We ended up in Esashi this afternoon......................
Not many birds around anywhere, in Yakumo just the usual and elsewhere the same.
From the car I spied what seemed to be a small duck near the beach, on closer inspection it turned out to be a Spectacled Guillemot.
It was looking a bit scruffy, presumably a post breeding adult beginning its' moult. We had very strong westerlies yesterday which must have blown it inshore...............
It seemed tired but healthy enough, diving often just a few metres offshore and regularly coming up with small flatfish.
These are closely related to Black Guillemots. They breed in Hokkaido but AFAIK not near Hakodate.
This is only the second individual I've seen in south Hokkaido...................
Still not really hot yet, usually the end of July sees the hot humid weather hit Hakodate (further south they have to endure it for much longer). A mild summer would suit me just fine.
Linked to Wild Bird Wednesday.
HI I have never seen or heard of this Guillemot and your shots are very good. You certainly can see how itgot its name.
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret, in full summer colours (not on this individual) the 'spectacles' are very striking...............
DeleteGreat bird…all of the "auks" are very attractive.
ReplyDeleteHi John, some of my fave species are auks but we can usually only see them on pelagics so this one so close inshore was a nice find.
DeleteExcellent! I would love to see some Pacific auks.
ReplyDeleteHi Stuart, there seem to be many more species of auk in the north Pacific than in the north Atlantic............
DeleteWonderful shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWhat a neat looking bird, great shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Eileen.................
DeleteGreat captures of this bird.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Janice
DeleteYou always get 'spectacle' photos of this bird! I've only seen it through a telescope probably kilometres away.
ReplyDeleteActually this is only the second individual I've ever been close enough to for a photo. The rest were as far away as yours..............
DeleteInteresting looking bird - I'd like to see it in its full plumage. I will be posting some images of Guillemots from the UK in the next week or so.
ReplyDeleteI think my puffins may have been a first for this century as well!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Hi Stewart, I'll look forward to seeing more of your pics from the Farnes.
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