角島, Tsunoshima 2

Still on Tsunoshima, where the wind howls and the sun stays well hidden

In a field nearby a Naumann's Thrush was hopping around all by itself.

ハチジョウツグミ,  Naumann’s Thrush  a female I think

Eyeing a Dusky Thrush,  ツグミ

Who's happily splashing away in a puddle 

Shall I also?

No, another time.

Rustic Buntings, male and female below

カシラダカ, Rustic Bunting

角島, Tsunoshima 1

Tsunoshima is in Yamaguchi prefecture, on the island of Honshu and is the most western point of Honshu. It is well known for its beautiful seashore and all I can do is confirm this. It surely is a special place. Even on a cold and windy day.

Anything beyond Kyushu seems remote, but it actually took only 2.5 hrs to drive there.

Leaving at 4am we got there just at daybreak. We headed straight for the south-west cape and hung around the area of the lighthouse, hoping to see Sparrowhawks taking off on their migrating journey, they didn’t fly in this much wind. Later in the morning some local birders arrived, telling us about a small group of Bean Geese in a paddock . They too made use of the wind and were flying from one end to the other, but finally landed nearby.

ヒシクイ, Tundra Bean Goose

Looks like a family.

Tundra or Taiga Bean Geese? I can’t tell

On the way we happened upon this small vege pad where Bullfinches were feeding. Not much red, but that's the time of the year I guess. I wonder, do they have an English name?

ベニバラウソ, Bullfinch

今日の勉強  角島 = Tsunoshima

能古島, Noko Island in March

We are well into spring. The weather has been good with many sunny days and pleasant temperatures. It's great to walk outside, despite the bad air quality. Recently we're getting smog blown over from China. Many people wear masks, but I cannot get myself to do that. I love wandering in the hills, looking for birds and anything that’s alive. It makes me feel free. I don’t mind the cold, not even the rain very much. But the restriction of a face mask…  I wrap a scarf around my mouth. The masks aren't effective anyway.

The plum blossom is nearly over and sakura is on its way; something to look forward to. It’s a big thing in this country, you know and it grows on you.

A frequent encounter on the way to school on Noko:

Winter Wren,  みそさざい

Japanese White-eye,  メジロ

 The last plum flower

Pale Thrush,  シロハラ left and Black-faced Bunting,  アオジ right

Coltsfoot or butterbur,  フキ

An edible wild plant. I just managed a shot before my friend Chiaki arrested it for dinner.

今日の勉強  能古島 =  Nokonoshima

Summer birds

In Dutch we say “1 zwaluw maakt nog geen zomer”, something like 1 swallow doesn’t mean it’s summer yet. Well, 2 neither. I’m getting my winter jacket out again.

But it’s a start.

1 羽のツバメは夏にはしません。2羽もまだです。

明日もう一度冬のコートを着用します。

Barn Swallow,  ツバメ

Little Ringed Plover,  コチドリ

Snipes are here in winter.  Common Snipe,  タシギ

All together now

Japanese Plum and White-eyes 梅, メジロ

Plum blossom, 梅  and Japanese White-eye, メジロ

Egrets

Just a few  pretty pix taken this winter and early spring

Great Egret,  ダイサギ

Tufted Ducks and Mergansers

 Often seen in the river, on windy days sometimes in the harbor basin:

Red-breasted Merganser,  ウミアイサ

Late afternoon their red eyes seem brighter than ever

Seemingly such a slim bird, but.... There’s a big white belly below the surface.  大きな白い腹

below  Tufted Duck,  キンクロハジロ Male and female in Muromi River.

今日の勉強 　大きな白い腹  =  ookina shiroi hara,   big white belly