Some spring waders in the ricefields...........

We managed to find a small number of shorebirds in the padis.............


There were 3 Black-winged Stilts................a regular 'overshoot' spring visitor in south Hokkaido.

This seems to be getting more numerous every year, I wonder if they breed in Hokkaido yet?

Tricky to photograph what is basically a black and white bird on a bright day in water.

My first ever Stilt was in Australia. I think I've seen them elsewhere in Asia too...............

Still a great bird to watch and photograph though................

A scarcer overshoot is this species..............

A crappy heavily cropped record shot of an Oriental Pratincole, only the second one I've ever seen and the first time I managed to photograph it. There were 2 of them hawking in the distance but always just out of reach......................

Other stuff today included Oriental Honey Buzzard, Intermediate Egret, Osprey, Wood sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Lathams Snipe and a few common ducks lingering on............