Chinese and Japanese Grosbeaks, イカル, コイカル

The following day I arrived early and though it took a while to locate them, I found the place where the Japanese Grosbeaks, イカル came down to the ground. Thanx to the other birders.

Tree huggers

After watching them going back and forth for a while I noticed a different bird. More black on the head, and orange-colored flanks - a Chinese Grosbeak, コイカル

I was so happy, because until now I had heard the call, but never managed to capture one.

A lifer!

One more photo of that first moment:

Thank you everyone for your support!

Nishi koen, City park in Fukuoka

Walking around my usual checkpoints, I felt very few birds were around. I kept on meeting the same ones over and over. Then I decided on a different field. This city park I hardly ever visit and I was surprised.

I came to see the Japanese Grosbeaks, イカル, but that first afternoon I could not take a photo.

The day after I found Grey Bunting, クロジ

Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ

and Yellow-throated or Elegant Bunting, ミヤマホウジロ

Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ are everywhere and they are easy to capture

practicing birds in flight. Difficult!

Masked Bunting (or Black-faced Bunting?), アオジ - the park has its share

When a mixed flock passes by I'm so busy!

Long-tailed Tit, エナガ

Japanese Bush Warbler, ウグイス

Winter in Imazu 3

Was it the cold that brought it out? My first Rail of the winter

Brown-cheeked Rail, クイナ. There was a Crake as well. It hurried into the reeds

Unlike their Black-faced relatives, the Eurasian Spoonbills, ヘラサギ like to take walks in the field.

But these 3 brought 1 Black-faced along

Young and adventurous - Black-faced Spoonbill, クロツラヘラサギ

In the middle of town, just somebody's garden, a Raccoon dog. タヌキ warms up in the sun. It has little hair on its sides. Skin disease? Poor thing, the wind is so cold!

Apparently this animal is called Hondo Raccoon Dog, ホンドタヌキ

Mr Kestrel at work. チョウゲンボウ

The Harlequin Ducks moved out further...

Winter in Imazu 2 - Snipes

I love watching the Snipes. When the wind is too cold to stay outside I park my car in front of this field, bring out my hot tea bottle, and watch.　Common Snipes, タシギ

A Dunlin, ハマシギ was in there as well one day

Scared by one of the many shrikes

Winter in Imazu 1

The first birds of the year in the Imazu area.

American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ　Seems to be a yearly visitor now

Grey Plover, ダイゼン  Just 1 bird - same as last year?

Male Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

There have been so many females in the past, I nearly forgot what a male looked like 😀

Harlequin Ducks, シノリガモ

It would have been nice to see them a bit closer, but every time I check they move further away.

Red-breasted Mergansers, ウミアイサ male and female. 

Winter would not be the same without them

5 kinds of Geese and some more

The weather was too good to go home. We did another D-tour, this time via Saga. A family of 4 Swans was floating in the middle of the lake - sleeping. We drove around and returned later to find the Geese there. 

Who is who?

From left: 3 Lesser White-fronted Geese, カリガニ 　and a juvenile Greater White-fronted Goose, マガン

From left: Tundra Bean Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose

左から: ヒシクイ、オオヒシクイ、マガン

From left: Swan Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose

左から:  サカツラガン、オオヒシクイ、ヒシクイ

2 Oriental Storks, コウノトリ flew in from the west, resting briefly on the poles near their nesting site.

Siberian Weasel, チョウセンイタチ 

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ overwintering in Kyushu, has learned to deal with the nets