Greater Painted-snipe, タマシギ

The rice plants are still small, I could see the birds feeding in the paddy fields. Still, they are experts in hiding!

I'd love to see their chicks one day, but in July the rice plants are too tall for a clear view.

Other birds in the vicinity were the Grey-headed Lapwings, ケリ with their babies

おおきくなった！

2 parents and their 3 babies

Below a couple of  Ruddy-brested Crakes, ヒクイナ in the far distance 

Brown Hawk Owl, アオバズク

Looking in the tall Camphor trees I found 2 of several owls breeding in North Kyushu. Watching the nest, waiting for the chicks to hatch. Pretty soon the parents will be busy feeding them and maybe we get a chance to see them!

Good Luck!

Looking for Pitta

I went to the mountains 3 times in search of the Pitta. The first time I didn't hear anything, I arrived a bit late I guess. The 2nd time was better. I heard the call. In fact, I heard 3 birds.First 1, far away, and later at another location 2, real close! One was only about 20m away from me, calling very loud. Another one answered from also not too far and...  I DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THEM!
These birds are notorious for being secretive and shy. I had heard similar stories. But I felt stupid. And frustrated. All I got was a glimpse of movement.
However, it means that they are there, and probably breeding too. That is great!

Birds I did see included a Common Pheasant, キジ

A number of babies, like this Varied Tit, ヤマガラ

A curious Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ

Lesser Cuckoo, ホトトギス

And one interesting encounter with a　 Cuckoo, カッコウ

See next post

Common Cuckoo, カッコウ

The bird came in from the woods, flying low over a field where small birds were nesting.
It landed in the reeds, where it disappeared briefly in a ditch. When it appeared again it headed for a nearby tree, from where he or she watched the surroundings for a while and then flew directly to that same spot in the grass, where it stayed. Was this a female laying her eggs in some other birds' nest? Most likely. I waited a while and watched the possible nest owners... was it the Zitting Cisticola? The Meadow Bunting? The Chestnut-eared Bunting? I felt sorry for them. But that's life.

  

Is it your nest? Are they your eggs she is probably chucking out?

  

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

June, the first week

On the first day of the month I drove around Imazu, not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised to find this Tern sitting on the fence.

Whiskered Tern, クロハラアジサシ

 It's hard to see, but he did get a little fish for breakfast from one of the two ponds, were a couple of Stilts were roaming around as well

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ

Another bird that came to rest on the fence right beside me,looking sweet and adorable:

Barn Swallow, ツバメ

A few were frequenting this muddy field, gathering little bits and pieces that the dipped deep in the mud and took to away, to their nesting site.

 

I spend about an hour watching them, feeling content. It really means that there was nothing else to see... Suddenly a Skylark, ヒバリ appeared in front of my lens looking concerned, Was I too close to his nest?