We just got back from a week camping in north Hokkaido.......................
The first 2 days were a bit of a non event birdwise, Day 1 was spent driving right up to the north of Hokkaido and day 2 was cold, wet and very windy. It was so bad that we gave up using a tent for the first couple of days and rented a bunglaow instead.
Day 3 started off nasty too. The campsite was one where we'd stayed last year and is a great place for Siberian Rubythroats. Finally one emerged from the gloom for some breakfast...............
Very dark and very windy, tricky for photos..............
The rain eventually stopped and it started singing..................
I can't get enough of this species...............
Also at the campsite was singing Grays Grasshooper Warbler and various common species. Offshore (it was a on a cape) there were large numbers of Rhinoceros Auklets flying north, a shame they were too far off for any decent shots.
This was taken the next morning, when they skulk in the shadows it really does justice to their ruby thoats...........
I can see why you like it so much - so much character in addition to good looks!
ReplyDeleteYes, defintely in my top 3 fave species in Japan.............
DeleteBrilliant bird and spectacular pictures of it, Stu. I would love to have seen the auklets that you saw as well. It seems a pretty exciting place.
ReplyDeleteHi Russell, yes the Ohotsk coast is a popular place for bird photographers in July as it has this and some other species which are scarce elsewhere in Japan, and they pose nicely too.
DeleteI have very fond memories of the Rhinoceros Auklets I saw in Victoria, BC in April. Now, Siberian Rubythroat is a whole other story!
ReplyDeleteI guess they may occur in the Aleutians, a mighty long way to go though............
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