Oriental Pratincole, ツバメチドリ

It's already a week since these birds came to spend a day here. Too much time out in the fields causes scheduled blog posts to pile up. Soon either the rain or the heat will set in and I'll be able to catch up.

This is the situation: A dull grey brown field, recently cultivated and devoid of any green. 3 Birds with grey brown wings flew in and landed about 50 meters from me. They disappeared right at the spot.

They are there, but I can't see any. No color, no movement, nothing.  I wait. 10min, 20min. Suddenly a Pratincole rises to its feet. Here I am!

In summer dress, but still very hard to detect. 

A 2nd bird appears and vanishes again. Just like that. 

When I look well I can see a head popping up occasionally. 

All 3 birds stood up eventually. They seemed to be a family, 2 parents and a young.

Funny face 

I hope to see them at closer range sometime.

Also seen that day in the same area: A Ferruginous Duck with yellow eyes - a hybrid?

目が　黄色　の　メジロガモ?

And many Cattle Egret アマサギ

White-shouldered Starling, カラムクドリ

Hundreds of White-cheeked Starlings were feeding on a freshly cultivated field. One looked different.
It pays to observe.

With a White-cheeked Starling, ムクドリ on the right

Pheasant-tailed Jacana, レンカク

Not the first time seen in Northern Kyushu, but in summer plumage it is a first for me.

And it rained and rained and rained...

Ruddy Kingfisher, アカショウビン

South towards Miyazaki we had more luck finding the Ruddy Kingfisher. But it came at a price!

The day after I had sore muscles and I was still shivering with the thought I nearly put that leech in my mouth that looked so much like a raisin fallen from my breadroll...

Look... Blue back feathers!

Cotton Pygmy Goose, ナンキンオシ

After Hikosan we drove to another part of Kyushu to see this very special visitor. Only for the 4th time seen in Japan. The bird must have followed the wrong flock. These cute little ducks breed much further south, in the tropical parts of South East Asia. I hope she will find her way back sometime.

A lot of photos - we might never see this again.

Little Grebes in trouble

While waiting for the Cotton Pygmy Goose to come closer we watched some birds chasing a snake.
The Grebes were nesting nearby and very keen for the snake to move on.

Little Grebe, カイツブリ

Little Grebe chasing snake

and vice versa.

It ended all well when the snake crossed the lake and left the water.

Still hungry for eggs...