Swans in Saga

On the way back from a "non-birding / non-hiking weekend" Jaap suggested to stop at this place near the Ariake Sea. How can I say no? And look who was there!

Whooper Swan, オオハクチョウ and Tundra Swan, コハクチョウ

↓ Tundra, コハクチョウ on the left, Whooper, オオハクチョウ on the right ↓ 

In a water-logged Renkon field, with Spoonbills and some more

End of the day, time to snooze

Brown Booby, カツオドリ

November 26, the Brown Boobies came! I had seen them behind Genkaishima from the ferry to Oro during calm days. When the wind picked up, they entered Hakata Bay. The monding of Muromi River is a popular spot where they can find food. They flew in front of the entrance, diving occasionally.

Brown Booby, カツオドリ

The plunge dive

Can you see the fish?

The winds are stronger and the temperatures have dropped. Winter weather is on the way!

Goldeneyes, ホオジロガモ

I went to see the pretty Goldeneye ducks in the river near my home. There were 5 males and 2 females scattered over the middle of the estuary. I waited and tried to get close. On my bicycle it was easy to move around, but it was hard work! The weather was fair, with intermittent cloud cover.

 Goldeneye, ホオジロガモ

Display?

Just when I found the right spot, a raptor came close and all ducks took to flight.

I found them again on the opposite side, close to the Greater Scaups, スズガモ

2 females were way back, hardly ever coming close to the shore

A little later with a little sunshine

And a little green on the head

Mt. Kuju, after a long time

The heat of the summer has long passed. We hadn't made it back here since then. This place seems to be my second home, and I feel the need to report on it. End of November. There was not much, However, one thing surprised me. A Goldcrest in the trees above 800m elevation. Maybe it's not rare, but I had never seen one here.

Goldcrest, キクイタダキ Not a pretty picture, just reporting

Even when there are few birds to see, we can always rely on a Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ

Thrushes, Grossbeaks, Bramblings and Finches were heard from the top of the canopy. A White-backed Woodpecker flew by. One Dusky Thrush, ツグミ landed briefly in front of me.

So did a Brambling, アトリ

Autumn colors had faded, but there were pretty red and purple berries 

Many moths were fluttering low to the ground. All a dull kind of beige

One looked slightly different

There were no beetles, nor butterflies around the sap trees. But an amazing number of killer bees!

Giant Hornets, オオスズメバチ

Oronoshima

The 1 night stay at Oronoshima resulted in 3 nights due to the weather. People ask: Why? It's sunny! It isn't even that windy... They can't see the waves here. So I filled in my time at school, but was allowed to come and go to walk around. The birds of 2 weeks before had nearly all left. What was still there?

Eurasian Wren, ミソサザイ I saw just once, after 4pm. 

A small flock of Yellow-throated Buntings, ミヤマホオジロ

Ms. Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

A number of Eastern Buzzards, ノスリ. Often chased by a very fast and loud Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ at the very top of the island. Overlooking everything

The plunge dive

The usual Blue Rock Thrushes, イソヒヨドリ at their favorite places

These moths were seen along the road to school. Euonymus leaf notcher, ミノウスバ

Cat feeding time in the village. A strange cat from the mountains came down for the first time. He didn't get a chance to eat with the others. The rules are strict!

Brown Boobies, カツオドリ behind Genkaishima