tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284179942024-03-19T21:55:58.790+09:00hirobirderjust a little blog about myself, my rather ordinary life in hiroshima, the people and birds I meet, the things i do, see, eat and drink...that kind of thing!Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-34254915117743165472007-12-31T22:47:00.000+09:002008-01-01T00:08:55.677+09:00A New YearI have neglected this blog since may of this year and indeed been traitorous enough to take my less than frequent ramblings across to Birdforum.<br /><br />However, as it is nearly 2008 I feel obliged to post something here and now about the past year birding and otherwise.<br /><br />The first two months of the year saw me in the UK, enjoying the winter gloom and a quick week-long side trip in the winter suntrying to reconnect with my family after so many years in Japan and fight a serious bout of depression. I did little in the way of birding, but did build bridges in the family and recover my mental faculties, more important for me in the long term!<br /><br />However, despte the serious nature of mission I did manage to catch up with one new bird for the UK , a drake American Wigeon at Strumpshaw Fen. my family indulged me with some nice trips to old favoured haunts such as Landguard, Holland Haven, Tollesbury Wick and Abberton. I was fortunate to see some nice birds such as Purple Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Great Northern Diver, Stonechat, Bittern, Corn Bunting, Smew and Slavonian Grebe. It was also interesting to see how much the avifuna is changing with Little Egret and Avocet, as well as Mediterranean Gull no longer the rarities they once were.<br /><br />I also made trips to Derbyshire and Spain, againwith family, and had a wonderful time with all, and still managed to fit in some birds. The Slender-billled Gulls, Greater Flamingoes and a huge flock of Black-necked Grebe stick in my mind, as do the wintering Crag Martins there, or the Bonelli's Eagle soaring high over an impressive cliff behind Benidorm. The little birds in the countryside surrounding my relatives beautiful home were also wonderful- Serin, Sardinian Warbler, Black Redstart, Crested Lark, Southern grey Shrike, Spotless Starling, Chiffchaffs aplenty and the resident Barn Owl on a neighbourng barn.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkWD20mLsHjaT__elIhldDO7hD-SRl8JvOd4MZ9pogDYjN1-gervbNjblSPxIiXVGCMLnhFgKfyB1u3OB9MTb2g5eQknDgtLu_DsSngb6lWfvzjzWzEqKqeTllniFeqkS2X-l/s1600-h/JapWaxwing.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkWD20mLsHjaT__elIhldDO7hD-SRl8JvOd4MZ9pogDYjN1-gervbNjblSPxIiXVGCMLnhFgKfyB1u3OB9MTb2g5eQknDgtLu_DsSngb6lWfvzjzWzEqKqeTllniFeqkS2X-l/s200/JapWaxwing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150151629038440210" /></a><br /><br />In mid-February it was back to Hiroshima, where a part-time work schedule gave me time to bird locally a little. Most of the time was spent at Hiroshima Catle or the local Otagawa gull roost. I was fortunate enough to see Yellow-browed Warbler and Korean Bush Warbler on my local patch of Hiroshima Castle, both first records for the Prefecture and an equally rare for there Great Spotted Woodpecker. Among the gulls it was good to tussle and lose with the ID of many birds, but also satisfying to start to recognize the various forms we have in the region.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4RuC4A6a3g-2fcgLeFh97xXmxFQmBYGSNsJyBP4kLTTE5S64prH-6Gd1uWvQ6XyfrcQRV3n66Wfac8KVnXwbssDcckFlPLjedh47U6wHZ3Byzsyj5f7AXKK-zyfrKlXbvTYB/s1600-h/Short-billedDowitcherMIwakuni1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4RuC4A6a3g-2fcgLeFh97xXmxFQmBYGSNsJyBP4kLTTE5S64prH-6Gd1uWvQ6XyfrcQRV3n66Wfac8KVnXwbssDcckFlPLjedh47U6wHZ3Byzsyj5f7AXKK-zyfrKlXbvTYB/s200/Short-billedDowitcherMIwakuni1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150151633333407522" /></a><br /><br /><br />March and April saw me make a few local trips to my favorite