Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

 March 14th I think I was the only birder in town who had not seen the 2 Green Woodpeckers yet. There was the expected group of photographers, but not too many. Most had moved on to greener pastures I guess. The birds were there most of the time for anyone to see. The background was light, so people were hoping for them to come down, but that didn't happen. There were also a lot of Pale thrushes, シロハラ, Long-tailed Rosefinches, ベニマシコ, a couple of Bullfinches, ウソ and many cats!

Male and female in one tree. Below the male.

Pale thrush, シロハラ

Long-tailed Rosefinch, ベニマシコ

male Grey-bellied Bullfinch, ウソ

Feathers from another (unlucky) bird that got caught by a raptor. At a different location

Pallas's Reed Bunting,

On the 13th I took T.A. to the Onga River in search of Buntings. It was a windy and rainy morning, but thanks to an early start we managed to see our target birds.

Pallas's Reed Bunting,  シベリアジュリン

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Little Bunting, コホオアカ

Rustic Bunting, カシラダカ

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

Not a Bunting, but it was singing so well, I had to put him in.

Japanese Bush Warbler, ウグイス

Flying low and fast, she came over 3 or 4 times.　Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ sending all the small birds back in the reeds

Long-tailed Rosefinch, ベニマシコ and some more

One day in the south part of Fukuoka in the first half of March. There were Long-tailed birds and the first big blue butterfly of the season. Also some flowers, the beginning of many more

 

Long-tailed Rosefinch, ベニマシコ

Long-tailed Tit, エナガ

Kaniska canace, the Blue Admiral, ルリタテハ

Chrysosplenium grayanum, ネコノメソウ

Creeping Mazus, ムラサキサギゴケ (Mazus miquelii)

Semiaquilegia adoxoides, ヒメウズ

One of the many kinds of wild Violets in Japan.  Viola spec, スミレ

Oriental Stork, コウノトリ

 In the first week of March I finally got to see the Oriental Storks. My 4th attempt! Yet there were only 2 of the initial 7 :-( 

Both only 10 month old, one a male, the other a female and according to the rings not from the same nest. First the girl:

Below with the Stilt who was still around

Next the male. Below with a Grey Heron, アオサギ for comparison. Who thought herons were big?

The female has much softer features than the male and seems less mature

Once more to compare with the Spoonbills, (クロツラ) ヘラサギ