Oogori no storks

Wanting to see the Oriental Storks in Oogori I went there 4 times. The first 3 - in vain. I waited a while and studied the sleeping Spoonbills (how many Eurasian, how many Black-faced?)

I observed the Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ that was always there among the common ducks.

Common Teal, コガモ

And I entertained myself with the one Mandarin Duck, オシドリ...

...who seemed quite happy among the Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, カルガモ

A raptor flew over occasionally, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

There was one Oriental Crow with white feathers, ハシボソがラス

Grey Bunting, クロジ etc

It took quite a bit of efford and time to find photographable birds. They have disappeared from the old locations at city parks and I had to hike up a mountain to find these. About 5 or 6 birds.

Male

female

Elegant Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

Flowers with no name - yet

Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ

I can't help but stop for these sweeties, whenever they cross my path. Which is often!

Male

female

Male again

Eurasian Wren, ミソサザイ

Bullfinches, ウソ and Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

 February 27th The last chance to see the Bullfinches. ウソ I hoped to find the red Eurasian type, but only one male and female Grey-bellied were there.

There were also 2 Japanese Green Woodpeckers, アオゲラ. Ready for nesting?

Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

A popular place with photographers, but this day there was nobody. So I gave it a try.

Mr. Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ was watching this well

 I could have done better, but didn't stay long enough. Other birds were calling ;-)

Warbling White-eye, メジロ

 A couple of weeks ago: Ume and Mejiro:  ウメジロ

View from the entrence of Muromi river

When the sea is calm we can see the wintering ducks bobbing up and down all over the bay. Many are Greater Scaups, スズガモ but also the Common Pochards, ホシハジロ are well presented. In between I see some Black-necked Grebes, ハジロカイツブリ but they are too far out for a good image. Also Great Crested Grebes, カンムリカイツブリ however much less than other years. 

A single Black-faced Spoonbill, クロツラヘラサギ at low tide.

One of the many Carrion Crows, ハシボソガラス looked different with some white-colored feathers on its chest.

A bit further west: Red-breasted Mergansers, ウミアイサ male and female