Winter trip - More cranes

This post is for Sandhill Cranes and Common Cranes. Finding the uncommon birds is always a challenge. Local information helps. Suggestions from friends as well. But I found them all!

Sandhill Crane, カナダヅル

I love these. So, I publish too many pics...

Stunning in flight

My first Common Crane, クロヅル way, way back - as usual.

Later a bit closer.

And one in flight 

Happy to see them all

Winter trip 2

 Cranes at sunrise. It was a magnificent sight again, to watch the cranes flying towards their feeding ground. There seemed to be less than other years. Maybe more birds chose to stay around the center in the west?

Among the thousands of Hooded Cranes and White-naped Cranes were a few others, like the Sandhill Crane, カナダヅル below. 3 Birds that seemed to be a family. A 4th bird was seen by itself.

There were supposed to be 6 Common Cranes, クロヅル. I found 2

The big White-naped Cranes, マナヅル can make quite a fuzz when one comes too close to the other. They also like to make themselves known in a loud voice with lots of imposing poses in the crane dance to enforce the bond with a mate.

Territorial dispute

I lost!... 負けた

Isahaya 6, the Cranes, ヅル

If you like Cranes, this would be the time to visit Isahaya. Because of the bird flu the cranes in Izumi are not being fed and many have left that place. I hope they will survive. So many birds have died already. 

After their daily morning flights, they land in the fields of the reclaimed land, where they have to find their own food. Below a few White-naped Cranes, マナヅル

They seemed restless and easily scared

In another field some Hooded Cranes, ナベヅル and one different bird that must be a young Sandhill Crane, カナダヅル

young Sandhill Crane, カナダヅル

White-naped Cranes in flight. A sight to behold 

Izumi, Kagoshima 鹿児島県出水 part 3 Sandhill Crane, カナダヅル and some more

Continued from part 2

Finding the uncommon birds is always a challenge, when numbers are in the 15 thousands. I saw 6 of the 9 that are supposed to be there. Seeing them in small groups made it easier of course.

The 3 birds in the front with a red forehead are Sandhill Cranes, カナダヅル 

Every bit of water seemed to hold snipes. Below a Common Snipe, タシギ

Also present in large numbers: Northern Lapwings, タゲリ

Here with a snipe

Little ringed Plover, コチドリ

Female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