The Waxwings were very close to my apartment a few days ago.................
There's a big public housing estate (project) next to where I live. Back home I'm not sure if many birders would take an expensive camera/lens into equivalent places in cities in the UK but in Japan you needn't worry...............
The birds were feeding on some trees in a kind of courtyard between the apartment blocks...........
I didn't stay long, more out of embarrassment than anything (I noticed a few people peering out of windows at the foreign weirdo and wondering what the hell he was doing).
I had the 500 f4 with me this time and although the birds were mostly in shade I got some nice shots as they came so close: no cars or pedestrians to spook them here.
There weer about 100 of them.........................this pic isn't the whole flock but as you can see there are more Japanese than Bohemians..........
These are all Japanese Waxwings................
And these are Bohemians................
I was aware of the twitching curtains and bid a retreat home after about half an hour.
It's been a good winter for Waxings so far.....................
It is interesting that we all have to factor in the social dynamics of birding from time to time. I have certainly been in situations where I did not feel comfortable and have ended my session quickly.
ReplyDeleteI was worried one of the residents may have got freaked out by the suspicious-looking foreigner apparently taking photos for some nefarious purpose and called the police..........
DeleteI guess you would stick out a little! And probably more than an Asian here. I would imagine that the number of Caucasian residents of Japan is relatively small.
DeleteI am definitely the only non Japanese birder within a 100 mile radius. There a few other western foreigners in town but no more than a 2 or 3 dozen.....
DeleteYou've "filled your boots" there...more postcard/calendar shots - brilliant.
ReplyDeleteFortunately foreigners here are viewed as "Mostly Harmless" by the locals.... but one still has to be careful sometimes.
It's generally OK here too (if you are white that is, if you're brown, black or obviously 'other' Asian it may be different) but they probably had no idea what I was doing or why I had turned up there.
DeleteSome pretty stunning pictures, Stu. My favourite is the fourth one down. Pretty nice to have that near where you live.
ReplyDeleteThanks Russell, hope you get some down your way...........
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