Imazu on the 13th

Monday. The excitement of the day before drove me to the fields again. Not a bad decision. There was no wind, a good condition for small birds in the reeds. Around the 2 lakes:

Penduline Tits, ツリスガラ

On to the river, I stumbled upon a flock of Stints. Had I complained about small numbers the day before? There were 21!　Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ

Immediately followed by Garganeys, シマアジ. Below a group of 6. Plus 3 others, made it 9 birds.

On the way back I checked the location for the male Stonechat and... Bingo!

Stonechat, ノビタキ

I probably used all my luck up. The next day, my intentions of looking for flycatchers were washed away in the rain...

Imazu on the 12th

A surprise visit to Imazu, since we returned early from work-related duties. The weather was cloudy and...a bit dark. No rain yet, but it hung in the air. I fell with my nose in the butter (Dutch saying, look it up). 2 Stints, looking great in the fresh green. 3 or 4 Wood Sandpipers at the same place. And a few bonuses from nearby fields. 

Black-winged Stints, セイタカシギ

Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ

Small numbers, but at least... migraters have arrived

Siskins, マヒワ in the woods

I went back to that place where I had heard the Siskins, thinking there might be a chance to watch them coming down to bathe or drink. I could see them high up in the top of the tallest trees. So, I hid behind a bush near the water, not too close.

Eurasian Siskin, マヒワ

Sure enough, after a few minutes one after the other came down.

From where I sat, I could not see the place where they entered the stream, but watching them through the branches was fun.

Thank you, little girl, for coming so close. I love capturing your portrait, despite all the twigs

Your back looks good, too

Just one bird was brave enough to enter the nearest part of the stream. Just a sec.

Watching Siskins is like eating 🍫 chocolate

Nobitaki in Imazu

The first Stonechat of the season deserves a blog post. Here it is, in Imazu. A female-type bird that was very shy, but it briefly posed on a green flowering plant with Chinese Milkvetch, レンゲ in the background.

Stonechat, ノビタキ

There was a Buff-bellied Pipit nearby. Not so common here. When did I last see one in Tajiri?

Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ

I was a bit worried when no Dunlins were reportedly seen for a while. Well, they are back! 31 of them.

There is also a Greenshank, アオアシシギ in there. Not very clear? See below:

Last, another Stonechat, ノビタキ,  also in Tajiri

And that was it.

Thrushes in the park

April 3rd, Sakura season. The park was crowded, as expected. But around the Camphor tree it was reasonably quiet. Nobody is interested in those berries, but the Thrushes are!

Eyebrowed Thrush, マミチャジナイ

Brown-headed Thrush, アカハラ

Aimlessly in Kumamoto

A short break between jobs in Kumamoto, at our favorite hot spring campsite. The sun was out, fruit trees bloomed, Swallows were chattering, what else would you want? I can think of a hundred things or more, apart from the White-eyes in the Sakura trees that were so very absent...

Barn Swallow, ツバメ

Papillons in the gardens! Chinese Windmill butterfly, ジャコウアゲハ on Wild Radish, ハマダイコン

Chocolate Vine, アケビ It's the name that makes me love this plant.

Things that you run into, when aimlessly walking around: An old house in the countryside with a remarkable entrance

On the way back, we stopped at the Ariake Sea side to look for waders at high tide. There were NONE! Fortunately, a few Green Pigeons called from the trees and came down for a quick sip. That was all.

White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト