Winter bites back......................

A Buff-bellied Pipit in Shizunai a couple of days ago.

We just got back from a short trip that was somewhat spoiled by the weather........................


It was by far the coldest snap of the winter, minus 16 on the night we drove there and loads of snow too. The middle day wasn't too bad so I could at least do some birding, problem was there weren't many birds about.

Mukawa used to be a very interesting spot but recent (pointless) 'development' has ruined it. It has been drained and there is some 'improvement' going on, ie an utterly meaningless construction project to flatten the beach.

It wasn't completely birdless but everything I saw I can easily see near Hakodate. There was a big flock of skittish Hawfinch, a female Merlin a long way away, a couple of distant Stellers and a few White-tailed Eagle but none of the birds I was hoping to see (although my wife did see a Hen Harrier).

Here's a Black Scoter from a nearby port.

We went along the coast to Shizunai. There were more White-tailed Eagles here and a few common ducks and stuff. Here's a Great Egret and Whooper Swan from there.............

There was a small flock of Buff-bellied Pipits next to the river.............

Other birds in the Tomakomai area included Smew, Magpie and Common Buzzard. It was all a bit disappointing really....................

The weather on the way back was really nasty with some of the iciest roads I've seen in Hokkaido, at least we got back safely.