One day in Saga

  I went to Saga to check a few things out, but it was one of those days, when birds seem to be generally absent. At the M dam lake were very few ducks. There must be a raptor somewhere, I thought.

Mandarin Duck, オシドリ; Baikal Teal,トモエガモ (Little Grebe, カイツブリ)

Sure enough, an Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ (I presume...)

At the road station / toilet stop were some Japanese Grosbeaks, イカル scattered around the river

They took off once they spotted me.

A few misses later I found myself at the coast in Higashiyoka. Hight tide at midday and no birders around, there must be a better place to be.

Below some Kentish Plovers, シロチドリ

Followed by a massive crowd of Dunlins, ハマシギ

Every 50m or so a Grey Plover, ダイセン was searching for food

A small group of waders, mostly Greenshanks, アオアシシギ but 2 of them had red legs. Spotted Redshanks ツルシギ?

Doesn't that look like a Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ?

There were no Avocets, no Oystercatchers and no Spoonbills in sight.

However, many actively feeding Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ kept me happy.

At the most western end I found 1 Spoonbill... sound asleep