Red-breasted Merganser, ウミアイサ

There were 4 birds that hung around the breaking waves about 200m from the coast in the small bay. 2 of them, a male and female came a little closer after a while. I had to hide behind the wall for about 30min. They all moved away and when they met with another group they performed a display.

Red-breasted Merganser, ウミアイサ

Acts of display. Too far for good photos, but through my binoculars it looked spectacular

Another far away scene: hundreds of cormorants crossing Hakata Bay

The 1st day of February

 The first Sunday, so we started with a walk around Imazu

Finally, the Reed Buntings, オオジュリン showed up

A huge flock of Cormorants, カワウ formed an island-like black patch in the middle of the estuary.

I counted 1070 birds. Anyone wants to check?

A few minutes later they all flew up

4 Grey Plovers, ダイセン - exactly where I saw them 2 months before

American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ - looking a bit more green

Afterwards we drove to Itoshima to see the one Greater White-fronted Goose, マガン...

...and the Tundra Swan, コハクチョウ

Brown Booby, カツオドリ

The winds are stronger, the waves higher, Boobies come in the Bay to look for fish. One bird out of 3 came close enough to the shore in Nishi-ku. But I had to wait a long time.

Brown Booby, カツオドリ

Japanese Cormorants, ウミワウ

Pacific Reef Egret, クロサギ

Brown Shrike, シマアカモズ

In the park near my home, unexpected, and a first for many. It was just this afternoon, and watching it from a cafe, while drinking ice coffee with friends, that was the most luxurious kind of birding - ever!

Other birds at the same park were the White and Japanese Wagtails. One Japanese Wagtail, セグロセキレイ stayed on the ground, sitting still, for long periods of time. I first thought it had an injury, but then I saw the chicks. It was a parent, watching out for the kids.

At a pond towards the east, a Great Cormorant, カワウ was creating pretty patterns of reflection.

Winter birds

It's cold, it's wet and it's dark. This winter lasts too long. I hardly leave the warmth of our cabin when I don't have to. Is this also part of El Nino? 

Spoonbills are wandering around Imazu. This Black-faced SB, クロツラヘラサギ has a bunch of spring feathers on its head. We are heading in the right direction!

Impaled by a Shrike I suppose. The bird will eat it when supplies are thinning out. 

On a sunny day a big flock of Greater Scaups, スズガモ drifts by. 

Spot the odd one out

Not only Scaups. There is a Tufted, キンクロハジロ in there as well

Great Cormorants, カワウ are taking a break. There must have been 500 birds

Swimming up river, 2 male Red-breasted Mergansers, ウミアイサ

Sea birds

 On several occasions I set out to find seabirds, preferably Pacific Loons or Divers. It was pretty hard. I mostly had to make do with Cormorants...

Japanese Cormorant aka Temminck's Cormorant, ウミウ 

Japanese Cormorant, ウミウ and Pelagic Cormorant, ヒメウ (on the right)

Pelagic Cormorant, ヒメウ

A pair of Red-breasted Merganser, ウミアイサ quickly got out of my view

As I searched the horizon I noticed some movements, but could not identify anything other than "white dots"

Earlier this month on similar trips it wasn't much better, though I think these 2 birds could be Loons, オオハム

Loons?　オオハム

Greater Crested Grebes, カンムリカイツブリ and Red-breasted Merganser, ウミアイサ by the looks of it. Certainly no Loons

Some creature that stayed with me for a while, Japanese Weasel, ニホンイタチ

Fishermen at work

For the record: Great Cormorants, カワウ closer to shore