White's Thrush, トラツグミ

So this is White's Thrush and the one in Iriomote Island is the Scaly Thrush. OK, I'll go with the new name.

February 2nd, It's setsubun, this year a day earlier than usual. Will spring start a bit earlier too? The news of  these Thrushes was that 5 were seen on one day. That is also unusual. I tried my luck at lunch-time on this weekday, between 2 work locations and guess what? I saw 3! 

The first one, below, was covering a big part of the field.

A 2nd one appeared (below) and sent the 1st one backwards. Out of the other's territory I guess.

Right after that another one flew at the far back, nr 3. Sorry, no photo.

The one below was taken later and is bird nr 1 I think

What a thrushy day!

Noko birds, 能古の鳥

Once a week, weather permitting, I walk around before work. During the cold days of January I preferred to keep watch at the heater at home, so when I started up my habit again in February I was surprised at all the birds I saw. There were the Brown-headed Thrush, the Scaly Thrush, Dusky and Pale Thrushes, Yellow-throated Bunting and Black-faced Buntings (as reported before).
The Scaly Thrush was again often seen foraging at "his" field. The Brown-headed Thrush flew by again, too shy to pose for me. Several Daurian Redstarts, all very friendly, but the Bullfinches kept their distance. A group of 9 Mergansers stayed just outside the harbor entrance and frequently wandered inside the basin. Raptors were there, of course the Ospreys and Buzzards. It's a good place for winter birds.

Scaly Thrush, トラツグミ

left Pale Thrush, シロハラ　　　　　    right Dusky Thrush, ツグミ

Red-breasted Merganser, ウミアイサ male and female

Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ male and female

Bull-headed Shrike, モズ male

left Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ    　right Black-faced Bunting, アオジ

  

Cormorants, カワウ flying over Hakata Bay

Japanese White-eye, メジロ

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

left Black Kiteトビ                              right Osprey, ミサゴ

The sweetest of all, female Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ

Nokonoshima 能古島

Finally a nice day. I left early to walk around before work. I didn’t really expect much and was happy when I found 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, ウミアイサ along the shore and a Black-necked Grebe, ハジロカイツブリin the distance. To my surprise a thrush that crossed my path was a Brown-headed Thrush, アカハラ. A few meters further 2 Scaly Thrushes, トラツグミ were chasing each other. On the way back home I heard a Bullfinch, ウソ and saw just 1, but there appeared to be more. Then there were the usual Daurian Redstarts, ジョウビタキ about 7 or 8, male and female. 3 Bull-headed Shrikes and many buntings like Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ, Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ and Black-faced Bunting, アオジ. 

The Black Kites, トビ were giving a show. They can fly like acrobats to impress their mate. Some were carrying nesting materials A Japanese Bush Warbler, ウグイス produced some kind of noise. Was it trying to sing?

 Red-breasted Mergansers, ウミアイサ

Black-necked Grebe, ハジロカイツブリ

Brown-headed Thrush, アカハラ

Scaly Thrush, トラツグミ

Black Kites, トビ

 Black-faced Bunting, アオジ

 Bullfinch, ウソ

Scaly Thrush, トラツグミ and some others

How these thrushes can blend in...

White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト

Black Kite, トビ

December birds: Noko no shima

It’s just a short ferry-ride to Noko island and I like to go there for walks. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled on an uprooted part of a trail – one of the many wild pigs had just been there looking for food – and flushed this big thrush. He must have been looking for insects in the fresh soil. 

トラツグミ,  White's Thrush (formerly Scaly Thrush)

On the way to work I pass these points where I find the regular birds, perched at their favorite branches, like these 2 Kites. I think of them as Grandpa and Grandma.

  トビ, Black Kite  祖父と祖母                 Lady Mozu, keenly watching the fields from a high point

                           モズ,  Female Bull-headed Shrike

 

Mr Roodstaart always lets us know his presence: tuc tuc    ジョウビタキ, Male Daurian Redstart

Mr. and Mrs. Rock Thrush, at a rooftop or a wall,  イソヒヨドリ, Blue Rock Thrush 

above the male, below the female

Near our school: ツグミ,  Dusky Thrush:

There are never many of these Tits, but they visit the gardens in the village:

シジュウカラ,  Great Tit

Sometimes, when the wind is strong I see Boobies diving, which was quite often this month.

 

Cormorants feeding under the coast of the island. 

かかし　The scarecrows that welcome me at work.    Made by Noko elementary school kids