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?

Waders in the west

October has come to an end. Time flies when the weather is fine and walking around the fields is comfortable. The latest waders in the west include 2 Spotted Redshank, ツルシギ. It is nice to see them in the river among green water plants.

A couple of days later, 7 Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ and a few Greenshanks, アオアシシギ

A Black-faced Spoonbill, クロツラヘラサギ was there as well.

At the mudflats, a fair number was sleeping on the island (as usual)

2 of them were out for a stroll. I could see their pre orbital patch

I was told that the Eurasian Coot, オオバン was not a common sight in the past and people traveled from other parts of the country to Imazu to see them. Unbelievable

Most rice paddies are dry and the rice has been harvested. Here 3 Dunlins, ハマシギ are resting in one of the few left-over fields

Common Snipes, タシギ gather at various locations.

Ohori Coot, オオバン

There is an unusual visitor in the city park, a partly uncolored Coot. It's not a pretty sight, this leucistic bird, but it's interesting. He or she seems strong minded, chasing other Coots away except for one. Will it survive?

Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ and some more

 New arrivals around Imazu 

Today, October 18th: Female Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ

Earlier in the week this raptor sat here for just a few seconds. Northern Goshawk, オオタカ

It made a quick dash at a flock of Starlings and disappeared.

Mandarin Ducks in small groups, オシドリ

When the regular Oriental Magpies, カササギ got together I counted 14 birds.

Hanging out with the big black guys

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

The strong winds brought more Stejneger's Stonechat, ノビタキ

3 in a row, 

4 in a row

The Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ was active as well

6 pm at the pond where the Purple Heron was sighted. I have given up on this bird. Too much time wasted!

Between the still blooming Water Hyacinths: Eurasian Coot, オオバン

Bull-headed Shrike, モズ