Brown Booby, カツオドリ

The winds are stronger, the waves higher, Boobies come in the Bay to look for fish. One bird out of 3 came close enough to the shore in Nishi-ku. But I had to wait a long time.

Brown Booby, カツオドリ

Japanese Cormorants, ウミワウ

Pacific Reef Egret, クロサギ

Oronoshima

The planned 3 days' stay didn't happen. I wasn't surprised. In the city the weather might seem calm, but out there it's a different story. On the 3rd and last day I could finally take the morning ferry, and run to work. Then after lunch I had to run back to the harbor to make it in time for the returning ferry. Hilarious! It's a wonder I managed to take any photos for this post. Birds were everywhere! In the morning a big flock of birds of various sizes was swooping around the west side of the island. Raptors were following in pursuit. Hawks, Falcons, at least 1 Hen Harrier. At midday the small birds were hiding and I heard them from the undergrowth beside the road. Some sneeked out:

Brambling, アトリ male

female

Elegant, or Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

Goldcrest, キクイタダキ

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

Falcon, but which? Peregrine? Amur? Hobby?

Adult male Peregrine says Mr. H. ハヤブサ

In the harbor, a Lark-type bird was perched on the dock. I ran, thinking it might be something special. 

But I think it's just an ordinary Eurasian Skylark, ヒバリ

One of many Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ. A male with a bad foot. Good luck, buddy!

At sea, through the window, Brown Booby, カツオドリ

There were 2 or 3 birds, near the entrance of the bay

Siberian Rubythroat, ノゴマ

After watching the Goldcrests, we moved to another park and found the Siberian Rubythroat, ノゴマ. Lots of birders and photographers were there, anxiously watching a small bit of bush. Some had been there many hours, I heard, waiting for a glimpse. I felt bad for the bird (one single bird!) at first. However, once we arrived, it made a short appearance, flew quickly back to the safe darkness of tight branches, but then came out to look for food a number of times.

,

As always, the available light was scarce, but the good boy stepped into the sunlit patches at times

The throat looks bright red in the shade

At the same location, but one day before: Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ

I'd come to look for the Rubythroat that day, but couldn't find it. I wonder if I should have looked better. It was there all along...

Last a female Bull-headed Shrike, モズ

Goldcrest, キクイタダキ

Late October, on a pleasant sunny day, I went with Mrs M and G to the park downtown, where the Goldcrests had been seen. And sure, they were there. Many!

Goldcrest, キクイタダキ

Were they always so fast and skitterish? I took lots of photos, but only a few came out right.

Asian Brown Flycatchers, コサメビタキ were there as well, also some Tits and Sparrows

It was nice to watch them together, Mrs M and G!

Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ

On October 21st, I went to check out the Oystercatchers in Wajiro. The newspaper mentioned 36 birds in the bay. So many! I wanted to see them. When I arrived mid-afternoon the sky was heavily overcast. The scene looked gloomy, with little color. Birds were very much spread out over the exposed mudflats. I realized I needed to plan this differently. A couple of days later, the sky was blue, the tide a little low, starting to come in. From where I was I could see birds clearly, their red bills stood out against the black and white. They were all feeding and a few made their way in my direction.

Eurasian Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ

First 2 birds

Then 3

A few more.

When the tide rolled in, they flew one by one

And gathered at a sandy plot at the mouth of a stream.

Counting... 45 birds!

Several Ospreys, ミサゴ were hunting. One pair got my attention

Some other waders were around, like these Far Eastern Curlews, ホウロクシギ

In a corner near the stream, 6 Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ looking tired after a long flight.