Brown-cheeked Rail, クイナ and some more

I'm sorry, I am running late with these posts, due to trips to Shikoku and Kagoshima. Reports of these places will follow, but right now some local stuff from the first week of January.

The rail that I used to call Water Rail is in fact a Brown-cheeked Rail, クイナ

Some years we see more buntings than others. Fortunately there are plenty Black-faced Buntings, アオジ where I go.

Same with the Black-crowned Night herons, ゴイサギ .There were 3 this day, 2 juvs and an adult bird

A very cheeky Magpie, カササギ

First birds of he year part 2

 

When the meeting was over I went back to check on that Baikal Teal, トモエガモ. I found it asleep (as usual) but with the tide going out now other ducks started to move...

... and woke him up.

Pretty boy with its green head in the sunshine

Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ were still sleeping when the Eurasians, ヘラサギ, 5 of them stopped by.

In the creek I found 1 single Shelduck, ツクシガモ. 

At the 2 ponds were the winter visitors: 11 Greater White-fronted Geese, マガン

The one Tundra Bean Goose, ヒシクイ still with them.

Then, in the warm sunshine the Pallas's Reed Buntings, シベリアジュリン were feeding on the ground among other buntings. (The Falcons were blissfully absent) 

A Water Rail, クイナ joined the party...

...but got itchy feet when he saw me.

In the distance a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

And last an egret that I couldn't place at first. It didn't seem to be a Great, nor a Little Egret, our regular winter birds. 

Black feet... 黒いが足

So: Intermediate Egret, チュウサギ ...

...that forgot to migrate?

The last birds of November

The weather was good this weekend. A bit cold when watching the mudflats from the concrete wall, but nice and warm in the sunshine around the lakes. The birders who happened to be here on Saturday the 27th were in for a treat.

The 11 Greater White-fronted Ducks, マガン together with the 1 Tundra Bean Goose, ヒシクイwere still there.

One of the Peregrine Falcons, ハヤブサ just flew in 

Shelducks, ツクシガモ about 9 birds had finally arrived. 

More Geese! 3 Taiga Bean Geese, オオヒシクイ this time

3 Pied Avocets ソリハシセイタカシギ decided to pay us a one day visit. They started off quite far, but as the tide came in they made a move.

On Sunday 2 Water Rails, クイナ were chasing each other

1 Female Smew, ミコアイサ all by itself.

At last, thrushes in Imazu. but just a few. Dusky Thrush, ツグミ