The 1st day of February

 The first Sunday, so we started with a walk around Imazu

Finally, the Reed Buntings, オオジュリン showed up

A huge flock of Cormorants, カワウ formed an island-like black patch in the middle of the estuary.

I counted 1070 birds. Anyone wants to check?

A few minutes later they all flew up

4 Grey Plovers, ダイセン - exactly where I saw them 2 months before

American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ - looking a bit more green

Afterwards we drove to Itoshima to see the one Greater White-fronted Goose, マガン...

...and the Tundra Swan, コハクチョウ

Swans in Saga

On the way back from a "non-birding / non-hiking weekend" Jaap suggested to stop at this place near the Ariake Sea. How can I say no? And look who was there!

Whooper Swan, オオハクチョウ and Tundra Swan, コハクチョウ?

I have my doubts about the one on the left.

↓ Tundra, コハクチョウ on the left, Whooper, or Tundra コハクチョウ or オオハクチョウ on the right ↓ 

In a water-logged Renkon field, with Spoonbills and some more

End of the day, time to snooze

Isahay, after a long time. Male Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ and Baikal Teals, トモエガモ

One of the first birds you meet when entering the Isahaya area is the Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ. I told myself not to waist precious time on them, I can go and see them in MF. But... and so... I ended up with lots of photos. Again.

male　♂

The most impressive sight was the Baikal Teals, トモエガモ flying in dense flocks in the morning and early evening.

tens of thousands 

Baikal Teals, トモエガモ The closest I could get.

6 or 7 Swans were there. Tundra Swans, コハクチョウ I think, but the one on the right looks like it might be a Whooper Swan, オオハクチョウ

Flying again. Flock after flock. There must have been 50.000 birds or more

Video by Jaap

This photo of a Dunlin, ハマシギ and 2 Kentish Plovers, シロチドリ was actually taken en route at the coast of the Ariake Sea.

November 6th, Imazu WBSJ meeting

This year's autumn is so warm! We walked around in warm sunshine (many of us wearing too many clothes X). As expected, more ducks had arrived, but not many yet. 

Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ

Northern Shoveler, ハシビロガモ

Great Crested Grebe, カンムリカイツブリ

Eurasian Wryneck, アリスイ

Tundra Swans, コハクチョウ The one in front has a smaller patch of yellow on its bill, which means it could be a hybrid with its American cousin, the Whistling Swan (Nearctic)

Thank you Mr. T!

With Common Shelduck, ツクシガモ

Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ and Grey Plover, ダイゼン

Scenery with Great Cormorant, カワウ;  Common Greenshank, アオアシシギ;  Dunlin, ハマシギ and Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ

5 Curlews flew by. They don't have white backs, so they are Far-Eastern Curlews, ホウロクシギ

A good lesson, thanks to Mr. K

Red-necked Stint, トウネン or Dunlin, ハマシギ? I think Dunlin

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ

I missed the Snipes, who were undoubtedly in there

Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ

On October 30th many Starlings gathered around a utility pole at the edge of the fields late afternoon. Most of them were White-cheeked Starlings, ムクドリ But I saw 10+ Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ among them. I managed to get 8 in one shot

The following day I heard Northern Lapwings, タゲリ calling and found 1 in the river and 1 in the sky

The Tundra Swans, コハクチョウ are still here. They got a lot of attention over the weekend!

A lot of ducks had arrived as well. I will check them out later.

Something to look forward to!