Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

 March 14th I think I was the only birder in town who had not seen the 2 Green Woodpeckers yet. There was the expected group of photographers, but not too many. Most had moved on to greener pastures I guess. The birds were there most of the time for anyone to see. The background was light, so people were hoping for them to come down, but that didn't happen. There were also a lot of Pale thrushes, シロハラ, Long-tailed Rosefinches, ベニマシコ, a couple of Bullfinches, ウソ and many cats!

Male and female in one tree. Below the male.

Pale thrush, シロハラ

Long-tailed Rosefinch, ベニマシコ

male Grey-bellied Bullfinch, ウソ

Feathers from another (unlucky) bird that got caught by a raptor. At a different location

Bullfinches, ウソ and Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

 February 27th The last chance to see the Bullfinches. ウソ I hoped to find the red Eurasian type, but only one male and female Grey-bellied were there.

There were also 2 Japanese Green Woodpeckers, アオゲラ. Ready for nesting?

January in the mountains, 1

South of the city, north of Saga prefecture is the mountain range where I go to see these. Not so high, but quiet, except for some helicopter (Wow!!!)

Grey-bellied Bullfinch, ウソ

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

Long-tailed Rosefinch, ベニマシコ

female

5 birds in the bush, far! across the river. Can you see them?

Rain in Fukuoka

Rain was forecasted, so Junko and I decided to go out for just a couple of hours and explore the nearby forests. Bluetails and redstarts seem to be everywhere now. We noticed a big flock of siskins, the usual thrushes and some bullfinches perched on high treetops. It didn't take long before the drizzle started, but it wasn't cold and we hung around to see what else showed up. Lots action of around the Japanese wax trees and near the streams. It was a good day after all.

Bullfinch,  ウソ

Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ    in Japanese wax tree, Haze.

I found an interesting article on wax candles by Alice Gordenker, an American journalist in Tokyo

click HERE

Yellow-throated Bunting,  ミヤマホオジロ

The yellow pollen around the bill of this Bulbul below had Junko confused and chasing it around the bush thinking it was something special. That could have been me.

Brown-eared Bulbul,  ヒヨドリ

今日の勉強: 　黄色  kiiro  = yellow

First Sunday of February

First Sunday of the month is tanjokai in Imazu, where birders get together to watch, count and talk. While we screen the fields and mud-flats we exchange info and ideas and make plans for further outings. It's good for me, I learn something every time. And I made nice friends. This time many people came, I think over 40, despite the low temperatures. The sun was out and there was that spring feeling...

  A Japanese White-eye inspecting an early blooming plum tree  メジロ

A Black-necked Grebe pushing water  ハジロカイツブリ

nose diving and

emerging right in front of me - surprise!

Wow, such red eyes!

In the forest on the other side of the city:

Hawfinches again.  シメ

 a Red-flanked Bluetail boy    and girl      ルリビタキ

And (Grey-bellied) Bullfinches at last  ウソ

Doesn't the male on the right have a pinkish belly?