haunt of Minami-Iwakuni and the Yahata River and a return to full-time work. Some good birds passed through, such as Red-throated Pipit, Temminck's Stint, Black-winged Stilt, Far Eastern Curlew, Ruddy Crake, Water Rail and many more. The pick of the bunch were a Short-billed Dowitcher seen all too briefly and a huge flock (for these parts) of 27 Garganey! A Hoopoe 5 minutes from my house, in the same park where I found Japanese Waxwing feeding on ivy berries above a group of elderly japanese busy enjoying their 'Hanami' Cherry Bloosom party. A Wryneck, Japanese Waxwing and Japanese Thrush also put in appearances at Hiroshima Castle, as did Narcissus and Blue and White Flycatcher.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs3dh4JeIdQXEy90Cp-4A16bd4eEbLn6_nJ4Ry51MdZAurnV1w2u4uPfnWh5gIFokoaX77-rIc8TJ0zsULDxWPzduO4huHMiuQdKMeoUYriAdkuGLMb15yPTYH9x0TXR8lxTA/s1600-h/BlueandWhiteFlycatcher1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs3dh4JeIdQXEy90Cp-4A16bd4eEbLn6_nJ4Ry51MdZAurnV1w2u4uPfnWh5gIFokoaX77-rIc8TJ0zsULDxWPzduO4huHMiuQdKMeoUYriAdkuGLMb15yPTYH9x0TXR8lxTA/s200/BlueandWhiteFlycatcher1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150150319073414882" /></a><br /><br />May saw me make my now almost annual spring pilgrimage to Mishima Island in the Sea of Japan. Neil Davidson and I had an amazing week with over 135 species beween us. The highlights are just too numerous to mention, but include surprising a Japanese Night Heron on a quiet shady track, only my 2nd ever, no less than 5 Chinese Pond Herons, finally catching up with two rare starlings- a White-shouldered and a Daurian, a huge fall of Buntings and Warblers including a magnificent male Chestnut Bunting and Yellow-browed Buntings and Yellow-browed Warbler in the 10's! My only disappointment was Neil jamming Japanese Quail, a bird I have yet to see in Japan and by virtue of being on the toilet missing a first for Japan in the shape of a Song Sparrow only 10 meters from where Mark Carmody and I identified another first for Japan a Blunt-winged Warbler the previous year!<br /><br />After May, things quietened down birdingwise, with only a brief visit to Mt Garyuzan producing anything of note, in the shape of a Ruddy Kingfisher, and a good supporting cast of the summer birds there- Siberian Blue Robin and Brown Flycatcher being the pick of the rest. I also managed to seea splendid male Japanese Paradise Flycatcher at Hiroshima Castle. In June I settled in for the long hot summer, an increasingly busy schedule and a more lively social life, partaking of the amber nectar a little too much and not winnning Yahtzee as much as I'd like or for that matter scrabble on Facebook! See what an exciting life I lead. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R5LAuuC28dBSaz9QLyKH2fX-pSUr3S97oK9rE_LpR0ppdtCgo0IPB8J_sws4486nl_uNXxOqGKnwubgT27b3fen0UYUyLGnrIlA2Y3hk3H6emdhT9zjnYNHCJonx_D-emTjS/s1600-h/ChinesePondHeroncuriousty.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R5LAuuC28dBSaz9QLyKH2fX-pSUr3S97oK9rE_LpR0ppdtCgo0IPB8J_sws4486nl_uNXxOqGKnwubgT27b3fen0UYUyLGnrIlA2Y3hk3H6emdhT9zjnYNHCJonx_D-emTjS/s200/ChinesePondHeroncuriousty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150150327663349506" /></a><br /><br />As autumn approached I began to be more active in my birding. Hiroshima Castle had a good showing from the begging of September to the end of October, but nothing like the previous year - Woodcock, Blue Rock Thrush, Gray's Grasshopper Warbler, Middendorf's Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Siberian Rubythroat, Wryneck, 2 Black-browed Reed Warbler, as well as numerous Short-tailed Bush Warbler and the 5 'regular' flycatchers kept things interesting. Unfortunately, a Lanceolated Warbler, still a 'dream bird' for me, put in an appreance one rainy October morning but managed to avoid my gaze.