Kosnobi, コスノビ

Kosnobi they say here in Japan, when a Nobitaki, Stonechat is perched on Kosmos flowers
The Siberian Stonechat, ノビタキ is a migrating visitor that we see in spring and autumn. This year there were very few birds in spring, but autumn seems to make up for that. The following pictures are the result of happy go lucky shooting session in a nearby field

Northern Lapwings, タゲリ Little Buntings, コホオアカ? Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ?

Since I didn't go out birding in the weekend, I left home this afternoon to go out to the fields.
Nearly all the rice has been harvested now, the paddies look brown and dull. It was already late in the afternoon when I noticed these birds, 3 Northern Lapwings, タゲリ. The first of this season!

 Nearby a couple of buntings perched 2 fields away drew my attention. In this low light it"s hard to catch the details at such a far distance. Are they Little Buntings, コホオアカ?

Or Chestnut-eared Buntings, ホオアカ?

Earlier on I stopped by the dam lake to the the Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ. Over 20 birds I saw, male, female, eclipse. There are probably more.

Japanese Yellow Bunting, ノジコ

Last week during a short visit to the Imazu area. It was a quiet day. Very few birds around. But there's got to be something! I thought. And then a Japanese Yellow Bunting, ノジコ stopped by. A lifer! Probably not so uncommon in other parts of the country, but a first for me here in Fukuoka.

I heard the calls of Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ and found some birds, all female. Where are the males?

When all turned quiet again I looked up and saw the Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ on patrol.

Recent sightings at the harbor: Gulls, カモメ

So far the Black-tailed Gulls, ウミネコ have enjoyed a private life in the harbor, where it's easy to find food. But now they have to share it and make room for the bigger Vega Gulls, セグロカモメ who have started to come in little by little. I was watching them for a while, when I noticed 2 smaller birds: Black-headed Gulls, ユリカモメ. They have arrived!

Black-tailed Gull, ウミネコ

Vega Gull, セグロカモメ

Black-headed Gulls, ユリカモメ

Recent sightings at the harbor: Striated Heron, ササゴイ and Pacific Reef Egret, クロサギ

We have this wall at the entrance of the harbor. It's not connected to the shore, so people cannot go there, but boats pass by very close. And though there doesn't seem to be much to eat to my idea, birds like it. The regulars are the Grey herons, Cormorants and Gulls, but sometimes we see something else.

Striated Heron, ササゴイ

Pacific Reef Egret, クロサギ (with Grey Heron, アオサギ)

Flycatchers galore

It was after 5 in the afternoon and I was packing up to go - we still had to drive a fair way. Suddenly a flock of flycatchers "attacked" this fruit-bearing tree. There was blue fluttering everywhere. Over 10 Blue-and white Flycatchers, オオルリ but also yellow, Narcissus Flycatchers, キビタキ. The resident Grey-streaked and Brown Asian Flycatchers エゾビタキ and コサメビタキ got all upset and started chasing them from their tree. It was quite a scene for about 15 minutes.

A very good looking bird. Young male I suppose

 female

It was difficult to focus in this low light. Somehow the Blue colored birds were easier than the yellow ones. Well, there were more of them.

What's happening in West Fukuoka - 2

An early start at the Imazu mud flats. In the first rays of the morning the grey muddy water turns pink, creating a pretty scene with the Greenshanks, アオアシシギ

Roaming in the fields a pretty Siberian Stonechat, ノビタキ suddenly lands right in front of me. But why did she have to sit on that dried-out bit of flowers...? :-)

More Stonechats in the rice fields. This year in spring only a few stopped by and I feared they would give us a miss again, but luckily I was wrong.

I looked for migrating wagtails, but instead of the expected Eastern Yellow Wagtails I found this Amur White wagtail,  ホオジロセキレイ

The season for butterflies is not over yet

Common Buckeye, タテハモドキ