On a weekday, when not many people walk by, the Mandarin Ducks, オシドリcan be seen relaxing on the nets
2 Crested Kingfishers, ヤマセミ flew by. I quickly hid out of sight and... Yes! One of them stopped briefly on a pole nearby.
Soon, it joined the other one at the opposite bank.
At the river behind the school, a Common Kingfisher, カワセミ
I sat quietly near the water, where a Grey Wagtail, キセキレイ joined me
And 2 Brown Dippers, カワガラス appeared briefly as well.
After many years I saw this flycatcher again
Dark-sided Flycatcher, サメビタキ
The weather was rather unstable. Hot, humid, rainy, windy. We saw it all. Surprisingly many birds showed up in Imazu. I could not attend the monthly WBSJ meeting and went there a few days later. Early in the morning the Reed Buntings were as loud as usual. Crakes were scurrying in the rice paddies. I was hoping to see Painted Snipes and scanned every row of rice plants, but there were none. The Yellow Bitterns were flying frequently. I think there are 3 birds and 2 of them might be nesting. There were many starlings around and shrikes. Both the common kind. 1 Tern came flying in, soon followed by a Peregrine falcon. Thus, all small birds disappeared. Towards Tajiri bridge I was surprised by a couple of Mandarin ducks. How different they look in summer plumage! That was the first week of July.
Yellow Bittern, ヨシゴイ
