Common Merganser, カワアイサ and some more

A whole weekend without jobs and duties for both of us? Where did that suddenly come from? I felt like celebrating. So we did. With a luxurious relaxing bath at a scenic hot spring, a stroll along the sightly river and a visit to exotic curry place. The weather was reasonable, though we started off with rain. Good for some mysterious scenery

Locals cleaning the beautiful river, burning debris at intervals. They understand the value of their environment.

Halfway down the river, a male Common Merganser, カワアイサ

Among the wintering ducks were a number of Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ

The Merganser again

A Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ came to take a rest on the opposite river bank

What is it... she?.. doing?

A female Merganser, all by herself.

but not for long

Together now

Winter trip, Kaimondake

Fortunately, the cold spell didn't last long. It was funny to see bits of snow along the road in the very south of mainland Kyushu. When we stopped at Kaimon dake, it almost felt summer-ish again. Jaap hiked to the top, I hung around the park at the foot of the mountain. The flora looked so different, that kept me occupied, Birds were far and few. Except for one Hawk, that took it's time watching his or her surroundings. 

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, XXX

2 full minutes later - still there!

Some of the abundant berries, like these Beautyberries, オオムラサキ

Never seen before: Satsuma Sankirai. サツマサンキライ The Satsuma vine from Kagoshima

Wild Rose, ノバラ?

Flowers, stronger than the volcanic lava stone. Pink Knotweed, ヒメツルソバ?

A burst of red. Pyracantha, or Firethorn shrub, ピラカンタ

Saga, end of December

 The jobs are done, I can take a break. Before our yearly wintertrip we dropped by in Saga.

In the park at Higashiyoka: Red-breasted Flycatcher, ニシオジロビタキ

Common Starling, ホシムクドリ in a flock of White-cheeked

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ mobbing a Crow. 

Among the Rooks, a number of Daurian Jackdaws, コクマルガラス. All dark colored.

On this warm, sunny December day it was barely a surprise to see this pretty butterfly.

Japanese Oakblue, ムラサキシジミ

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

Around the west, Nishi-ku

A few bits and pieces from my occasional walks in the neighborhood.  It's not very often I see a Hawk in our harbor. It landed right in front of me, chasing something I could not see. What was all the franticness about?

Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

The Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリ is a long-term resident here. He likes the fishermen.

My personal Blue Rock Thrush in our back-yard dock, perched on our old bucket with my left-over water plants. Have to think of a name.

In the entrance of M. River, usually far from the banks: Common Goldeneye, ホオジロガモ, male and female

Mata ne, see you

Dusky Thrush, ツグミ 

 Oriental Greenfinches, カワラヒワ