Saga part 1: Nordmann's Greenshank, カラフトアオアシシギ

 The day of the highest tide was Wednesday, October 8th. The weather forecast was cloudy, which is good in many ways, but the color of the water becomes so dull. Migrators in October are mostly in winter plumage, also not very colorful. When my TC broke down my mood was also rather grey. However, I got excited by the good views of waders who came to stop on the stones below the seawall, where we were all lined up with our scopes and cameras. Already 2 hours before high tide, birds started coming in from the mudflats. There were thousands of Grey Plovers, ダイセン and Dunlins, ハマシギ. Also many Great Knots, オバシギ and probably some Red Knots, but I didn't look for them. The reason was the Nordmann's Greenshank, カラフトアオアシシギ, who was giving us perfect views. The star of the day!

The view at 8:30 am, 1 and a half hour before high tide.

Below the first of 2 or 3 Nordmann's Greenshanks, カラフトアオアシシギ perched on the fence

A little later, another one among Grey Plovers, ダイセン

Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ coming close

Ah, time to fly

After that, a beautiful bird taking possession of a slab, right in front of me.

The bird looked white, with a nearly spotless breast and beautiful yellow legs

Defending its possy

Nibbling at something edible?

It was wonderful to watch this rare bird up close for 30 minutes

Other birds that we found in the huge crowd:

1 Pacific Golden Plover, ムナグロ

A juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ

A flagged Grey Plover, ダイセン

To be continued