Isahaya Komimi etc.

Traditionally, I went solo camping in January in Isahaya, stayed in the car and didn't do anything but hold my binos and camera. Despite the promising conditions and the number of active birds a few weeks before, there was little to see this time. Few birds, few people. However, one Owl appeared at the end of the afternoon.

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク

The large flocks of Baikal Teals, トモエガモ performed well at dusk

A young Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ was very cooperative, posing for a few long minutes

The next morning was rather quiet on my side of the field. Raptors were chasing the ducks as expected, but they stayed at a distance. Overall, there were very few Harriers of any kind.

Young male?

Smew, ミコアイサ

Never have I seen so many Smews in one place. I counted 32 birds. Mostly females, about 7 males. They were divided into 3 groups, patrolling the pond in the vicinity of the trees on the opposite side.

It was a funny situation. I checked the pond mid-morning and saw just 1 female. A hawk flushed out the whole lot and I left. An hour later, when I returned I didn't see much. It started to rain and I left again. Shortly after that the cloud cover lifted and a bit of sunshine broke through. I was still nearby and decided to try again. That's when all the Smews were there. Where had they come from??

If you look well, you can count 30 or 31 Smews, ミコアイサ

There were Baikal Teals, モエガモ as well. A few hundred.

A majestic Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ crossing my path on the way.

Bull-headed Shrike, モズ

Baikal Teals, トモエガモ 2

 Another day, another location. Different weather as well - wind, little sun and cold. - You can't have it all.

Baikal Teal, トモエガモ in Saga 1

Went to see the Baikal Teals in Saga. It was overwhelming, so many.

Baikal Teal, トモエガモ - male

Driving the fields I was surprised to see these 2 Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ. It's December, shouldn't you have moved on?

How did you get in there behind the netting anyway?

Another surprise: Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ - male

Not a surprise, but posing right in front of me: Common Starling, ホシムクドリ

I called it quits for that day and returned home.

Winter has arrived

It's cold! After my stay with family in tropical Indonesia it's hard to get acclimated again. I left the colorful birds and butterflies of Bali and got a grey world in return. Brrr. First thing I realized is that I missed out on the geese, particularly the Snow Goose that came to Imazu. I drove around aimlessly to see what was left.

2 Eastern Buzzards, ノスリ hunting together

Great Crested Grebes, カンムリカイツブリ at the 2 ponds

2 Black-crowned Nightherons, ゴイサギ along the creek

A few Baikal Teals, トモエガモ hidden in the reeds

Black-necked Grebe, ハジロカイツブリ - Glad to see your red eyes.

2 (again!) Greenshanks, アオアシシギ chasing each other up and down the creek.

Smews, ミコアイサ  2 males and 5 females

3 more females at another pond.

At the entrance to M river, a decent sized flock of Lesser Scaups, スズガモ

Among the a group of Eurasian Coots, オオバン - 48 birds. Were there ever that many before?