Green Pigeons, アオバト

 The locals told me that the Green Pigeons have become residents in the park. Will they stay during the summer?

White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト

April 30 in Imazu

There are no water fields in the area. Where can the waders go? The images below are of a small group at the mudflats.

Red-necked Stints, トウネン. 2 birds

About 25 Dunlins, ハマシギ, a Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ and a Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

Another Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ. 6 birds in total

Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ again.

At the opposite side a Common Greenshank, アオアシシギ

Loudly announcing its presence: "I have arrived!" Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

Among the few Wigeons the Blackhead is still active. American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ

Small and Precious

At the same time as the birds migrate, the butterflies come out and flowers start to bloom. It's the most exciting season

Japanese Flash, トラフシジミ ...

...on ナノハナ, the yellow flower whose name I cannot write here

At another location, a different plant

Short-tailed Blue , ツバメシジミ

Yellow Tip, ツマキチョウ male

female

The Noble Orchid, シュンラン

Great Mormon, ナガサキアゲハ male

Tiny flowers of the Japanese Maple, イロハモミジ

So many wild Violets this year. スミレ

Spring migration at Higashiyoka

I went to the tidal flats and got there 2 hours before high tide. The majority of birds were still far frome the shoreline, but soon the waves started to roll in. I observed my first target birds, the Ruddy Turnstones through the binoculars, waiting with pictures until they had come closer. Nevertheless, I took a few shots. Just in case. And that was just as well. About 20 or 30 min before the highest water level all small birds started flying and they flew and flew in tight flocks, sweeping through the sky. It was beautiful. But they didn't come back to stop and land. 

Ruddy Turnstone, キョウジョシギ

Grey Plovers, ダイセン in summer plumage. They look so solemn in their black and white outfits

Dunlins, ハマシギ in front (out of focus)

Just before the big take-off, a flock of Red-necked Stints,トウネン landed right in front of me.

Suddenly, they all started to fly and the mudflats turned quiet. Only the Spoonbills stayed. And some gulls.

Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ

After a thick half hour, the first birds came back. Curlews, Whimbrels and Godwits

ホウロクシギ、ダイシャクシギ、チュウシャクシギ、オオソリハシシギ

Small birds came later, when the tide was way out. 

More migraters in Fukuoka

It's migrating season and I would like to go to the islands, Nagasaki, Hokkaido... but I can't. I'm not strong enough yet. Still suffering from PCS, (Post-COVID-19 Syndrome) I just manage to get through the day. Fortunately, the Botanical Gardens are nearby.

A young male Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ came to the water basin

He's enjoying it

At another corner in the park: Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ

2 Eastern Crowned Warblers, センダイムシクイ. They moved on quickly

Brown-headed Thrush, アカハラ

 

For days I saw them only in the distance, or just flying off. This day in April 3 came close. Finally.

Asian Brown Flycatcher, コサメビタキ

Blue-and-white Flycatcher, オオルリ

After the male, a female dropped by. Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ female

Once again, Brown-headed Thrush, アカハラ at the end of the afternoon.