<br /><br />I made several trips outside the Prefecture and caught up with two lifers, 4 amazing Spoon-billed Sandpipers in Fukuoka, along with a supporint cast of 27 species of waders, the pick being 50+ Broad-billed Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, along with a couple of Eastern Yellow Wagtails and the amzing site of 3 Peregrines trying to pick off lunch among 800 waders.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeZWoSXD80Pb_kD0ZVTvr-OfYvE-pSPXorpdINZmFktEjGPbDMo5HRoWW5gjDGkzSA78f3i869FtOgANoQa58fa53lQfL6NIyGMdEVNZ0_Gy8-EuA6_EQdSol3hfAi7G_dMu5/s1600-h/Amurfalcon2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeZWoSXD80Pb_kD0ZVTvr-OfYvE-pSPXorpdINZmFktEjGPbDMo5HRoWW5gjDGkzSA78f3i869FtOgANoQa58fa53lQfL6NIyGMdEVNZ0_Gy8-EuA6_EQdSol3hfAi7G_dMu5/s200/Amurfalcon2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150150310483480258" /></a><br /><br />However, the best find of the autumn was 3 Amur Falcons, a long wanted to see species, which I would not have found had the Baillon's Crake that had been reported in the same location (my 2nd dip of the autumn) appeared, it was such a oy to see them hawking for insects above the long grass of a small airoprt and then settling on wires to feed on grasshoppers, especially adfter the disappointment of dipping the same species the week before.<br /><br />The strangest find of the autumn was a Chinese Bulbul well out of range in SW Kyushu, at the same site where I missed Amur Falcon, though I did manage to see some good birds tat day, such as Merlin, Red-throated Pipit, Eastern Marsh Harriers galore and amammalian highlight a Racoon Dog.<br /><br />The final few moths saw me busy with Halloween, Xmas parties and fighting off coughs, cold and flu, but stiill the last two months held a few surprises, the first Japane Crane for 100 years in Yamaguchi, with a supporting cast of Black-faced Spoonbill, Grey-cheeked Bunting, White-fronted Goose, Woocock, Saunder's Gull, Merlin, and 70 Baikal Teal. Locally Baikal Teal, at Hiroshima Castle and a lone Goshawk by the Otagawa River were a nice Xmas Present on a Xmas Day bike ride.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwgE7-LWkzxujR7gLGK2cJfP-CnkGxVuM1cJBv4ogS0ucHC_5d5hfPyhIF6eWqqPmhOvQ539_8d1N3Jw3AVWUBA5ACLQ1701ZkapWA9YhBDp4XdYLLCtBg-MocboaVdtwzwXH/s1600-h/Blackfacedspoon3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwgE7-LWkzxujR7gLGK2cJfP-CnkGxVuM1cJBv4ogS0ucHC_5d5hfPyhIF6eWqqPmhOvQ539_8d1N3Jw3AVWUBA5ACLQ1701ZkapWA9YhBDp4XdYLLCtBg-MocboaVdtwzwXH/s200/Blackfacedspoon3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150150314778447570" /></a><br /><br />The last few days of the year were touched by sadness by the passing of my friends beautufl baby boy Asuto. On this the last day of the year my thoughts go with him and his mother, in the hope he will find happiness in his new life and to all my other family, friends, co-workers and even blog-readers, wishing the new year brings health, joy and prosperity in the coming year.Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-46191380348948634882007-05-14T22:18:00.000+09:002007-05-15T01:47:21.725+09:00Mishima - Spring 2007Well without any hitches Neil Davidson and I met up on Sunday afternoon, April 29th, ready for his first visit to Mishima and my 6th, the 5th in spring.<br /><br />Once we had done some last minute shopping, as there are not too many shops on the island and we were planning to camp, we made it acorss to the island by 5.20 and arrived at the campsite just before 6.<br /><br />The crossing was relatively quiet, with only a few Streaked Shearwaters breaking the monotony.<br /><br />Once we reached the far port of Uzu, where the campsite is, we managed to just dump our stuff and squeeze in an hours birding before it got too dark. We were lucky enough to bump into a couple of nice birds in the shape of 2 Chinese Pond Herons(AKAGASHIRASAGI), one in fine summer plumage, which remained throughout. Other birds on show were three very noisy Black-winged Stilts (SEITAKASHIGI), and a less showy Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (UZURASHIGI) and some quietly feeding Common Snipe (TASHIGI). Walking close to the small marsh near the village, we also flushed up a Brown Thrush (AKAHARA) which would turn out to be a very common bird on the island throughout. