Ohisashiburi no Imazu

End of March. Not much is happening as far as I can tell. My visits to Imazu are short, no chance to look carefully. This is what I found:

The American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ with his girlfriend still sticking around at the usual location

A Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ gets mobbed by the crows

Common Sandpiper, イソシギ in the sun

It felt as if I was looking at a majestic statue on the top of a Japanese roof. Suddenly it took off

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

Great Crested Grebes, カンムリカイツブリ are showing summer colors now.

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

The winter flock of Oriental Greenfinch, カワラヒワ is not very big this year. Where are the Bramblings?

Great Egrets, ダイサギ gathered with their heads in the wind

Little Egrets, コサギ are becoming real pretty

Then April came and on the first day new Egrets appeared!

3 Intermediate Egrets, チュウサギ

It's a start

Migrating birds expedition

Like most years I drove south to this place where migrating birds stop for a short break on their way to their breeding grounds. I was a bit later than usual and didn't know what to expect. Early in the morning a flock of Cattle Egrets, アマサギ hung around for a while, before continuing north. Among them were some Intermediate Egrets, チュウサギ in summer feathers. Clouds covered the sky and few other birds were heard.

A bunch of Snipes came out of the reeds every now and then. Other birders were discussing their origin, thinking they might be Pintails. Or Swinhoe's. Who knows... I go for the latter.

Swinhoe's Snipe, チュウジシギ

One Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ was roaming in the river

October in Imazu

 It rained again and the northerly winds picked up. Good conditions for spotting migrating birds. Some irregular visitors could be around. Despite the bad weather birders go out to the fields. Meaning, the ones that don't have to go to work... When I left the job and made it out there there was a lot of movement, but little left for me to be seen. Should I become a full-time birder? No, I won't go that far...

First Kestrel of the season, a female. チョウゲンボウ

Flying around, but mostly hiding in the ricefield, a mixed flock of Eurasian Teals, コガモ (2 on the right) and Garganeys, シマアジ (1 bird on the left)

It is clear how the beaks are different. The Teal has an elegant bill, the Garganey somewhat massive.

I hope I got this right

Pretty Garganey, are you a young male?

Intermediate Egret, チュウサギ it's time to stock up on food. 

Hundreds? of Snipes. It seemed so. They were litterally everywhere. They all seemed to be Common Snipes, タシギ to me. Did anyone see the odd one out? A Jack Snipe, コシギ???

The following day the scene had changed drastically. The sunshine made the river glow. I was happy to see the Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ in the river again.

A single Stint in a small creek. Red-necked Stint, トウネン

Still on the move, Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

The Kestrel was around as well, but didn't come close.

That's it for now.

Garganeys and some more

April 5th. There were 25 Garganeys, シマアジ in the pond. Maybe 30! (some seemed to be hiding in the reeds) I had never seen such a big flock. Most of them were males. Why?

Other migrators had arrived, too.

Cattle Egret, アマサギ

For lack of cattle... Have to make do with goats.

Intermediate Egret, チュウサギ

Pipits were gathering. Buff-bellied Pipits, タヒバリ

I looked for some other kinds, but could not see any

A gruffy-looking Little Egret, コサギ in a sea of yellow

Shelducks, ツクシガモ　 Getting ready for take-off?

Migrators update July 30th

Several migrating birds have arrived recently. I was particularly happy to see the Red-necked Stints. As every year. There were 5 birds on a barren field. Their feathers still showed summer colors, but on a brown field with nothing green what so ever the beauty doesn't come out well.

Red-necked Stint, トウネン

There were lots of juvenile plovers, Little Ringed Plover, コチドリ

And 1 Kentish Plover, シロチドリ   So cute!

In the river and the nearby triangular pond small ducks caught my eye. There were 2... maybe 5 Garganeys, シマアジ; 2 Falcated Ducks, オカヨシガモ and 1 female Mandarin Duck, オシドリ

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. It is just to show who is there. 😼

And 1 single Pochard, ホシハジロ ?

Also 1 Far-Eastern Curlew, ホオロクシギ

Last week's Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ is still there. All by itself

Another one arrived at another field.

I thought they would team up, but that didn't happen. Nr 2 moved on.

Below some Intermediate Egrets, チュウサギ

(The Cattle Egrets, アマサギ are also still around)