13 October 2014

2014 Best of #1

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Well it's been a very very quiet last 2 or 3 weeks so here are some of my fave shots from early winter 2014, all taken in SW Hokkaido............it seems like a long time ago already..............



The star of the winter was undoubtedly the Gyrfalcon at Sawara...................it was tame and erasy to see. Sawara is a cold bleak place in winter though................

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This Ural Owl was in a hole at Onuma for a few weeks until someone scared it off. I did see 2 incredibly stupid/selfish middle aged women walk right up to the tree and try and take photos of it with their iphones. Someone eventually put up a rope barrier and a sign saying don't go too close but by then it was too late...............

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I didn't get as many Gyrfalcon BIFs as I'd hoped................

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The eagles were all present and correct at Yakumo...............

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Lots of driftwood on the beach at Sawara provided perches for the Gyrfalcon. On this day I got the very early initial stages of frostbite (I'd left my gloves in the car), a rather painful experience.

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There was a big influx of Common Crossbill this year. This shot was taken in Hakodate in one of the many small parks.

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The Gyr was not the only falcon species at Sawara....................although I don't imagine this Peregrine would have been tolerated long. The Gyr did manage to kill a Short Eared Owl and a Rough Legged Buzzard in the area didn't stay around too long either...................


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I wanted to get a pic of the Gyr eating a gull (its usual prey) but all I got was this one of it eating a piece of fish that it probably snaffled from a Black Kite (and the kite probably pilfered it from the nearby seafood factory).

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I managed to get my first ever picture of an Olive Backed Pipit, this one was in a park in east Hakodate...................

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Waders are generally thin on the ground in winter but this Dunlin was part of a flock in Oshamanbe..........

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The Gyrfalcon chilling out in a blizzard...............


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There were several Great Egret overwintering on the river in Hakodate................

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Despite its size and weight the 500 f4 is a great BIF lens..............

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To be continued.................

6 comments:

  1. The jealousy has not diminished in the least :)
    Hope this winter is at least as good for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Stuart, I've been looking forward to this winter since last spring..........................

      Delete
  2. A very nifty "Best Of" collection, with the Gyrfalcon as an envy-inducing star of the season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks John. Hopefully she'll be back in the next few weeks................maybe even with white plumage and boyfriend/husband in tow.

      Delete
  3. Excellent pictures, Stu. I'd love to have such subjects in Niigata, but I can live without the frostbite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll remember to take my gloves next time...................

      Delete

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