Winter trip - Part 5

Still in Izumi, but now looking at other birds. Most prominent are the Rooks, but my interest goes to the Daurian Jackdaws, that are mixed in the big flocks. There were many this year. Several "Pandas" as the birders affectionally call them, when they have white, or white-ish breast feathers

4 Daurian Jackdaws, コクマルガラス and a Rook, ミヤマガラス

Often perched on the wires around the Crane visitor center.

If not on the wires, then in the fields with their big brothers

The small pond behind the center is good for all sorts of wings

3 Dunlins, ハマシギ

1 Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

Often the odd Northern Lapwing, タゲリ

Side by side

December left-overs from Fukuoka.

Contrary to the birding fields in the rest of Kyushu, Fukuoka gets few Pipits and Buntings. So, when I see some, I stop to watch. 

Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ

And sometimes I watch Wagtails as well.

White Wagtail, ハクセキレイ

In Kanatake, during the walk, the caterpillars of the Japanese Siren butterfly, ゴマダラチョウ, were seen on the Chinese Celtis tree, エノキ, where they would fall to the ground and wait out the cold winter.

A different colored hopper. Red from the cold?

Who's nest was this?

Aridoshi, アリドオシ with lots of berries

On the way back, a flock of Northern Lapwings, タゲリ crossed my path

Imazu update

What's new in Imazu? The Daurian Redstarts have arrived. On October 26 about 10 birds were playing hide and seek. There wasn't much else to report until November came. On the 1st, I saw the first Lapwings. Lots of Stonechats had come in with the strong winds. The Kestrel had a good time. On the mudflats and the connecting rivers all sorts of ducks were now getting ready for their winter stay.  Among the ducks were 2 Geese.

October 26th  Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ

Northern Lapwings, タゲリ Here they come!

Northern Pintails, オナガガモ

Lady Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

chasing Stonechats

Stonechats ノビタキ on a windy day. 

Winter in the west 1

February became extremely cold and I caught one cold after the other. Consequently I didn't visit all the places on my wish list and mostly hung around in the west when my condition allowed it. I had plenty of chances to see the 2 wintering thrushes, though not often together.

Naumann's Thrush, ハチジョウツグミ

Brown-cheeked Rail, クイナ often appeared, moving nervously between the reedbeds while quickly picking at some edibles

The Ruddy-breasted Crake, ヒクイナ, even more nervous and shy, hardly ever shows up, except to chase the Rall, クイナ

These 2 species don't get along with each other very well. The Crake, ヒクイナ fiercely defends its territory, though it tolerates the Moorhens, バン

A regular sight, not only in the waterlogged fields is the Common Snipe, タシギ

Doesn't pay much attention to the squabbles around him.

Northern Lapwing, タゲリ with pretty colors when the sun shines, but where has that sunlight gone?

3 Dunlins on an expedition. ハマシギ

Imazu in February part 1

It is cold again - too cold to walk around. But Sunday was not so bad and though I arrived a bit late, I saw a lot of birds that I had not seen this winter yet.

Great or Eurasian Bittern, サンカノゴイ

Eurasian Penduline Tit, ツリスガラ

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

Northern Lapwings, タゲリ