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. 

The fields and the river

The weather is so nice now. Walking around the West has never been so pleasant. We surely deserve this after that unbearable summer. But the migrating birds and the wintering ducks that are slowly coming in tell me it won't last... 

Juvenile Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ 

New ducks! October 11th: Northern Pintail, オナガガモ

Tufted Duck, キンクロハジロ

Common Pochard, ホシハジロ (in the back)

One of the regular Ospreys, ミサゴ

Siberian Sand Plovers, メダイチドリ

The Stonechats, ノビタキ show up a bit more now, but birds in flight is still a challenge!

Also youngsters I think, a family gathering of Oriental Magpies, カササギ

In the meantime...

Many kinds of ducks have arrived. Mostly in eclipse, but some are easily distinguished. 

Northern Pintails, オナガガモ

The odd one out. One Tufted Duck, キンクロハジロウ among Common Pochards, ホシハジロウ

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, ゴイサギ

Little Grebe カイツブリin winter dress

The Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ can be seen feeding at the mudflats again

Lady Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ in the rain

The male on another day

Stejneger's Stonechats, ノビタキ come and go

The Wryneck, アリスイ doesn't show up much anymore. The raptors are here now and territorial issues have been delt with

At the harbor the Black-tailed Gulls have changed places with Vega Gulls, セグロカモメ

Slightly bigger than Vega, is it a Slaty-backed Gull, オオセグロカモメ?

In the meantime in Imazu

Small waders are hard to find. They are few, far and between.　

Red-necked Stint, トウネン

The water is either to deep or the fields are dry.

Shirobana Sakuratade, シロバナサクラタデ　(Persicaria japonica)

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ 2 in one field, 1 in another. It's easier for them with their long legs.

Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ

2 Wood Sandpipers, タカブシギ

Flowering in Imazu: a flower that looks like a Pavonia and a Hibiscus. What is it?

End of August these lilies were there at the same place:

シンテッポユリ, Shinteppo Lily, or Easter Lily

On Sept 4, during the WBSJ meeting a few small ducks were seen at the nakashima in the river.

3 Garganeys, シマアジ eclipse

Here in company of a Northern Pintail, オナガガモ right and a Redshank, アカシシギ 3rd from left

Back to the fields: Common Snipe, タシギ

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

ギンヤマ

Autumn Zephyr Lily or White Rain Lily, タマスダレ

Skunk Vine, ヘクソカズラ

 

Generally few birds. We will see what the typhoon will bring...