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQtsx31kRArUCQXohFRDUl0344QyWxP6Ey7GSwErWLKWLpl-BK5_qqBfWEnubGkMmHyvSHFTICdCFZVGZt50kLK375P-7_kU2nyN3LRKHL97JC37835rPWBeEljZ4pOGGGh2b/s1600-h/20470024.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQtsx31kRArUCQXohFRDUl0344QyWxP6Ey7GSwErWLKWLpl-BK5_qqBfWEnubGkMmHyvSHFTICdCFZVGZt50kLK375P-7_kU2nyN3LRKHL97JC37835rPWBeEljZ4pOGGGh2b/s200/20470024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064409025980056002" /></a>Chinese Pond heron<br /><br />We bumped into Imai-san, a good young birder who had co-found the Blunt-winged Warbler on the island and a few other birders who told us what else had been seen on the island on preceding days and it was quite a mouthwatering list - Silky Starling (GINMUKUDORI), Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (MAMIJIROKIBITAKI), Yellow-browed Bunting (KIMAYUHOIJIRO), Grey-backed Thrush (KARAAKAHARA) and Short-toed Lark (HIMEKOTENSHI), as well as Radde's Warbler(KARAFUTOMUJISEKKA) and Temminck's Stint (OJIROTONEN). At least two of these were lifers for Neil and two others Japanese ticks. <br /><br />So, as the sun started to go down, we set up camp and chowed down on some delightful curry pot noodles, which apart from a blow-out last night feast were to be our staple food for the week. Just before nodding off I could hear an Oriental Scops Owl (KONOHAZUKU) calling distantly...one of several heard over the week but as usual not seen. This would have been a prefect lullaby to get me to sleep, but the less dulcit sounds of a few drunken scuba-divers staying in the beach house nearby, put paid to that!<br /><br />Monday April 30th<br />The next morning, after a resonably uncomfortable nights sleep (Neil with his ancient sleeping bag faring better than me as it later turned out I had slept on neil's camera half the night, which was stuffed inside his coat pocket), we loaded up on tea and weetabix and set off for our first tour of the island.<br /><br />I decided to show Neil the route up to Otoge, the mountain on the top of the island, passing en route one of my favorite 'secret' spots, where Mark and I had seen a few good birds the year before. <br /><br />We checked out the stilts again, with the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper having been replaces by a Greenshank (AOASHISHIGI) and a Wood Sanpiper (TAKABUSHIGI).<br /><br />We started off slowly not really adding much to the totals of birds seen on the previous day, though we did see or hear plenty of Siskins, a few Eastern-crowned Warblers (SENDAIMUSHIKUI), the constant Daurian Redstart-like call of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (EZOMUSHIKUI) and the odd chuuit of a Yellow-browed Warbler (KIMAYUMUSHIKUI). We also encountered a very confiding Narcissus Flycatcher (KIBITAKI) that posed for the camera, living up to it's English name.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIUL4naklyVa3_chmumjiONJibfkf6TWn11wTFK4k-q6ZKN5FVWm_cazcTnPB4GILgdmr5yf3DwnZYYcVeyrMN4hFz48vyz9q82TLiQDAyEOBrnt0R5US3J4EdmyA4uIaqzD8/s1600-h/20460006.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIUL4naklyVa3_chmumjiONJibfkf6TWn11wTFK4k-q6ZKN5FVWm_cazcTnPB4GILgdmr5yf3DwnZYYcVeyrMN4hFz48vyz9q82TLiQDAyEOBrnt0R5US3J4EdmyA4uIaqzD8/s200/20460006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064412517788467666" /></a>1cy male Narcissu Flycatcher<br /><br />Other birds seen or heard on the way up, were Blue and White Flycatcher (ORURI) and Swinhoe's Robin (SHIMAGOMA) and the resident raptors, Osprey (MISAGO), Black Kite (TOBI), and Peregrine (HAYABUSA) with the first sightings of Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Japanese Sparrowhawk(HAITAKA and TSUMI). Finally we veered off on a small track through some more mature forest, skirting the edge of the mountain. <br /><br />Only some 100 meters or so down the track we suddenly saw a small dark heron feeding quietly on the side of the track, but beofre we could stop and admire it, the Japanese Night heron (MIZOGOI) took off and flew into cover, giving excellent if short views, story of my life with this species!