Yokoshima end of December

We wanted to stay at our favorite hot spring/campsite in Kumamoto, which is close to the reclaimed land area called Yokoshima Kantaku. We had to leave the snow-locked mountains with a huge D-tour and arrived late afternoon. The Harriers were flying. Returning to their roost it seemed. 2 males and 2 or 3 females.

Male Hen Narrier, ハイイロチュウヒ ♂

2 females ♀

I took lots of photos but ended up discarding most of them. Their was simply not enough light.

The next morning we returned early and found many buntings in the reeds. Not a good omen for the people who want to see raptors. But I was happy.

Little Bunting, コホオアカ

 

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

The ripe was so cold on my feet. I felt for Lady Redstart, ジョウビタキ ♀

Rustic Bunting, カシラダカ

Mid-morning we moved to another spot, where a Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ was shaking up a field with pipits

Richard's Pipit, マミジロタヒバリ 2 of the 4 birds I saw and heard

It was a good occasion to learn their calls

Red-throated Pipit, ムネアカタヒバリ male ♂

With all the pipits around this bird had me confused. But when I looked closely at the bill I realized... Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ ♀

Thanks for your help, Mr. H!

We met up with some birders that we had met 12 years ago and it felt like yesterday.

Great to see you, K and T!

While we looked at the small birds a male Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ ♂flew by.

Our lucky day!

Isahaya in February part 2

 Between the hundreds of Pipits are a few unusual ones. If you park your car alongside a field you might see some. But the farmers don't like to be bothered. So I moved on... 

However,  I found Richard's Pipit, マミジロタヒバリ alongside a small canal; 2 or 3 different birds

Flocks of Starlings and Lapwings fly back and forth to avoid the farmer and his tractor

Northern Lapwing, タゲリ

Common Starling, ホシムクドリ

Running from one field to another was a Japanese Weasel, ニホンイタチ or (more likely) Siberian Weasel, シベリアイタチ / チョウセンイタチ

Pipits: Richard's Pipit, マミジロタヒバリ; Red-throated Pipit, ムネアカタヒバリ; Olive-backed Pipit, ビンズイ

  Popping in and out of the dense growth, both Richard's and Red-throated took some time. I heard their call and waited. Once my presence was established and accepted they came out real close

Richard's Pipit, マミジロタヒバリ

Something was moving in the tall grass: Red-throated Pipit, ムネアカタヒバリ

There were 3 or 4 birds, moving together from bush to bush

What are these orange flowers? Kind of Chickweed? are they wild flowers?

There was a flock of Olive-backed Pipits, ビンズイ in the park, but time was up. Hence just 1 photo

Isahaya 3, small birds

More small stuff from the dung fields

Tall and slender: Richard's Pipit, マミジロタヒバリ

Lots of these guys, Buff-bellied Pipit, タヒバリ

I was particularly happy to find this one, a Red-throated Pipit, ムネアカタヒバリ

A pretty couple of Chestnut-eared Buntings, ホオアカ

Lady Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ kept me company when I hunched behind a tractor at the edge of the field, waiting for new arrivals

A surprise visit: Green Pheasant, キジ