Higashiyoka, March 21

Arriving early is good. On March 21st is was essential. The birds that start flying when the tide runs in, and usually return to find a place to rest closer to the shore line, well, they didn't come back... All birds' pictures are either on the mud or at a distance.

Long-billed Dowitchers, オオハシシギ and Grey Plovers, ダイセン

Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ in front of the Spoonbills, who will feature in the next post.

Back-lit

Common Ringed Plover, ハジロコチドリ 

Only got to see a few Stints. This one seemed to be a Little Stint, ヨーロッパトウネン

With Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ

Longer legs, different posture and way of feeding. A little more contrast...

Now, who is who?

Many Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ were sporting black heads.

2 Flagged Dunlins, ハマシギ . Here is one:

Great Knot, オバシギ. Just one. But it's a start

Flying Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ

Eurasian Curlews, ダイシャクシギ

Look at the Spoonbills next!

Higashiyoka in March

The weather was good. A little windy, but mostly sunny. The high tide midmorning was not as high as expected, but the sightings were interesting.

3 Long-billed Dowitchers, オオハシシギ

Common Ringed Plover, ハジロコチドリ

Eurasian Oystercatchers, ミヤコドリ

A flagged Dunlin, ハマシギ Too far for my lens to read a number. Maybe someone else...

One of several Bar-tailed Godwits, オオソリハシシギ  (in front)

I missed the Black-tailed Godwit this time, though I heard it was seen.

Lined up with the 2 Curlew species. Eurasian, ダイシャクシギ in the middle, Far Eastern, ホウロクシギ at the back

Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ. There were 2 birds, maybe 4

Some of the gulls had a striking white head, Mongolian Gull, モンゴルセグロカモメ?

The flock of Eurasian Curlews, ダイシャクシギ

Just when I was leaving, I saw this vaguely shaped bird on a steel buoy way out. When I recognized it I hurried back for a closer look, but it was still so far!

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク at sea!

Winter trip - Saga

We're in Saga, nearly back home. Our 11-day winter trip has come to an end. This is the first post of our trip report, covering Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Saga in 12 parts. It's a long read!

Early in the morning at Higashiyoka, a Short-eared Owl was keenly patrolling the reed-covered land plots behind the sea wall. 

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク

When the sun warmed us up, a few small birds poked their head out.

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

Penduline Tit, ツリスガラ

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

with each leg on a different leaf

Female Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ Puffed up her feathers to stay warm

Male Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ, chasing a flock of waterbirds over the mudflats

There were 2 Common Ringed Plovers, ハジロコチドリ, whose orange legs I could just make out in the distance. Thank you for showing me, C-san!

Last, the enticing sweeping flocks of mostly Dunlins across the mudflats 💗

The last stop on the last day of our winter holiday. Billie took us safely a fair 1100 km around Kyushu in 11 days. Saga was the perfect end of what was a wonderful trip for the 2 of us.