29 November 2018

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


November 29th 2015.

A Ural Owl 3 years ago today in Onuma.

This was taken with a full frame camera and I think it looks rather nice.............

28 November 2018

An afternoon Egret


A Great Egret on the river near my apartment yesterday afternoon. There are several at this time of year..............

I can remember being excited by seeing egrets of any kind. The first one I  ever saw was this species: in California in 1981. My first in the UK was a Little Egret in 1987. I've seen loads around the world since then of course (and this species seems well established in the UK now) but they still seem exotic to me even now.

Not much else around. A lone female Goosander and 7 Black Kite. the latter is a very common bird in Japan but over the last few years they seem to have become much scarcer in the skies above town. These birds looked like they were heading south in what must surely be the last real mild weather of the season............

27 November 2018

Autumnal Eagles


The Eagles at Yakumo are still skittish and mostly distant but at least they looked nice in the autumnal light............


26 November 2018

Peregrine on a mild late late autumn day


After freezing temperatures and snow a couple of days ago the weather became mild again............


23 November 2018

On this day (November 23rd).................


November 23rd 2015.

A Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at Shiriuchi 3 years ago today, the only one I've ever seen outside the UK. In Japan this species occurs only in NE Hokkaido so I have no idea what this one was doing down here.............

18 November 2018

17 November 2018

More winter returnees.............


It hasn't turned cold yet but the winter visitors are all arriving in force..............


16 November 2018

On this day (November 16th)................


November 16th 2015.

A Spotted Redshank at Oshamanbe 3 years ago today. This is a regular passage visitor but is never common and this late individual was a rare chance to grab a photograph of this species for me..............

4 November 2018

3 November 2018

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


November 3rd 2011.

A Little Egret on the local river 7 years ago today. This is not especially common in south Hokkaido and generally comes in spring. This one stuck around for a few weeks that autumn.

2 November 2018

A quiet week in late autumn


It's been a quiet week in town. In the local park there were 3 Wigeon (above), 4 Pochard, 1 Pintail and 1 Mallard with the resident Spot-billed Ducks as well as a couple of Little Grebe. On the river were 1 Great Egret, 1 Grey Heron, a small flock of Rustic Bunting and lone Daurian Redstart (male) and Red-flanked Bluetail.

Not much on the edge of town either. Last Monday at Kamiiso there was a big flock of Wigeon and 5 species of gull including Glaucous-winged. The ricefields were quiet too although there were a few Rooks in the crow flocks feeding in the stubble...............
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