Oriental Stork, コウノトリ

2 Big birds and 1 big nest. The nest on top of a pole, is just along the road and easily visable. Not an ideal location. The birds fly back and forth with building materials. I wonder how this is going to pack out.

Small waders

I cannot find any fields with small waders around my home. After the mudflats of the Ariaki Sea I tried my luck around Saga.

I found a field with 8 or 10 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, ウズラシギ

A Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ was there as well.

At another field around 30 Red-necked Stints, トウネン

coming close

But nothing else.

Daijugarami mid May

On May 15 high tide was around 9 in the morning. Many waders were gathered along the waterline, feeding, walking or sleeping. Every now and then the whole lot broke into flight and didn't come back for quite a while. Are birds during spring migration more nervous than in fall?

Nordmann's Greenshank, カラフトアオアシシギ . The leader of the 3

on the right

on the left

Ruff, エリマキシギ in summer plumage

Looking rather colorful among the Greenshanks

Airborne

Common Redshank, アカアシシギ

Between the Grey Plovers and the Bar-tailed Godwits a small bird: Red Knot, コオバシギ

2 Red Knots, コオバシギ 1 in winter and 1 in summer feathers

Another, slightly bigger Knot: The Great Knot, オバシギ on the right

The Nordmann's Greenshank again...  カラフトアオアシシギ

... with a crab

Red-necked Stint, トウネン looking forelorn behind the Dunlins

A few more here

Flying again

Greater Sand Plover, オオメダイチドリ

Imazu 2: After the rain

The Stilts and Stints in the 2 ponds had left. The mudflat looked empty, but Tattlers, Dunlins, Herons and Egrets were there, as well as 5 Spoonbills, 3 young Black-faced and 2 Eurasians. And some 70+ Whimbrels

Little Egret, コサギ

A Grey Heron, アオサギ with a problem

Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ (3 on the left) and Eurasian Spoonbills, ヘラサギ  (2 on the right) I hope I got this right.

Moorhens, バン Are you building a nest?

Whimbrels, チュウシャクシギ at the end of the day

Time to bring out the macro lens