Nobitaki in Imazu

The first Stonechat of the season deserves a blog post. Here it is, in Imazu. A female-type bird that was very shy, but it briefly posed on a green flowering plant with Chinese Milkvetch, レンゲ in the background.

Stonechat, ノビタキ

There was a Buff-bellied Pipit nearby. Not so common here. When did I last see one in Tajiri?

Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ

I was a bit worried when no Dunlins were reportedly seen for a while. Well, they are back! 31 of them.

There is also a Greenshank, アオアシシギ in there. Not very clear? See below:

Last, another Stonechat, ノビタキ,  also in Tajiri

And that was it.

December left-overs from Fukuoka.

Contrary to the birding fields in the rest of Kyushu, Fukuoka gets few Pipits and Buntings. So, when I see some, I stop to watch. 

Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ

And sometimes I watch Wagtails as well.

White Wagtail, ハクセキレイ

In Kanatake, during the walk, the caterpillars of the Japanese Siren butterfly, ゴマダラチョウ, were seen on the Chinese Celtis tree, エノキ, where they would fall to the ground and wait out the cold winter.

A different colored hopper. Red from the cold?

Who's nest was this?

Aridoshi, アリドオシ with lots of berries

On the way back, a flock of Northern Lapwings, タゲリ crossed my path

April 6 around Imazu

The first Sunday in April, WBSJ day. We walked, talked and counted. There were not many surprises. The highlight was the Stonechat. 

On the mudflats, we saw 1 Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

The American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ with his black head was still there

In the afternoon a few waders flew in. Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

A Hawk landed in the mess of lotus stalks with what? A Snipe?

Female Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

Some of the White Wagtails seemed different. The big apron reaching up to the chin.

Taiwan or East Siberian White Wagtail, M.a.ocularis？

Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ all by itself

Last bird of the afternoon, Swinhoe's Snipe, チュウジシギ

December sightings in the west

Just when I told someone I hoped to see a Red-breasted Merganser, ウミアイサ on land, one female was coming really close

Come on, hop on a slab! I want to see your feet.

No luck, feet stayed out of sight. I had to wait for this ↓ 

 I didn't see any Harlequin Ducks, シノリガモ

At the same place: Eurasian Wigeon, ヒドリガモ - My winged sister

Grey Bunting, クロジ - Always happy to see you

Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリ

Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ

On the other side of the bay, just one Brown Booby, カツオドリ was decorating the skyline

Island life

May has come. I had been looking forward to this day for a long time, for I was finally able to go to O island during migration. I got on the ferry with my little suitcase and a little over an hour later I was there. The first on the island day was very dark, windy and wet. During the little time I had before and after work, I went out and checked the fields. Birding was very slow in these conditions. I could hear, but I could not see. Was that an Indian Cuckoo, セグロカッコウ calling nearby? I could not see it. Raptors were flying by. I think Falcons... The birds I could see were mostly Pipits. Lots of warblers were moving around the treetops, calling Hi Hi Hi. I could not hear any familiar sounds. My camera wasn't much help. I took very few photos, here they come:

Streaked Shearwater, オオミズナギドリ seen from the ferry on the first day

Around the harbor and on the way to work I saw many Pipits

I think they are all Buff-bellied Pipits, タヒバリ but please correct me if I'm wrong

A Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ crossed my path

Very shy and hard to detect: Little Bunting, コホオアカ about 4 or 5

On the 2nd day the cloud cover cleared and visibility improved. A big flock of waders moved slowly toward Hakata Bay 

Lots of Streaked Shearwaters, オオミズナギドリ were there as well.

On the way back at the entrance a few Porpoises popped up in front of the bow of the boat. The captain must have seen them pretty close. Egrets were flying by.

Last a photo of a White-cheeked Starling, ムクドリ. I learned they were not usually seen on islands. I wonder if it is living here