In the meantime in Imazu

 The day of the WBSJ meeting the weather was good. Spring hung in the air. Birds seem to feel that as well, there was some definite movement going on. That's when we find them at unusual places. Like these Spoonbills. Mostly Eurasian Spoonbills, ヘラサギ

A Black-faced Spoonbill, クロツラヘラサギ joined them briefly. They seem to prefer the river.

Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

A quick glimpse of the Brown-cheeked Rail, クイナ

In the creek: Common Greenshank, アオアシシギ

Lots and lots of (also Common) Shelducks, ツクシガモ this year.

American Wigeon, アメリカヒドリ

Male Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

The first butterfly of the year, on February 5th: Painted Lady, ヒメアカタテハ!

One day in Saga

  I went to Saga to check a few things out, but it was one of those days, when birds seem to be generally absent. At the M dam lake were very few ducks. There must be a raptor somewhere, I thought.

Mandarin Duck, オシドリ; Baikal Teal,トモエガモ (Little Grebe, カイツブリ)

Sure enough, an Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ (I presume...)

At the road station / toilet stop were some Japanese Grosbeaks, イカル scattered around the river

They took off once they spotted me.

A few misses later I found myself at the coast in Higashiyoka. Hight tide at midday and no birders around, there must be a better place to be.

Below some Kentish Plovers, シロチドリ

Followed by a massive crowd of Dunlins, ハマシギ

Every 50m or so a Grey Plover, ダイセン was searching for food

A small group of waders, mostly Greenshanks, アオアシシギ but 2 of them had red legs. Spotted Redshanks ツルシギ?

Doesn't that look like a Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ?

There were no Avocets, no Oystercatchers and no Spoonbills in sight.

However, many actively feeding Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ kept me happy.

At the most western end I found 1 Spoonbill... sound asleep

Crested Kingfisher, ヤマセミ

It was noon. Not a time to expect any of these Kingfishers to come and spend with me. But when I stopped at my usual place, I saw 2 birds chasing each other. When they were done, one left, but the other hung around for quite a while. Skirting the river, up and down. Looking for fish, mostly from the trees.

It was giving me the time of my life!

I couldn't see the river from here, but he caught his meal

Still hungry? Good luck!

See you again!

Long-tailed Rosefinches, ベニマシコ

For N. A bit of pink in a grey and sometimes so sad world. 

There were 3 birds, maybe 4. They didn't seem much concerned with our presence. 

Also around, several Bluetails, ルリビタキ