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!

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

Imazu in December part 2

Continued from the previous post

2 Spoonbills, Eurasian and Black-faced, ヘラサギ / クロツラヘラサギ, side by side

Grey Plovers, ダイゼン staying for the winter?

3 from the 4

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ flying by on a sunny Sunday

The yearly American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ visiting us again

Would it be the same bird as last year? It stays in the same location...

One day in the middle of November

The weather is so unstable, I don't know what to wear. On a warm sunny day I drove around the west, stopping at some of my checkpoints, not particularly looking for anything, just enjoying the sights and the comfortable sunshine. There were lots of ducks in the various ponds. Though some ponds were frighteningly bare; I was happy to see a single Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe, カンムリカイツブリ.

4 Chestnut-eared Buntings, ホオアカ were quickly moving in and out of the grasses

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ was there, too

The duck parade: 3 Common Pochards, ホシハジロ

3 Tufted Ducks, キンクロハジロ

Male and female Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ

Saunders's Gull, ズグロカモメ

In Itoshima a group of Grey Plovers, ダイゼン, who are not in a hurry to move south.

One of several Far-Eastern Curlews, ホオロクシギ

Are you all going to stay for the winter?