Smew, ミコアイサ

Never have I seen so many Smews in one place. I counted 32 birds. Mostly females, about 7 males. They were divided into 3 groups, patrolling the pond in the vicinity of the trees on the opposite side.

It was a funny situation. I checked the pond mid-morning and saw just 1 female. A hawk flushed out the whole lot and I left. An hour later, when I returned I didn't see much. It started to rain and I left again. Shortly after that the cloud cover lifted and a bit of sunshine broke through. I was still nearby and decided to try again. That's when all the Smews were there. Where had they come from??

If you look well, you can count 30 or 31 Smews, ミコアイサ

There were Baikal Teals, モエガモ as well. A few hundred.

A majestic Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ crossing my path on the way.

Around the west, Nishi-ku

A few bits and pieces from my occasional walks in the neighborhood.  It's not very often I see a Hawk in our harbor. It landed right in front of me, chasing something I could not see. What was all the franticness about?

Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

The Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリ is a long-term resident here. He likes the fishermen.

My personal Blue Rock Thrush in our back-yard dock, perched on our old bucket with my left-over water plants. Have to think of a name.

In the entrance of M. River, usually far from the banks: Common Goldeneye, ホオジロガモ, male and female

Mata ne, see you

Dusky Thrush, ツグミ 

 Oriental Greenfinches, カワラヒワ

Great Cormorants, カワウ, a thousand or more!

Coming around the corner, driving through the bend I stopped at the first possible moment to park the car. There was a field of Cormorants, lined up along the edge of the water. Wow, so many!

Pointing towards the water.

I carefully descended to the muddy beach, where a line of sand was firm enough to hold me.

Sitting quietly, I waited.

I'd have loved to see them fly, making long trains in the afternoon sky.

But it didn't happen. I left.

Imazu in December part 2

Continued from the previous post

2 Spoonbills, Eurasian and Black-faced, ヘラサギ / クロツラヘラサギ, side by side

Grey Plovers, ダイゼン staying for the winter?

3 from the 4

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ flying by on a sunny Sunday

The yearly American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ visiting us again

Would it be the same bird as last year? It stays in the same location...

Imazu in December part 1

It is winter, but the sun is still warm during the day. The wintering ducks have all come; however, there are few on the mudflats. The small birds are few in number as well. I can hear Reed Buntings, I see them flying, but I have yet to see one perched in the reeds near the 2 ponds. Where is everybody?

A Cattle Egret, アマサギ in winter? Apparently

Ms. Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ early in the morning

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ up in a tree!

The local gang of Oriental Magpies, カササギ

After sunset: Eurasian Woodcock, ヤマシギ

The funny colors are from the big lights above the baseball field

2 Raccoon dogs, タヌキ enjoying themselves