Migrating Waders in Fukuoka

There are very few fields where migrating waders can go to rest and find food. In this small ricefield they were all huddling together during high tide, when the mudflats are submerged.

Spotted Redshanks, ツルシギ

Black-tailed Godwits, オグロシギ

Black-taled Godwit, オグロシギ and Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ

Something made them all fly up and return in a minute. The result was a parade, right in front of me.

Ruff, エリマキシギ and Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

There were 2 Ruffs. Both male or both female?

Garganey, シマアジ

Other ducks were Spot-billed Ducks, Mallards and these 2. Gadwalls, オカヨシガモ?

Dunlin, ハマシギ moulting to winter plumage.

Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ

1 of 6 or 8 Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ

Autumn visit to Saga 2

After a coffee break we moved south west to the Lotus fields and ricefields. Not many fields were suitable for waders, but we found a few.

One field held about 7 Ruffs, エリマキシギ male and female.

Nearby was an unkempt Lotusfield with some Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, ウズラシギ

A Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ

Temminck's Stint, オジロトウネン

The Stilts had moved to the lake. Was there no place for them in the fields anymore?

Would the lines that are stretched across the fields and the netting have anything to do with it?

Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ

Just before we left, a Goshawk, オオタカ crossed our path.

Lucky!

Shore birds again

The fields that held a lot of water a few days ago are drying up so fast, some have no water anymore, just mud. Other fields seem to contain the water and the level hardly changes, they are too full. It's difficult, specially for small waders. There are just a fewplaces for them to go. 

I set out, looking for the Red-necked Stints, トウネン - my favorite - they should still be around

Found them and took too many pictures...

At the far end a larger bird stepped out from the thick bunches of rice plants

Ruff, エリマキシギ a small bird, so probably a young female

It stayed in view for a short time

There was a time that I hardly looked at Wood Sandpipers, タカブシギ. Now I search for them.

Again at the far end, one Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ appeared briefly

Same as a Snipe, most likely a Common Snipe, タシギ

One more, accross the road.

The following day

The typhoon that brought the waders has moved on, and so have most birds. I had to look real hard to find these. But then, that is part of the fun!

2 big Ruffs, エリマキシギ  about the same size, so I guess they are both young males

One of the few Stints left in the original field.

Red-necked Stint, トウネン

Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ A lucky encounter

Now this is a different story. 2 Far-Eastern Curlews, ホウロクシギ were very active, walking from field to field, preferably on the road (as they usually do). Hard to miss.

The hard part was the 2 shot!

Hey, long time no see! I thought I'd miss you this year.

female Greater Painted Snipe, タマシギ

Watching me, watching you. Oriental Turtle Dove, キジバト