Imazu update of the first week of July

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

Whiskered Tern, クロハラアジサシ

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ male and female

Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

Ruddy-breasted Crake, ヒクイナ

Butterfly Dragonfly - Chotombo, チョウトンボ 

Common Bluetail - Aomon Itotombo, アオモンイトトンボ

Gomadara Kamikiri Longhorn beetle, ゴマダラカミキリ

Common Centaury, ベニバナセンブリ is a medicinal herb in Europe

Our native Hibiscus Hamabo, ハマボウ

Yellow Bittern, ヨシゴイ and some more

One early morning I drove to this place outside the city, that's known for Yellow Bitterns. Between 7am and 10am, 3 long hot hours, 2 of the birds flew once. All the way on the other side of the pond one of them perched in the reeds for a few minutes and then they both flew towards the north-east. Away from me. I nearly missed them. I don't think I will be going there again anytime soon...😓😖

Farewell

Other birds included several Great Egrets, ダイサギ

Lots of Cattle Egrets, アマサギ

And this Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

Of course, there were many Great Reed Warblers, オオヨシキリ calling and flying constantly, as well as some Moorhens, バン and Tree Sparrows, スズメ

On the way back I ran into 3 Bull-headed Shrike fledglings, モズの 巣立ち　

busily catching leaves and chasing nothing

I leaned back and relaxed, while watching them from the airconditioned car

The Ruddy-breasted Crake, ヒクイナ seems to be my signature bird this summer

Yellow Bittern, ヨシゴイ

I went to see the Yellow Bitterns at their pond. Finally. The birds have been nesting here for a number of years and I knew about it, but, well, I don't know, I just didn't get there. And now, typically me, I took to many photos (it didn't take that long) thinking I might not ever get to see them again. Silly me! 😆😆😆😆😆

Who is this? Also a Yellow one?

Other birds included Grey Heron, アオサギ

Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Pacific Swift, アマツバメ

On the way back I stopped at a place with lots of herons and found Great Cormorants, カワウ among them!　My first nesting site in Fukuoka pref.