Some Bullfinches at the start of a very long drive around SW Hokkaido.................
These were in Kamiiso, just outside Hakodate. They were difficult to get a clear view of..............
Plus they were in front of someone's house on a busy road so I couldn't hang around for long...........
The males are less colourful than their counterparts in the UK but they are not without their charms.................
Even if they are messy eaters.............
We then headed west towards Asabu and Esashi but when we got there it was a) extremely windy and b) birdless. Well not entirely birdless, there were eagles of both species high in the sky................but barren enough for us to head west over a scenic mountain road to Yakumo. Here there were no eagles at all and what is worse a huge construction project has started (in the last week, it wasn't there seven days ago) slap bang in the middle of where the eagles winter.
I think it is something to do with the bullet train line up to Sapporo (not due to open until 2035!). I knew the there would be a tunnel in the general area but they seem to be building something (a bridge I guess) in one of the prime stretches of the river for eagles. As long as it doesn't interfere with the salmon run I guess the eagles will just relocate somewhere else up or down the valley along the river but still.......................I am a bit concerned. I suppose I should be postive and bear in mind there have been numerous briges and roads built there over the last 50 or 60 years and they still keep coming back.
No birds at Yakumo but there were at Oshamanbe, I'll post about them tomorrow............
Now I understand when you say your Bullfinch male do not have the marvellous coloured breasts that the UK one do. yet, as you say they are still beautiful
ReplyDeleteSometimes less is more..........................
DeleteWhat beautiful birds they are! They look like they are eating the newly formed buds on the tree. Lovely captures, of a bird I rarely see.
ReplyDeleteSorry for spelling your name wrongly last time I commented.:)
Don't worry, you aren't the first and you won't be the last!
DeleteI'm always wary about using bins and cameras in residential areas. Never been arrested yet though. Not easy to get pics of Bullfinch with that black eye on a black face but yours are real nice.
ReplyDeleteI've never been arrested but have been stopped 3 or 4 times and being asked what I was doing..............it's a little annoying.
DeleteIt's a bird I hope to see one day as those males are beautiful. Wildlife does tend to have to the price of human "progress" so I hope the eagles still come somewhere there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I guess we'll have to wait until next winter to find out. As long as the salmon run is unaffected it should be OK.
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