We took a short trip to central Hokkaido last week. Not much birding, the highlight was a stop at Yakumo (near home) where there was a very tame pair of Siberian Stonechat.
They must have had a nest nearby in a big patch of weeds and didn't fly off as they normally do.
This is the female.
Only some slight cropping in all these shots. I took off the 1.4 teleconverter, I didn't need it...............
Shame about the poor light, aprat from the first early morning the weather was warm. fine and sunny for the whole trip.
This is an abundant summer visitor to Hokkaido................
All the signs of breeding there Stu. They gave you a good telling off but your pics were well worth it.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil, yes after 5 minutes or so I left them to it. On the way back, 3 days later, I stopped at the same place and there weren't so tame, maybe the young had left the nest............
DeleteFantastic shots Stuart You obviously were near a nest of theirs but they posed well for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret. They are in the same place every year, must be an ideal home for Stonechats.
DeleteWhat a great series. They remind me a bit of our Robins. The male is most attractive.
ReplyDeleteThey are fairly closely related to European Robins which do resemble the ones down under..............
DeleteTerrific shots, and cool title!
ReplyDelete"Stoners on grass" was my other working title. .....
DeleteWhat an excellent set of photos you've got! They look so much better than when they're here in wintering ground.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ayuwat, they'd look pretty cold and frozen if they stayed here.................
DeleteReally beautiful pictures, Stu. That lens is serving you well. I went to Tokyo on Saturday and was playing with a 300 2.8 and can't sleep now. I can't say anything to my wife anymore without getting a fearful look.
ReplyDeleteI know that 'look' all too well Russell.
DeleteGo on, get it. You know you want to.
Spanking "Stoners"…. as Ayuwat said, they are looking miles better than they do on the wintering grounds.
ReplyDeleteThe post title reminded me of Cheech and Chong… haven't heard them for years...
Way back in the day (when I was a bit of a stoner myself) I enjoyed Cheech and Chong but it must be at least 25 years since I last watched a C&C movie..............I think Cheech became a mainstream actor and Chong became a pot advocate. God knows what they are up to now............
DeleteOh gosh, I am so jealous of these.
ReplyDeleteHi, this is probably the commonest summer visitor to Hokkaido................
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