Some Black Kites at Yakumo last Monday at the end of my 4 day trip.
A bit of a disappointing trip photography wise. Despite the great weather photo opps were scarce. I got my first Sand Martins of the year (at various locales), my first Grays Grasshopper Warbler (at Utonai-ko) as well as Eastern Marsh Harrier, Red Necked Stint and Mongolian Plover at Mukawa. I got White Tailed Eagle at both Utonai-ko and Mukawa but none of the above species came close enough to photograph. Lots of common stuff present everywhere but..................
So here are some more Black Kites, an abundant local species that I usually ignore..............
Even common birds are worth taking when you can get results this good! No. 4 is my pick.
ReplyDeleteThanks, as common birds go it isn't a bad one to have............
DeleteI think they were the most widespread bird we saw in Japan. They do look different to ours. A pity about the lack of opportunities on your time away, but the flight shots are great.
ReplyDeleteYes they are everywhere. I think it may have been split and the birds in east Asia are now known as Black Eared Kites..........
Delete5 and 6 my favourites…. the Black Kite is common here…so ignored by photographers, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI usually ignore them but this pair were so close I thought why not................
DeleteGreat pics, Stu. It's easy to overlook these guys in Japan but they are brilliant aerialists and I've often seen them catch fish in Niigata and have goes at herons and egrets. They are dramatic enough if you keep an eye on their behaviour. They are much more robust than the Black Kites in Australia and I prefer to call them Black-eared Kites to set them part from The aussie birds.
ReplyDeleteI've seen 'Black Kites' all over the place: Japan, France, India, Nepal and Australia. Probably 2 or 3 different species now I guess...............
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