Western Sandpiper, ヒメハマシギ

I had hoped for an Asian Dowitcher, but got a Westerling instead. The distance was actually too big for my small lens, but I tried anyway. A LIFER, that's why

Western Sandpiper, ヒメハマシギ to the left of the Red-necked Stints

Equally far, Broad-billed Sandpiper, キリアイ

Flying by, Spotted Redshank, ツルシギ

The rest of the time I spent watching the pretty/ugly Turnstones that were running up and down in groups. 10 or 20 birds!

Ruddy Turnstone, キョジウジョウシギ

The tide is rolling in. Time to move in with the Sandpipers and Whimbrels

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ

More of Saga on April 18th

After the American guest at Higashiyoka on April 18, we drove to Shiroiashi to check out the lotus fields. Instantly, a long-time wish came true: A male Merlin was sitting on the wire! Last time I saw one was so long ago, I could barely remember it. 

Merlin, コチョウゲンボウ

It was close to a field with lots of Stilts. More than 20 birds. They are doing well, it seems

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

Next was the Stork family. A parent was flying around, looking for food...

Oriental Stork, コウノトリ

...and landed in a ditch near me. What a close-up!

I backed up the car and had another look.

The birds are clearly used to having people around

At the nest I could see 4 chicks! I hope they will make it to adulthood safely

Back around the old Lotus fields, where the water level was too high for small birds like Stints, but some others were there.

Marsh Sandpipers, コアオアシシギ

Wood Sandpipers, タカブシギ

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, ウズラシギ

Common Snipe, タシギ

The new-comers were announcing their present in a loud voice, but stayed mostly hidden below. Except for one, that stayed quiet...

Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

At the far end of one of the fields were about 6 Garganeys, シマアジ

Higashiyoka mudflats, April 18

The American Godwit, that was the ultimate attraction of the weekend, was so popular, it was difficult to find a good spot for taking photos. The bird is in its own post:

 https://wingsndthings.blogspot.com/2026/04/hudsonion-godwit.html

 Next some other sightings, photos taken while pushing elbows at the slippery and muddy fence 😅

One of the most common visitors in this season are the long-distance flyers, the Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ. They migrate as far as Australia I heard.

Another Godwit, the Black-tailed, オグロシギ

When all the birds fly and the flocks sweep above the rising tide, the Curlews are easily distinguished

Eurasian, ダイシャクシギ and Far-Eastern, ホウロクシギ

The atmosphere is so intense. The search for anything interesting, tracking those birds once you found them, explaining their location and listening to others, all at the same time... And suddenly it's all over.

Once the water has withdrawn, the exposed mud offers nibbles for small waders

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ behind the purplish sea foliage, シジメンソウ

There is always a flag around. メダイチドリ

Red-necked Stints, トウネン

Little Terns, コアジサシ

Way back, 2 reddish colored birds with relatively short legs and bills.

Red Knot, コオバシギ

Saga part 1: Nordmann's Greenshank, カラフトアオアシシギ

 The day of the highest tide was Wednesday, October 8th. The weather forecast was cloudy, which is good in many ways, but the color of the water becomes so dull. Migrators in October are mostly in winter plumage, also not very colorful. When my TC broke down my mood was also rather grey. However, I got excited by the good views of waders who came to stop on the stones below the seawall, where we were all lined up with our scopes and cameras. Already 2 hours before high tide, birds started coming in from the mudflats. There were thousands of Grey Plovers, ダイセン and Dunlins, ハマシギ. Also many Great Knots, オバシギ and probably some Red Knots, but I didn't look for them. The reason was the Nordmann's Greenshank, カラフトアオアシシギ, who was giving us perfect views. The star of the day!

The view at 8:30 am, 1 and a half hour before high tide.

Below the first of 2 or 3 Nordmann's Greenshanks, カラフトアオアシシギ perched on the fence

A little later, another one among Grey Plovers, ダイセン

Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ coming close

Ah, time to fly

After that, a beautiful bird taking possession of a slab, right in front of me.

The bird looked white, with a nearly spotless breast and beautiful yellow legs

Defending its possy

Nibbling at something edible?

It was wonderful to watch this rare bird up close for 30 minutes

Other birds that we found in the huge crowd:

1 Pacific Golden Plover, ムナグロ

A juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ

A flagged Grey Plover, ダイセン

To be continued