At the Hazenoki, (Japanese Wax tree), ハゼノキ

Lots of active birds around the tree, eating the dried seeds. After the rain they are maybe a bit softer or tastier, I don't know.

  Red-flanked Bluetails,  ルリビタキ  ♂and ♀

At first 3 or 4 females flew in and out regularly. Even when raptors flew over, like the Oriental Buzzard (below) and a Sparrowhawk, (no img) they hid quickly, but returned in a few minutes

After what felt like a long cold wait a male bird appeared - reluctantly

female

again the male

This male was there as well, briefly

Other birds were many Warbling White-eyes, メジロ

 1 Female Bull-headed Shrike, モズ ♀

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

Elegant or Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

Long-tailed Tits, エナガ also stopped by, but I didn't get any good photos. So I include images from another tree. No green leaves, but pretty soft winter colors.

When returning to the car, I nearly stepped on these: 7 Earth Stars, a kind of mushroom called Tsuchiguri, ツチグリ

Kanatake White Thrush, トラツグミ 2

There is one bird that's not too shy and it will search worms on the lawn till mid-morning, as long as there are not too many people around.

No sign of the others. Just other (Dusky and Pale) Thrushes

Japanese Grosbeak, イカル

♂ Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ always present.

The first AsianComma, キタテハ of the year. Hope it doesn't get eaten by Tora-chan 😓

In our harbor: Blue Rockthrush, イソヒヨドリ

 Our neighborhood thrush: Blue Rock Thrush. - Is it a female or a young male? - dropping by for a chat.

Saying hello to Nori, our geriatric boycat

There are many Grey Herons, アオサギ in the harbor, but they don't look as handsome as this one in the park.

Winter - but not much longer

White's Thrush, トラツグミ

So this is White's Thrush and the one in Iriomote Island is the Scaly Thrush. OK, I'll go with the new name.

February 2nd, It's setsubun, this year a day earlier than usual. Will spring start a bit earlier too? The news of  these Thrushes was that 5 were seen on one day. That is also unusual. I tried my luck at lunch-time on this weekday, between 2 work locations and guess what? I saw 3! 

The first one, below, was covering a big part of the field.

A 2nd one appeared (below) and sent the 1st one backwards. Out of the other's territory I guess.

Right after that another one flew at the far back, nr 3. Sorry, no photo.

The one below was taken later and is bird nr 1 I think

What a thrushy day!

Imazu update end of January

The tidal flats have been remarkably quiet for a while. The Shelducks are prominent, but other ducks few and far between. Is that because of the Upland Buzzard roaming this area? The only birds that don't seem too concerned are these Dunlins, ハマシギ. Too small for the big predator?

In the rice paddies Wagtails and Buff-bellied Pipits タヒバリ go about their business - as usual.

However, the Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ takes precautions; spending more time in the ditches than on the electrical wires

Another predator: Peregrine Falcon. ハヤブサ. Looking out towards the 2 ponds...

...where the family of Smews, ミコアイサ is still patrolling, sticking together when danger looms

A little surprise: Japanese weasel, ニホンイタチ on the road

Rustic Buntings, カシラダカ

A flock of about 12 birds briefly perched in the tree before heading for the ricepaddies, where they disappeared in the stubbly growth

How beautiful, these patterned backfeathers

Who is who? A day later at the same place the Rustic Buntings were all gone and the place is ful of noisy Common Reed Buntings, オオジュリン

And little Penduline Tits, ツリスガラ perched in the same tree. Do they make reservations for this popular tree?

Naumann's Thrush, ハチジョウツグミ - again

 Same place, but different bird, I think. On January 29th

At the same time: Black-faced Bunting, アオジ  - many -

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ  2 birds

Common Snipe, タシギ 1 bird