Grosbeaks and Hawfinches

Early morning in the park again. Watching the Grosbeaks come to the water basin. Their behavior is interesting, I could watch it for hours...

The birds look real pretty in flight with their wings spread. Trying to capturing this moment is a lot of fun. I'm not nearly as good as some of my buddies, but look at this:

The flock generally behaves well. When 15 birds come down, all wanting a drink at the same time, the situation tends to become a bit tense. And a bit of squabbeling is normal. 

Most birds come to drink, some hardly gat a chance. Only once did I see one bathing. All by itself

Brr, cold!

Time to go!

The other day 2 Hawfinches, シメ were reported. I hoped to observe them, but they didn't come close. Not good for a picture. This is all I got.

Maybe another time.

Red-billed Starlings, ギンムクドリ

This winter they have been entertaining us from the side. While the audience was waiting for the Chinese visitor, a flock of 8 or 10 birds moved around the tall trees, often looking for water in the nook of a big trunk. Gradually, the audience moved with them.

Red-billed Starlings, ギンムクドリ

Male and female

Move on, it's my turn now

Great views at the basin. Male

Female

In the trees, way behind. Sometimes it's not clear whether they are fighting, asking attention, acknowledging, or just teasing each other. Who is in charge?

The last of Ko-ikaru, コイカル

In January I visited the park several times to see the birds gathering at the waterbasin. The Grosbeaks made it a great spectacle. They came down from the trees in numbers of 10 or mor e. There was only one Chinese Grosbeak, or Yellow Grosbeak among them and if you came early, you would have a chance to see it. sometimes once, just a few seconds. Other times 2 or 3 times. But never long.

Chinese Grosbeak, or Yellow Grosbeak, コイカル

Some days were sunny, other days cloudy. Cloudy was good.

But then I only saw its back

However, another day it would come again...

...and again

Until suddenly it stopped visiting us. That's (bird) life 😔

The 1st day of February

 The first Sunday, so we started with a walk around Imazu

Finally, the Reed Buntings, オオジュリン showed up

A huge flock of Cormorants, カワウ formed an island-like black patch in the middle of the estuary.

I counted 1070 birds. Anyone wants to check?

A few minutes later they all flew up

4 Grey Plovers, ダイセン - exactly where I saw them 2 months before

American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ - looking a bit more green

Afterwards we drove to Itoshima to see the one Greater White-fronted Goose, マガン...

...and the Tundra Swan, コハクチョウ