13 May 2013

Grey Bunting



A male Grey Bunting in Goryokaku Park this morning. It was skulking around and difficult to approach and it kept getting disturbed by the hordes of cherry blossom "viewers".

Still it was by far the best photos I've managed of this species................





It was another productive morning: lots of birds in the park again. Common Crossbill, Japanese White-eye, Eastern Crowned, Sakhalin Leaf and Japanese Bush Warblers, Narcissus Flycatcher (only a female) and lots and lots of Asian Brown Flycatchers..........they were everywhere.


As were Blue and White Flycatchers, I don't think I've seen as many in any spring before...........


The Black Winged Stilt was still there and seems to have no problem finding food in such a strange habitat.............



And here's a picture of it among the dandelions.............



I wonder how long it will stay?

Here's a not very good picture of a bird i've never posted before.


A Brown Thrush.............not rare at all but very shy and an inhabitant of dark forests in Hokkaido in summer. There were 4 of them but I couldn't get close enough and there were so many people around anyway.

At 9am it was like someone flipped a switch and the tour groups hit the park................literally hundreds and hundreds of loud Chinese speaking tourists in even louder jackets. I went home for breakfast...............


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11 comments:

  1. Wow that grey bunting is a beauty Stu, and the blue and white flycatcher too! Guess I will nto see those in South Korea ;-)

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    1. I'm sure they are in South Korea too Chris.........

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  2. Really cool Grey Bunting shots, Stu! I've never even seen one. I'm more envious about the birds you can get over there.

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    1. Hi Ayuwat, I don't see them so often. And you get some great birds down there that I'll never see up here (Painted Snipe for instance)!

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  3. Been struggling to keep up with the posts of late as you have been so proloific. Buntings and Thrushes are two groups I really take an interest in, so great to see some unfamiliar Eastern species. Loved the Stilt close-ups and the Flycatcher with the many-legged prey item.

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    1. Hi Stuart, yes I've been busy with the birds recently...........still have lots more stuff on the hard drive to sort through too. Makes up for the quiet winter we had.......

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  4. Looks like things are really livening up up your way... tremendous shots of the Grey Bunting, as well as the more usual stuff.

    Chinese tourists ? Is Hakodate on the tourist cultural circuit ?

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    1. I think they may be from Taiwan as well as the mainland, there are direct flights from Taipei. Believe it or not Hakodate IS on the circuit...............hot springs and seafood mainly.............usually combined with a trip to Sapporo.

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  5. Some great shots of the bunting. I only ever got one shot of one before humans chased it away. They must follow sightseers.

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  6. Hi Stuart:) The Grey Bunting shots are fab! I especially like the 1st and third captures, and your Black Winged Stint shots are superb.

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