Birds in the fields in West Fukuoka

Ever since September started, I have been busy. I found time to roam the fields occasionally. When it was not too hot. Which was not very often. I hope things will get better after the next typhoon

7 Garganeys, シマアジ in a rice field with water.

They took off after a few minutes

At the same location: 3 Black-winged Stilts, セイタカシギ looking rather concerned.

When I don't see much in Imazu I continue west. At Izumi River:

Grey Plover, ダイセン; Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ; Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ. Just 1 each.

Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ; Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ.

Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ.

And a number of adult Black-tailed Gulls, ウミネコ

The next day, Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

I wonder if that's the same bird that comes to the 2 ponds in Imazu.

Oriental Honey Buzzard, ハチクマ

With that super typhoon coming up I knew I was going to be busy and that I might not have a chance to see the Honey Buzzards. Unless I went right away, Saturday morning the 17th. The weather was unstable. Heavy cloud cover on my side, but chunks of clear sky over sea to the north. There was no wind and it rained on and off. The forecast was for more rain, but I left and drove up the mountain at Itoshima. To my surprise there was nobody. I had worried about parking space for nothing. The air was cool. NICE! for a change. I settled with my morning coffee and... Wow! Lots of birds suddenly. All towards the east, where the sun was supposed to be. The birds were all dark blots and despite over exposure settings I could only see their shapes. I left after an hour and took the photos to the computer. Now I can see what I saw.

 female Oriental Honey Buzzard,  ハチクマ ♀

male  ♂

Such a beautiful bird!

Another male  ♂

Ah! Blue sky! Female  ♀ ?

Grey-faced Buzzard, サシバ

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ chasing Grey-faced Buzzard, サシバ

Female Oriental Honey Buzzard, ハチクマ ♀ chased by a crow 

Cuckoo, トケン and Grey-streaked Flycatcher, エゾビタキ

 3 days, 4 birds, 1 reasonable photo. That's all I can present of the cuckoos

Young Lesser Cuckoo, ホトトギス??

Suddenly, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, エゾビタキ seemed to be everywhere

Asian Brown Flycatcher, コサメビタキ

White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト

I went to see the green pigeons drinking sea water at the Ariake see. It was a bright sunny day at the end of August, but not too hot. When I found the place where the birds usually stopped at the rocks along the shore, there was a person fishing with a rod and reel. He was very successful, catching all sorts of fish. The birds, a flock of 40+ flew by several times, but did not stop... Just once, very reluctantly a few landed at some rocks nearby.

At high tide some Grey-tailed Tattlers, キアシシギ stopped by.

It was not perfect, but still not bad for a first time visit to a place I had never been before. I just followed up some remarks I had overheard a few months before without any real info. I want to go here again - and not in the weekend 😅

Shigichi in Imazu 2

At the mudflats some Red Shanks hang out with the Terek Sandpipers, a Knot or 2 as well and a few Curlews. 

It's hard to see, but among the 10＋Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ there are 2 Common Redshanks, アカアシシギ on the right. In front of these is 1 Knot, the Red Knot, コオバシギ. 3 birds further to the left is the Great Knot, オバシギ

At the same time: 2 Far-Eastern Curlews, ホオロクシギ

Despite the typhoon in the beginning of this month some Garganeys, シマアジ are still around - as on September 10th. They are easily recognized by their size. All the other ducks, Spot-billed, Mallards and hybrids of some sorts are much bigger.

The Falcon is out!..

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

... Lie low! Red-necked Stint,トウネン

... Lie low! Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