Stints!

Red-necked Stint, トウネン, Temminck’s Stint, オジロトウネン and Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ.

They are the smallest migratory waders in our area. about 13 - 16 cm. Feed mainly on insects on soft mud and among grass. I always watch for them, specially at wider mudflats of the Ariaki Sea, hoping to see the Little Stint one day or the similar sized Spoonbill Sandpiper!

Gregarious birds with a small black bill and black legs, the Red-necked Stint, トウネン

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The  Temminck’s Stint, オジロトウネン looks similar, but has yellow legs and more brown-grey upper parts. It's not seen in big groups, usually and has a complicated parenting system, where the male looks after the eggs of the female, who leaves him to lay her own second clutch in a different location, often teaming up with another male, who might be abandonned by his ex...

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Last but not least, Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ, A pretty, slender, brownish bird with short bill, yellow legs and long toes.

Brown Shrike, アカモズ

Seen regularly in Malaysia and now right here in Fukuoka on the last day of August - my first sighting in Japan!

That was an exciting finale of the summer holiday.

Black-tailed Godwit, オグロシギ

A near-threatend migrating bird that covers great distances. It might fly from Japan to Australia in just under a week. I felt lucky to see these magnificant 2 up close, so took too many photos - again.

  

With stilts in the back 

First there was just 1 bird, a day later the 2nd one flew in. They seem close.

キリアイ, Broad-billed Sandpiper

I like this bird. It can be hard to distinguish when 1000s of birds line the shores of Kyushu in migration season, so when this single one flew in on our Butagoya marsh I was quite glad.

See last year's post of Daijugarami (click)

note the dragonfly!

When you look well you can see his tongue.

With Red-necked tint, トウネン　

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ 3

It looks safe to drop my guard and take a bath.

Look how green that water is. Would that be good or bad?

I'm glad to see those feathers are still white.

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ 2

Yes, it's still there and... with company. Another young Black-winged Stilt! A female I think.

  

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ 1

The fields won’t be short of water for a while after these rainy weeks. Some waders returned early from their summer business up north. I went over for a look after Obon and found this juvenile Stilt all by himself among the Plovers and Sandpipers.

2 Wood Sandpipers タカブシギ keeping him or her from harm...?

It looks so young and fragile. Will it be there tomorrow?