Goldeneyes, ホオジロガモ

I went to see the pretty Goldeneye ducks in the river near my home. There were 5 males and 2 females scattered over the middle of the estuary. I waited and tried to get close. On my bicycle it was easy to move around, but it was hard work! The weather was fair, with intermittent cloud cover.

 Goldeneye, ホオジロガモ

Display?

Just when I found the right spot, a raptor came close and all ducks took to flight.

I found them again on the opposite side, close to the Greater Scaups, スズガモ

2 females were way back, hardly ever coming close to the shore

A little later with a little sunshine

And a little green on the head

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

Goldeneye, ホオジロガモ and Greater Scaup, スズガモ

They come every year to the big river near my home. It's so nice to see their movements and acts of display up close. 💓

Goldeneye, ホオジロガモ 

The next day there were 3. Although it was a sunny day, the scene looks grey, with the light from a different angle

A little down towards the bay a flock of different ducks was catching the sunlight.

Greater Scaup, スズガモ They really like to sleep!

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

New Arrivals!

  Today in Imazu: 8 Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ. They were not there yesterday and the Northerly winds must have brought them in

Also in the vicinity: Stejneger's Stonechat, ノビタキ

No beautiful pictures yet...I saw just 2 birds

I personally am happy to see these ducks, the スズガモ, Greater Scaup.

The male had me confused with its colors, but the nail at the tip of the bill is rather large. 

1 male and 3 females

Was this the bird we saw flying on Sunday?

female Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

Too many leaves, vines, branches, whatever are covering this bird. But it's here,

Eurasian Wryneck, アリスイ