Winter trip - Part 5

Still in Izumi, but now looking at other birds. Most prominent are the Rooks, but my interest goes to the Daurian Jackdaws, that are mixed in the big flocks. There were many this year. Several "Pandas" as the birders affectionally call them, when they have white, or white-ish breast feathers

4 Daurian Jackdaws, コクマルガラス and a Rook, ミヤマガラス

Often perched on the wires around the Crane visitor center.

If not on the wires, then in the fields with their big brothers

The small pond behind the center is good for all sorts of wings

3 Dunlins, ハマシギ

1 Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

Often the odd Northern Lapwing, タゲリ

Side by side

Mandarin Ducks, オシドリand some more

There is a path behind the fence. It brings you right to the edge of the water and if you're lucky the Mandarin Ducks don't notice you. However, they fly off soon... There was a male with 2 females. The male looked spectacular!

Handsome guy!

A Ryukyu Minivet, リュウキュウサンショウクイ caught a green Grasshopper, mid-winter!

It's a Kubikirigisu, クビキリギス. They can overwinter as adults. And they can bite fiercely!

Brown-eared Bulbuls, ヒヨドリ feasting in a berry tree

About 200 Rooks, ミヤマガラス gathered in the trees and in the field at the end of the afternoon

Tankiri beans, タンキリマメ

Q Fungus

Winter trip 4

The last post of our visit to Izumi. Besides the cranes there are other birds of interest. The black and white Jackdaw, nicknamed panda, is popular among birders and photographers. The Daurian Jackdaw is the smallest crow that comes to Japan and appears in 2 types: black and white and all (dark grey-ish) black. In Izumi they usually hang out with the Rooks.

Daurian Jackdaw, コクマルガラス among Rooks, ミヤマガラス

The 2 types together. I don't know how to tell their gender

There were thousands of Rooks. More than other years?

In a muddy pool close to the center: about 100 Shelducks, ツクシガモ

Other regulars: Northern Lapwing, タゲリ

Often seen with Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ

Way out at the back was a group of geese. Maybe Bean Goose, ヒシクイ

And that was it. I hope to visit Izumi again next winter

December's WBSJ meeting in Imazu

 It's been such a busy week; this post comes way too late. But better late than never, right?

When I arrived first thing in the morning, there were 5 Smews, ミコアイサ at the 2 ponds; 3 males and 2 females

1 female stayed by itself

I stopped by the Night Heron point and counted 7 birds: 2 adults and 5 juveniles.

It is never a pretty picture; they have to live among all that rubbish in the creek. かわいそ

Black-crowned Night Heron, ゴイサギ

At the mudflats about 8 or 10 Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ were active.

Below a juvenile and an adult bird

When the Falcon flew over all the Lapwings took to their wings

Northern Lapwing, タゲリ

A large flock of Rooks, ミヤマガラス was foraging in one of the fields, something that had not occurred for many years apparently.

After the meeting I drove to the other side of the river, where I found 1 Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Among the White-cheeked Starlings ムクドリ on the wires some Common Starlings, ホシムクドリlooking very dull on this grey day

Only the White-cheeked came down for a drink

At this side of the river were the Dunlins, ハマシギ that didn't show during the meeting around some Mallards, マガモ

In this grey world I found just a little bit of color among the Eurasian Tree Sparrows, スズメ

I'm waiting for the day the Russets visit Fukuoka