Black-throated Loons, オオハム

March 17th. It took me a while to find some. Without local knowledge, where do we go? Finally, I came to the place where 4 birds came a little closer, and from where I could see a little more than the pinpoints of the week before. No real summer plumage, though. 

Black-throated Loons, オオハム

4 birds together 

In a few minutes they were gone.

Enjoy your day on the beach!　Spot-billed Ducks, カルガモ

Cruising low above the fields behind the dunes, female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ

Imazu area

One day there were many, the next day none. Was it the Harrier that kept on coming back? 

Penduline Tits, ツリスガラ

female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ

Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Common Snipe, タシギ

Lower mountains

The daily temperatures are rising. If it wasn't for the cold winds, we would have summer conditions. Butterflies are regular now. Time to post some

Asian Comma, キタテハ

Holly Blue, ルリシジミ

Japanese Oakblue, ムラサキシジミ

Small Copper, ベニシジミ

Blauwe Druifjes, in memory of my aunt, tante Bieb

Just a few birds - nothing special. Olive-backed Pipit, ビンズイ

Okawara Greenfinch, オオカワラヒワ

An early nesting bird. Maybe Varied Tit?

Lotus fields in Saga, 2

Continued from previous post. After the Stints and the raptors I was about to go home, when I noticed the Storks on their new nest.

Oriental Stork, コウノトリ

Looks promising.

Followed by the Swans.

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

The Spoonbills, ヘラサギ were nearby...

  ...as well as some Northern Shovelers, ハシビロガモ

The sunlight was too low for their colors

I had not seen so many birds on one day for a while.

Lotus fields in Saga, 1

I didn't expect any waders here yet, so I was quite surprised to find these Stints. But I wonder, how long have they been here? And if they had just arrived, then where from?

Temminck's Stint, オジロトウネン

The raptors were wel represented.

Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

Osprey, ミサゴ

to be continued

Higashiyoka in March

The weather was good. A little windy, but mostly sunny. The high tide midmorning was not as high as expected, but the sightings were interesting.

3 Long-billed Dowitchers, オオハシシギ

Common Ringed Plover, ハジロコチドリ

Eurasian Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ

A flagged Dunlin, ハマシギ Too far for my lens to read a number. Maybe someone else...

One of several Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ  (in front)

I missed the Black-tailed Godwit this time, though I heard it was seen.

Lined up with the 2 Curlew species. Eurasian, ダイシャクシギ in the middle, Far Eastern, ホウロクシギ at the back

Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ. There were 2 birds, maybe 4

Some of the gulls had a striking white head, Mongolian Gull, モンゴルセグロカモメ?

The flock of Eurasian Curlews, ダイシャクシギ

Just when I was leaving, I saw this vaguely shaped bird on a steel buoy way out. When I recognized it I hurried back for a closer look, but it was still so far!

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク at sea!