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.

Migrants in the west, part 2

It's midday now, September 3rd. I'm driving back from Itoshima to Imazu. The fields glitter in the bright sun shine. I should not take any photos anymore. But I finally meet some waders.

In just a second, before they all scutter to the back. No time to adjust camera settings.

A Dunlin, ハマシギ, Red-necked Stints,トウネン and a Common Snipe, タシギ

 2 Briefly appeared again

At the far side: 2 Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ. I cannot get close to them

Coincidence 😅

At the river bank, thousands of crabs, laughing at 2 Common Greenshanks, アオアシシギ

Grey-tailed Tattler,キアシシギ

The flock of Golden Plovers returned

Pacific Golden Plover, ムナグロ

And... my first ducks of the season:

Common Teal, ホシハジロ  and Tufted Duck, キンクロハジロ  Greater Scaup, スズガモ

But actually at least one them was here the whole summer...

At last a field with 10 Black-winged Stilts,セイタカシギ. I was worried, but they are here!

2 Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ joined the party.

More later

Migrants in the west, part 1

September 3rd. After a whole month I finally had the chance to go to the fields again. I started early, before the heat and before the dragonflies got out. It was a bit hard at first, not being familiar with the fields, where to expect waders etc. At first I saw little and I was happy to find 2 Stints

Red-necked Stints,トウネン

Oriental Pratincole, ツバメチドリ

Hard to see when you are lying down. Did the Swallows wake you up?

Nearby, in the usual ditch: 2 Green Sandpipers, クサシギ

A Curlew flying overhead, heading for Itoshima? Can I find you there?

Further west, at the river mouth was 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ, in company with a couple of Red-necked Stints,トウネン

Down the embankment, looking over the rice paddies I noticed 2 Black-winged Stilts,セイタカシギ

 

But they were back-lit, so I moved to get a better angle.

Found them, but no way to get close.

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ、Common Greenshank, アオアシシギ

Heading back east. Guess who was there?

ホオロクシギ

Also in fields on the way: 1 (just 1!) Dunlin, ハマシギ

and 3 Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ.

By now the light was too harsh. I needed a break.

Autumn 2025

August 20th, We just came back to Fukuoka, after a break from the heat in the cooler mountains up north. The atmosphere has changed. The days are still hot and muggy, but mornings are a bit cooler and the occasional thunder and rain shower in the afternoon make life in the city more bearable. Autumn has come. A short ride through the fields in the west produced a few migrants. 

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ. Just one bird in the field.

2 Wood Sandpipers, タカブシギ appeared after a few minutes

At another field some Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ and one more Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギwere feeding together. At ease, but a bit skitterish.

huddling together - sensing danger?

A little down the road some Greensanks, アオアシシギ. 

Then there were about 10 Pacific Golden Plovers, ムナグロ in a dry field, that matches their plumage so well, they can easily be overlooked.

After the summer we can see you big eyes again. So pretty. 

Fluffy Gold

You look much better with a green background!