Winter trip - The last Cranes

The White-naped Cranes are best in their display performances. This year it was hard to get any close-ups. Was it too early in the season?

White-naped Crane, マナヅル

The Hooded Cranes, ナベヅル have their act, too

Their charm lies in the big numbers

A cute Juvenile

2 Adult birds staying away from the crowd. Are they in a romance?

Another early morning session, after which we moved on to "greener pastures"

Winter trip to Izumi, Kagoshima

During the yearly school break, we usually plan a trip with Billie, our Bus. To avoid any chance of snowfall, we often head south and end up in Izumi, Kagoshima, to watch the Cranes and other birds around the reserve.

The most common sight. Cranes gathering at one of the feeding stations.

There seem to be many White-naped Cranes, マナヅル this year.

The end of the day, Hooded Cranes, ナベヅル are getting ready for the night

Watching the sunrise has become a tradition and is always a good start of the birding day.

Back to the feeding station. A single Swan Goose, サカツラガン is making its way between the many long legs

It's not too concerned, even getting some sleep in the middle of it all.

Spoonbills, Black-faced and Eurasian, クロツラヘラサギ, ヘラサギ  pop up here and there.

It must be a hassle for locals who go by their daily routine, having to deal with the thousands of birds spending the winter months in the fields around Izumi.

Isahaya 1

Arriving at the end of the day we were just in time to catch a glimpse of a few birds

First a Short-eared Owl, コミミズク

The ISO had to be prepped up a fair bit to get these images. They are not perfect, but they show the bird that was there

Same with the fast-moving male Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ

A Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ joined the party

Followed by a Weasel, Japanese or Siberian? イタチ

... and play-acting Woolf - Raccoon Dog, タヌキ

First sighting of many Cranes, here the Hooded Cranes, ナベヅル

Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ watching me from the side of the road

To be continued

Isahaya in February part 5

 Last part about this place is about the Baikal Teals, トモエガモ They made the biggest impression on me, when I watched them flocking together, flying overhead, making the sound of an approaching windstorm. That was so spectacular, mind-blowing, awesome!!! 

Baikal Teals, トモエガモ😲

There is no place to observe them close by unless they venture up the river. Like these 3

Whooper Swans, オオハクチョウ, one with some kind of tracking device. Doesn't that bother him (or her)?

Every year a flock of Cranes come to spend the winter. This time there were maybe 100, mostly Hooded Cranes, ナベヅル. I didn't look for unusual markings; there are really not enough hours in a day. And, as it happened they all flew up when I walked around the fields. Did I come too close?

It was a great 3-day weekend. The weather was good on the 1st and 3rd day. The rain that was forecasted for the 2nd day did not come, so we were able to continue as usual. temperatures were freezing early in the morning, but up to 12C later on.

Winter trip to Kagoshima 1

 We drove to Izumi to see the cranes. It has become a yearly tradition, though we didn't go last year. Izumi is always worth a visit this time of the year.

Hooded Cranes, ナベヅル

White-naped Cranes, マナヅル

As busy as it gets

more to follow