Tsushima 4, Pratincole and some more

 One day we drove to Sago in the north. There were some Pratincoles and the regular Herons and Egrets. At midday about 30 raptors passed by, they all appeared to be Honey Buzzards.

Oriental Pratincole, ツバメチドリ

Cattle Egret, アマサギ were flying from field to field in flocks of 10 or more

In the bay of Azamo Grey Tattlers, キアシシギ were resting on a rock. Among them were 2 Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ

Many Black-tailed Gulls, ウミネコ were bathing in the quiet waters of the bay. I was wondering: Are they breeding here?

I was not the only one watching the Gulls - Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Black Reef Egret, クロサギ playing hide and seek among the seaweed? nets in Azamo

Honey Buzzards, ハチクマ

Oriental Honey Buzzard, ハチクマ

Raptors have always been kind of underdogs for me. On the bottom of the list of birds I like to see, they don't appear on the blog much. I don't know why exactly. Partly because I don't like to eat animals myself. Partly because they are so big. For some reason I always seem to find excuses for not joining the hawk watch. My photos are usually poor. Sorry.

Oriental Honey Buzzard, ハチクマ

 A compilation of 2 days takami. On the first day on September the 23rd  about 400 birds flew in the morning. Mostly very far and up very high, I could not take any decent photos. The next time was on the 25th and several Honey Buzzards came by between 8 and 9 am. Yeah! I took my chances

Oriental Honey Buzzard, ハチクマ

For gender I look at the tail bands and the trailing edge to the wing.

 The bird below seems to be a male

This one female

 Same female

Is this a female? A juvenile bird?

Male above, female below

Here comes a male

Another bird, also male

This is clear. 2 Prominent tail bands and a dark trailing edge of the wing: A male

Please notify me in case I made any mistakes. I really would appreciate that. 🙏

Other raptors that we saw: Peregrine Flacon, ハヤブサ

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

Northern Goshawk, オオタカ chased by a crow

There were many people on the observation platform on the national holiday and it was rather hot. I had a problem with my monopod and could not use it, but somebody kindly lend me one. 

It was nice to see other birders again.

Kanatake walk in September

 On September 20th a group of 10 people walked around to find things of interest. It was partly cloudy and sunny and rather hot. As expected. We talked and walked, peered and gazed and took many photos. 

A favorite: Caterpillar of Dark Evening Brown, クロコノマチョウ 幼虫

Look at that rabbit face!

It was raptor migrating season and 21 Honey Buzzards, ハチクマ were circling above us, first thing in the morning

The Little Grebe, カイツブリ family, firmly staying out of sight

Varied Tits, ヤマガラ were eating the fruit of Japanese Snowbell, エゴノキ

Mesuguro Fritillary, メスグロヒョウモン

Hoverfly, アブ on Numadaikon, ヌマダイコン

Inchworm, larvae of Mugwort Geometer moth, ヨモギエダシャクガの幼虫

Larvae of Common Bluebottle, アオスジアゲハの幼虫

Short-tailed Blue, ツバメシジミ

Shirone, シロネ? オギノツメ

Clavulina fungus? カレエダタケ？シロソウメンタケ科

Nobudo wild grape vine, ノブドウ

That's Mint! I said. No, it's Nihon Hakko, they said. What does Google say?

Japanese Mint, ニホンハッカ

Rhynchospermum, シュウブンソウ

Lesser Emperor, ギンャンマ pair

Burnt-spot Hummingbird Hawkmoth, ホシホウジャク

Tsumajiro Edashaku, ツマジロエダシャク

Gomadarachou, ゴマダラチョウ

Japanese Tree Frog, ニホンアマガエル

Japanese Oakblue, ムラサキシジミ

Nekohagi, ネコハギ

Japanese Grass Lizard, カナヘビ

Yokozuna kissing bugs, ヨコツナサシガメ

I watched something crawling out of a white sponge-like mass. Maybe larvae of moths? They went airborne in a few minutes. Better keep a distance!

A fair number of young Barn Swallows, ツバメ are hanging around, mostly sitting on the wires. When will they leave?