A Brown Dipper

We just got back from a short trip.....................

A lot of photos to sort through but this was from the start of the trip. A Brown Dipper, the east Asian species of Dipper that is common on almost every local river (upstream at least).

I've seen Dippers in Europe, Nepal, the USA and Japan.3 species in all. I recall the first ones I ever saw: on a stream high up in the hills in the Lake District near a farm where my grandparents kept a caravan. Must have been over 40 years ago............

They appear to be difficult to photograph wherever they are though.

On this day (May 29th)................

May 29th 2015.

Common Eider at Seahouses 3 years ago today. This would look as exotic to japanese birders as Harlequin Ducks look to those based in the UK.................

On this day (May 28th)................

May 28th 2015.

An Arctic Tern on the Farnes 3 years ago today. This one looks like butter wouldn't melt in its beak but I'm sure it was one of those which crapped all over me and pecked me on the top of the head mercilessly.............

That's that..............

A totally and utterly crap picture of an Oriental Honey Buzzard high in the sky near my apartment a couple of days ago. There were 2 of them, presumably just arrived from the south and slowly drifting over Hakodate..................the last of the spring migrants I guess.

The spring migration is just about over and it wasn't a vintage year. Maybe the weather wasn't helpful plus I was a  bit sick at thes start of the month or too busy to do much birding later on. Perhaps the autumn will compensate.......

At Kamiiso today there were a couple of Grey-tailed Tattlers, 1 Pintail, 2 Goosander and 2 Wigeon. Oriental Reed Warblers, Common Cuckoo, Siberian Stonechats and Chestnut-eared Buntings are singing on the outskirts of town but otherwise not much to report............

On this day (May 25th).................

May 25th 2015.

An Avocet at Leighton Moss 3 years ago today. It's amazing this species has spread to NW England whilst I've been living in Japan. It hasn't made my J-list yet though.................

Lingering Spoonbill.........

The Spoonbill was still in the padis on Monday.............

Some more Narcs

There is a park just outside town that is good for Narcissus Flycatchers...................

Some more Tattlers...........

There were still some Grey-tailed Tattlers in town on Sunday............

All quiet on the western side...........

We headed west yesterday but it was pretty quiet...............

A Spoonbill..................

A Eurasian Spoonbill enjoying the warm spring weather in the padis outside Hakodate this afternoon.

A crap picture; into the light, cropped a lot and handheld out of the car window at 700mm with my misbehaving teleconverter. It flew off as soon as I got out.

This is only the 4th time I've seen this species in Japan: it's a bit scarce especially up here in Hokkaido.

More waders in the rain..............

It was raining again and I had a free afternoon again....................

Waders in the rain............

I had a spare couple of hours on Friday afternoon and we checked the recently irrigated local padis to see if any waders had appeared.................

On this day (May 18th)......................

May 18th 2015.

Not a good photo but on this day 3 years ago I saw my only Little Terns in Japan to date. This was on a river in Tokyo, near Haneda Airport. This species doesn't nest in Hokkaido..............

I saw one on the Ribble almost exactly 20 years before this individual and I think I saw one in Australia (is it the same species?).

On this day (May 17th)......................

May 17th 2013.

An Eye-browed Thrush in one of the local parks 5 years ago today. Another of the many passage migrants visiting the park that particular year..............

Black-winged Stilt

I had a spare couple of hours yesterday and checked west of town..............

On this day (May 15th)................

May 15th 2013.

A male Blue and White Flycatcher in one of the local parks 5 years ago today. There was an astonishing fall of common migrants that lasted several days that week: low pressure, cool temperatures and very low cloud caused it I think.................in the subsequent years the same park has been very quiet since.

Some Monday Narcs

Some Narcissus Flycatchers from Onuma this morning............

A rainy Sunday

It was raining all day today.................

On this day (May 13th).....................

May 13th 2013.

A Black-winged Stilt near Hakodate 5 years ago today. This is a regular overshoot visitor these days but Spring 2013 saw a big influx into south Hokkaido with birds at multiple sites. Nice to see one in flight too..............

A grey Friday in May

I couldn't do much birding this week................

On this day (May 11th).....................

May 11th 2012.

A male Narcissus Flycatcher in one of the local parks 6 years ago today. This was in the middle of a run of several springs when this species was a common passage visitor in the various parks in Hakodate but the last several years I've not seen so many in town............

On this day (May 10th).....................

May 10th 2015.

A Long-toed Stint at Yakumo 3 years ago today.

Another wader we don't see so often in spring (although they are fairly common in autumn).

Another (different) Saunders Gull..................

I was surprised to find another Saunders Gull, only my 4th in Hokkaido................

End of the holidays

Just as my cold disappears, the weather improves and my toothache is a distant memory..............the holidays end.

Recovery time...............

Feeling slightly better on Saturday I could spend a couple of hours birding................

On this day (May 5th)...........................

May 5th 2011.

A Black-tailed Godwit in Hakodate 7 years ago today. This is reasonably regular in autumn but seems much scarcer in spring so it was nice to see one coming into breeding plumage for a change...............

Out of action

I've been out of action for the last 3 days. A bit annoying as this is the season when birding is the most interesting and I did have lots of free time. I spent the free time in bed with a nasty cold or at the dentist having the start of root canal work due to some sudden but violent toothache.

I felt slightly better today and we had a quick look to see if anything interesting had appeared. The Saunders Gull was still there but not much else of interest. The same place as the Saunders Gull had produced Caspian Tern and both species of Spoonbill during late April/early May in the last 2 years so this small gull has carried on the tradition of this spot for turning up local rarities.

I have 3 days off coming up but it looks like it will be raining for most of the time................

On this day (May 3rd)....................

May 3rd 2013.

A mushy record shot of a Red-rumped Swallow in Kikonai 5 years ago today. Terrible weather..........drizzle and poor light I recall but the camera was just about up to the task of a BIF shot at least. This is a scarce overshoot visitor to Hokkaido: I've only ever seen this species twice here and both times were in early May..................

Saunders still there

The Saunders Gull was still in town on Monday.............