Isahaya December 2025

When I saw all those images of Short-eared Owls on SM, I thought I'd go and take a chance. It was surprisingly easy. Though I could never compete with the big-lens toting photographers, I was still happy with my results.

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク

What I was not happy about was my chances with the male Hen Harrier. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. This is all I got:

Male Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ

Female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

Female Common Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

There were many Cranes, ツル flying in big V-s across the reclamation areas.

And at the end of the day the ducks, making loud noises with their wings, like a strong wind suddenly rushing in. They seemed to be Baikal Teals, トモエガモ

Animals included 5 Wild Pigs, 1 Weasel and this Raccoon dog, タヌキ

Imazu in December part 1

It is winter, but the sun is still warm during the day. The wintering ducks have all come; however, there are few on the mudflats. The small birds are few in number as well. I can hear Reed Buntings, I see them flying, but I have yet to see one perched in the reeds near the 2 ponds. Where is everybody?

A Cattle Egret, アマサギ in winter? Apparently

Ms. Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ early in the morning

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ up in a tree!

The local gang of Oriental Magpies, カササギ

After sunset: Eurasian Woodcock, ヤマシギ

The funny colors are from the big lights above the baseball field

2 Raccoon dogs, タヌキ enjoying themselves 

Winter in Imazu 3

Was it the cold that brought it out? My first Rail of the winter

Brown-cheeked Rail, クイナ. There was a Crake as well. It hurried into the reeds

Unlike their Black-faced relatives, the Eurasian Spoonbills, ヘラサギ like to take walks in the field.

But these 3 brought 1 Black-faced along

Young and adventurous - Black-faced Spoonbill, クロツラヘラサギ

In the middle of town, just somebody's garden, a Raccoon dog. タヌキ warms up in the sun. It has little hair on its sides. Skin disease? Poor thing, the wind is so cold!

Apparently this animal is called Hondo Raccoon Dog, ホンドタヌキ

Mr Kestrel at work. チョウゲンボウ

The Harlequin Ducks moved out further...

Isahaya 2

Continued from part 1

When the morning walk didn't produce any raptors at photographable distance, I moved on to smaller birds. On the edge of the reeds I saw a few Common Reed Buntings, オオジュリン. Rather quiet. 

A little more vocal was this guy, I belief to be a Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

Nearby, a group of Raccoon dogs, タヌキwas playing around. They looked healthy, with a thick coat of hair.

The Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ along the road were very active. They seem to like the sunshine.

male

female

There was a flock of Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ moving around at the usual place.

Twice a female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ flew across the fields

I felt lonely

To be continued