Tsushima 3: Chamashiko, Pond Herons and Drongos

The one bird that got everyone's attention. Not particularly colorful or spectacular, female Common Rosefinch,アカマシコ or チャマシコ. I loved her soft, sweet face and the way she was determined to eat alllll those fruits of the Japanese Zelkova, ケヤキ tree. (I think it took her 3 days😉)

female Common Rosefinch,アカマシコ

A must during Golden Week: capturing a Chinese Pond Heron, アカガシラサギ

The Drongo's were seen at several locations in the south. Sometimes 3 at the time. But I was just lucky with one bird, twice. Black Drongo, オウチュウ

Tsushima 2, Buntings

The next most common birds in and around the fields of Naiin were the Buntings, Emberiza. They eat mainly seeds and all have conical-shaped bills. I love this season, when so many uncommon Buntings visit Japan

Siberian Black-faced Bunting, シベリアアオジ male

female

Little Bunting,コホオアカ

Yellow-breasted Bunting, シマアオジ

Yellow-browed Bunting,キマユホオジロ

Yellow Bunting,ノジコ The only one I saw

Tsushima1, Wagtails

The first migrators I encountered at Naiin were Yellow Wagtails: Eastern and Western, and the Siberian, in Japanese キマユツメナガセキレイ, マミジロツメナガセキレイ, シベリアツメナガセキレイ. Their names always confuse me. I will call them just that.  Numerous birds were feeding on a barren field. Later, at Komoda, we saw 2 in the rice fields. A Western and a Siberian, getting in each other's way. 

Below a Siberian Yellow Wagtail, シベリアツメナガセキレイ

The reflection of the water makes its belly look mottled

Siberian Yellow Wagtail, シベリアツメナガセキレイ in front

Western Yellow Wagtail, マミジロツメナガセキレイ behind

They don't get along...

Sometimes it's confusing, who is who

Look at the long claws!

Back to the fields in Naiin, 

Western Yellow Wagtail, マミジロツメナガセキレイ

Siberian Yellow Wagtail, シベリアツメナガセキレイ

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, キマユツメナガセキレイ

Last a White Wagtail, ホオジロハクセキレイ, Amur White Wagtail

Western Sandpiper, ヒメハマシギ

I had hoped for an Asian Dowitcher, but got a Westerling instead. The distance was actually too big for my small lens, but I tried anyway. A LIFER, that's why

Western Sandpiper, ヒメハマシギ to the left of the Red-necked Stints

Equally far, Broad-billed Sandpiper, キリアイ

Flying by, Spotted Redshank, ツルシギ

The rest of the time I spent watching the pretty/ugly Turnstones that were running up and down in groups. 10 or 20 birds!

Ruddy Turnstone, キョジウジョウシギ

The tide is rolling in. Time to move in with the Sandpipers and Whimbrels

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