July Imazu bird-watching meeting 今津 探鳥会

The meeting of WBSJ was held on the only day it didn't rain during this rainy season. How lucky we were. It was humid and a little hot, but clouds came in at the end of the morning and we didn't suffer too much.

A young Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ awaited us. Was it born this year?

Overlooking the mudflats

Someone seemed to be watching from the other side. A parent?

Before 8am there was a Ruddy -breasted Crake, ヒクイナ

But no sign of kids

The Moorhens, バン were walking up and down the edge of the reeds, at the usual place.

A young bird briefly popped out, but was back into hiding before I could take a shot.

The 2nd encounter this year. (Red?) Fox, キツネ

I love that face!

A washed-out Intermediate Egret, チュウサギ

  Osprey, ミサゴ Cooling off on the other side of the river

Several dragonflies were out. Below a Kofuki Tombo, コフキトンボ

Akasuji Shieldbug, アカスジカメムシ

Caterpillar of Impatiens Hawkmoth, セスジスズメの幼虫

Every year I have to ask the name of the flower. It's シロバナサクラタデ　(Shirobana Sakuratade)

But the buf I know. Small Copper, ベニシジミ

Infestations on the way. Japanese beetle Mamekogane, マメコガネ

Funny looking Triops, カブトエビ swimming on their backs in the rice paddies

Male and female Common Bluetail, アオモンイトトンボ

Iroiro part 2

  Another day, another route

I received a message about Whiskered Terns, but when I arrived they were gone. Instead I saw a fox, wandering around at noon! キツネ

The only bird I stopped for was a Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

I wanted to see its fan-shaped tail. I saw it, but without a head 😖😖

Surprise! A Grass Lizard, カナヘビ with a double tail. After the original one was lost another one sprouted from the base.

I think this is the hairy caterpillar of a Maimaiga, マイマイガ (Gypsy Moth) but I'm not sure. It looks so melancholic with those eye-like markings

I was happy to find an Ikarimonga, イカリモンガ and waited for the morning sun to warm it up, but then it got eaten by a spider...

A big dragonfly again, サナエトンボ?

This day was the party day of many Small Copper, ベニシジミ butterflies

Japanese Red Fox, キツネ

Driving from Oike to Choojabaru at around 6:30 pm there were 2 cats in a field staring at something. And there it was:

キツネ, Japanese Red Fox

Birding update Imazu 今津 December 9th

The cold has come! Still not used to it I felt reluctant to go out, but Sundays come only once a week. There are days that birding is so slow, you wonder where everyone is hanging out and you might as well go back home. But it's never been as bad as today. No thrushes, not even 1. VERY few shrikes and redstarts, no bulbuls to speak of, and also very few ducks. And it wasn't even sunny! I looked up at the sky and saw 1 falcon just briefly. Above the river however Ospreys were hunting in groups. I counted 10. High tide covered the mud. I didn't go there. I walked around out of habit. Suddenly something jumped. I saw brown tail with a white tip.... A Fox!!! Never thought there would be any in Imazu.

Red Fox, キツネ 

The western lake is drying out again. The only lively scene today.

Ospreys, ミサゴ

10 + birds hunting together

Our Mute Swan, コブハクチョウ wondering were all the people had gone on this cold and windy day.

Another animal: Japanese Weasel, イタチ taking his time, not expecting me

Among the regular ducks like Wigeons, Pochards, Mallards and Spot-billed ducks were 2 Tufted Ducks, キンクロハジロ...

... and 8 Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ  (male and eclipse?) 

(female and eclipse?)

Oriental Greenfinches, カワラヒワ replacing the leaves of the tree.

The only bird I saw plenty of, though the flock really was not that big

Coming from the Netherlands it always surprises me to see flowers in December