On September 7 I got up early and left home around 4am. When I arrived at the mudflats of the Ariake Sea the sun was up, but the birds were still far. The tide was rolling in slowly. Big birds came in my field of vision. Starting with the Spoonbills.
Black-faced Spoonbill, クロツラヘラサギ
One of the rarest bird species in the world, yet often over-looked by photographers in Kyushu
Curlews, mostly Far Eastern, and Bar-tailed Godwits, ホオロクシギ、オオソリハシシギ
Ready to fly?
Go!
The シジメンソウ, Suaeda Japonica has extended all along the shoreline and has become rather tall. I could not see any of the small birds behind. When the water is at its highest level, small birds leave the mudflat and come to rest on the shore. Time to have a better look.
Dunlins, ハマシギ
Among them a number of Ruddy Turnstones, キョウジョシギ
Stints and Plovers. トウネン、メダイチドリ、オオメダイチドリ
Several Broadbilled Sandpipers, キリアイ
Among the many Red-necked Stints, トウネン, somebody discovered one Little Stint, ヨーロッパトオネン
When the waterline withdraws, most birds leave.
That's when we saw the 1 Nordmann's Greenshank, カラフトアオアシシギ - far away
Thank you for finding it, and your general support, Mr. H!
It was a pleasure meeting you, Dr. Mark Brazil!
