Pallas's Reed Buntings, シベリアジュリン

It wasn't easy to get good images. At first I saw the birds feeding mostly on the ground. The results were feeble. The Common Reed Buntings tried to steal the show. A few days later I found the birds on top of the reeds and I got what I wanted.

Cinereous Vulture, クロハゲワシ

 It was huge. Sitting in a rice field that seemed too small. It didn't fit. Still the bird was there and it had arrived all by itself. I wonder why though. I was surprised at his or her face. Grotesk, yes, but gentle. Everything seemed gentle about this big bird. Not at all as how I remembered his cousins in Ecuador who were feasting on a big dead animal, a horse or something. That was gruesome. Not like that. The crows were pulling his feathers, trying to land in his head, but only occasionally did he shoo them off. 

How dare you!

Everything is so big.

Big bill.

Big feet!

Big wings

A very stylish appearance with fluffy neckfeathers and epaulettes.

And then he flew

Magnificent!

His company of crows followed; he won't feel lonely

Higashiyoka Tidal flats part 2: Curlews and Saunders's Gull

Continued from part 1

A large flock of Curlews flew by when the tide was high. Eurasian Curlew, ダイシャクシギ as far as I could tell

Huddled together, struggling with the incoming tide. Their huge bills must be a nuisance!

Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ were everywhere. This could be the only place in the world where we can see so many. A little left-over of  Suaede Japonica, シジメンソウ in the front.