Japanese Waxwings, ヒレンジャク

It's a yaerly event, Waxwings visiting the city park. But instead of the Mistletoe, they headed straight to the water basin, after the Grosbeaks, Starlings and Thrushes.

Waiting in the same trees

Descending, one after the other

Quickly heading back up.

Tidal flats of Saga in February

 The time was a bit off. High tide at 11am is not very high and a little late for good lighting. Many images were back-lit. It's just a recording of what was there and of what I wanted to see.

Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ in flight

mixed with Dunlins, ハマシギ

The 2 Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ that stayed for the winter

Many Curlews, mostly Eurasian, ダイシャクシギ and a Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ

One Far-Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ on the right

The 2 smaller birds are Long-billed Dowitchers, オオハシシギ

Then there was a Red Knot, コオバシギ in winter plumage, among all the Grey Plovers, ダイセン

Another Godwit: Black-tailed, オグロシギ

Eurasian Spoonbills, ヘラシギ in the creek

Gulls.

Whenever I watch gulls in the harbor or at the rivers, I feel a pang of gilt that I don't pay more attention and learn about them. Distuinguishing adult birds is ok, as long as they are among the common species. Now I look at younger birds and look out for a different type. It's hard...

Mew Gulls, カモメ at Muromi River

Adult Vega Gulls, セグロカモメ

From left: Vega, Vega, セグロカモメ -  Black-tailed, ウミネコ - Black-headed, ユリカモメ - Mew Gull, カモメ

Common Merganser, カワアイサ and some more

A whole weekend without jobs and duties for both of us? Where did that suddenly come from? I felt like celebrating. So we did. With a luxurious relaxing bath at a scenic hot spring, a stroll along the sightly river and a visit to exotic curry place. The weather was reasonable, though we started off with rain. Good for some mysterious scenery

Locals cleaning the beautiful river, burning debris at intervals. They understand the value of their environment.

Halfway down the river, a male Common Merganser, カワアイサ

Among the wintering ducks were a number of Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ

The Merganser again

A Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ came to take a rest on the opposite river bank

What is it... she?.. doing?

A female Merganser, all by herself.

but not for long

Together now

Little things around Fukuoka

Walking to my check points, hoping to see something interesting, I end up with very little.

 A small flock of Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ was skimming the edge of the forest.

A Pale Thrush, シロハラ eating black fruit of Glossy Privet,トウネズミモチ

I looked for White-eyes in the plum blossom, but didn't see any. Had to make do with the bees

Just some mushrooms in a dark corner of the woods.

Paulownia tomentosa tree, commonly known as the Princess Tree or Empress Tree, キリ