December birds 1

I left it way too long and today, on the last day of the year a long list of photos is waiting.
I will start with the A for Atori, the Japanese name for Brambling. Huge flocks seen in Itoshima.

アトリ, Bramblings

Ducks sometimes, when the mudflats are flooded, come resting in the fields.
ツクシガモ, Common Shelducks

コガモ,CommonTeal

オカヨシガモ, Gadwall　

And another flock, Greenfinches this time.

カワラヒワ, Oriental Greenfinches

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Come'n join the Party!

Japanese White-eyes, Long-tailed Tits and a Varied Tit having a ball in their own public bath.

Can you detect the strict order of 'who's next'?

メジロとエナガとヤマガラの水浴びで順番が厳しい！

x

You better wait or you'll get PICKED on!

x

Autumn is over...楽しかった！

Long-tailed Tit, エナガ  in the last few maple leaves 

Winter vistors are taking over: Black-faced Bunting, アオジ 

Finale   the last colors...

 Shock!  \(>_<)/

福岡の秋, Autumn in Fukuoka; Japanese White-eye, メジロ

My 2nd favorite fruit: Japanese persimmon. If I can't be a cat on a cruiser in my next life, I could be a White-eye in Japan.

私の２番目好きな果物は日本の柿です

In case you are wondering: durian is nr 1

1番はドリアンです

福岡の秋, Autumn in Fukuoka; コサメビタキ, Asian Brown Flycatcher

After a short break I returned to birding and found the sites in full autumn colors.
Winter birds had arrived, The Daurian Redstarts, Red-flanked Bluetails, Black-faced Buntings and the common Thrushes.

An Asian Brown Flycatcher was still around, on November 22nd. Isn't it time to move on?

Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ

Every year they spend the winter at these lakes in the mountains just south of the city. They feed on the acorn type nuts and hang around under the dark trees at the waterfront, mostly out of sight. They don't like to come close at all, but the males with their colorful plumage are easy to detect, even from a distance. Getting a nice photo is a different story. I hope to get the chance to see them up close sometime. In the meantime...

From far:

All mens affair. Where are your ladies?

One female joining the crowd

A few more in the back.