウシチョウ

A bit disappointing, but at the water basin they looked good

Other birds coming to drink or bath: Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

It gets busy here sometimes. Japanese Grosbeak, イカル  Pale Thrush, シロハラand Brown-eared  Bulbul, ヒヨドリ

Grey Bunting, クロジ

My bad luck with them hasn't changed. There are several around, I heard, but...

White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト

Brown-headed Thrush, アカハラ

Pale Thrush, シロハラ

Long-tailed Tit, エナガ

Ryukyu Minivet, リュウキュウサンショウクイ

Grey Buntings, クロジ etc at the dam

I needed a change from the west, so I drove to a dam lake area, wondering what would be there. I was hoping for Grey Buntings, クロジ. They were there, but I had to wait till the end of the afternoon for them to show up, and by then there was so little light... I didn't do well

Female Grey Bunting, クロジ

Male Grey Bunting, クロジ

A very friendly and obliging Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ

Nishi koen, City park in Fukuoka

Walking around my usual checkpoints, I felt very few birds were around. I kept on meeting the same ones over and over. Then I decided on a different field. This city park I hardly ever visit and I was surprised.

I came to see the Japanese Grosbeaks, イカル, but that first afternoon I could not take a photo.

The day after I found Grey Bunting, クロジ

Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ

and Yellow-throated or Elegant Bunting, ミヤマホウジロ

Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ are everywhere and they are easy to capture

practicing birds in flight. Difficult!

Masked Bunting (or Black-faced Bunting?), アオジ - the park has its share

When a mixed flock passes by I'm so busy!

Long-tailed Tit, エナガ

Japanese Bush Warbler, ウグイス

December sightings in the west

Just when I told someone I hoped to see a Red-breasted Merganser, ウミアイサ on land, one female was coming really close

Come on, hop on a slab! I want to see your feet.

No luck, feet stayed out of sight. I had to wait for this ↓ 

 I didn't see any Harlequin Ducks, シノリガモ

At the same place: Eurasian Wigeon, ヒドリガモ - My winged sister

Grey Bunting, クロジ - Always happy to see you

Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリ

Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ

On the other side of the bay, just one Brown Booby, カツオドリ was decorating the skyline

Grey Buntings, クロジ

I was hoping to see some Elegant / Yellow-throated Buntings, but they were very much absent. Was it too early in the year? Or too warm? What I had not expected were all these Grey Buntings, クロジ hopping in and out of the dark bush.

 

Finally, a few km further south I found a small flock. They took off right away, I just managed 2 shots

Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