Black-throated Loons, オオハム

March 17th. It took me a while to find some. Without local knowledge, where do we go? Finally, I came to the place where 4 birds came a little closer, and from where I could see a little more than the pinpoints of the week before. No real summer plumage, though. 

Black-throated Loons, オオハム

4 birds together 

In a few minutes they were gone.

Enjoy your day on the beach!　Spot-billed Ducks, カルガモ

Cruising low above the fields behind the dunes, female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ

Imazu area

One day there were many, the next day none. Was it the Harrier that kept on coming back? 

Penduline Tits, ツリスガラ

female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ

Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Common Snipe, タシギ

Isahaya Komimi etc.

Traditionally, I went solo camping in January in Isahaya, stayed in the car and didn't do anything but hold my binos and camera. Despite the promising conditions and the number of active birds a few weeks before, there was little to see this time. Few birds, few people. However, one Owl appeared at the end of the afternoon.

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク

The large flocks of Baikal Teals, トモエガモ performed well at dusk

A young Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ was very cooperative, posing for a few long minutes

The next morning was rather quiet on my side of the field. Raptors were chasing the ducks as expected, but they stayed at a distance. Overall, there were very few Harriers of any kind.

Young male?

Winter trip - Saga

We're in Saga, nearly back home. Our 11-day winter trip has come to an end. This is the first post of our trip report, covering Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Saga in 12 parts. It's a long read!

Early in the morning at Higashiyoka, a Short-eared Owl was keenly patrolling the reed-covered land plots behind the sea wall. 

Short-eared Owl, コミミズク

When the sun warmed us up, a few small birds poked their head out.

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

Penduline Tit, ツリスガラ

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

with each leg on a different leaf

Female Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ Puffed up her feathers to stay warm

Male Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ, chasing a flock of waterbirds over the mudflats

There were 2 Common Ringed Plovers, ハジロコチドリ, whose orange legs I could just make out in the distance. Thank you for showing me, C-san!

Last, the enticing sweeping flocks of mostly Dunlins across the mudflats 💗

The last stop on the last day of our winter holiday. Billie took us safely a fair 1100 km around Kyushu in 11 days. Saga was the perfect end of what was a wonderful trip for the 2 of us.