<br /><br />We reached the top of the mountain without much further incident and found there were few birds of note, with only the odd Japanese Woodpigeon (KARASUBATO) flushed up and more of the same birds from the morning, though a singing Brown Flycatcher (KOSAMEBITAKI) and the only Red-flaned Bluetail (RURIBITAKI) were new. This island does not have resident Japanese Pymy Woodpecker, Great Tit or Varied Tit (KOGERA, YAMAGARA & SHIJUKARA), like other similar size offshore islands and indeed we failed to see these three species the whole week.<br /><br />After a brief rest we made our way down to the large expanse of rice fields and dry reedbed and marshy areas called Hachihata, near the larger village of Honmura in the south of the island. En route we passed through various tangles of scrub and fields, before reaching the new dam above the fields. The dam only had a few egrets and a pait of Little grebe (KAITSUBURI), so once again after briefly stopping to recharge we headed on down to the fields, the first surprise being two Swinhoe's Snipe (CHUUJISHIGI) flushed from the edge of a small marshy area. We continued on to an area that is usually good for buntings and pipts, and we were not disappoited as we encountered our first Yellow-browed Buntings (KIMAYUHOJIRO) of the trip, quickly followed by several Yellow Bunting (NOJIKO), 'spodcephala' race Black-faced Bunting (SIBERIAAOJI) and a Chestnut-eared Bunting (HOAKA).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQek0py5ZJA8UgM2nQaoIBcybHy2FR_olLpbDjcEwLWNZ9BtxCGKos33H91uDNe-7Y5YGZ-6SErGBRPAAQRWzupqkUDLM3QJ3nhlIVGicA0_0NN_lu5NjvUWOve2XvrdPUDDD_/s1600-h/20460046.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQek0py5ZJA8UgM2nQaoIBcybHy2FR_olLpbDjcEwLWNZ9BtxCGKos33H91uDNe-7Y5YGZ-6SErGBRPAAQRWzupqkUDLM3QJ3nhlIVGicA0_0NN_lu5NjvUWOve2XvrdPUDDD_/s200/20460046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064418646706799074" /></a>Japanese Yellow Bunting<br /><br />A search by the sea failed to reveal the reported Short-toed Lark (HIMEKOTENSHI), but there were two races of White Wagtail and a lone Whimbrel. A brief look at the area around the old JOmon period graves, gave us close views of 3 species of Hirundine - Eurasian Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow and Asian House Martin (TSUBAME, KOSHIAKATSUBAME & ) and 2 swift species - Little and Pacific (HIMEMATSUBAME, AMATSUBAME) with the ntoicieable absence of Sand Martin (SHODOTSUBAME) and White-rumped Needletail (HARIOAMATSUBAME). A walk around the rest of the fields revealed a few Red-throated Pipit (MUNEAKATAHIBARI) and Yellow Wagtail (TSUMENAGASEKIREI) calling and 4 species of white Egret (AMASAGI, KOSAGI, DAISAGI, CHUUSAGI), as well as the odd Wood Sandpiper.<br /><br />Late afternooon we started to make our way back across the island, but apart from a mystery bush warbler that Neil spotted we saw little else of note. Lat we decided to check out the far corner of the UZU harbour and were rewarded with good views of a pair of dark phase Eastern Reef Herons(KUROSAGI) hunting the shoreline. A final search of the pines by the shrine on the hillside above the campsite revealed just a few more species, the pick being a few more Yellow-browed Bunting and Tristram's Bunting (SHIROHARAHOJIRO). While Neil's stakeout of the reported White-shouldered Starling(KARAMUKUDORI) possible roost site failed to produce anything.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignVyfqiGuxVq3xmbqY6UpMZTeKAGStodoTUezaviPryuWbodGoZZk10yxZqCmbSgxbI7-CjwrmlK5azj5o-Ilcf26SzLj8jngwzHpGC7zZRgmla2gbeou8uximMsyQYGqhJvj/s1600-h/YBBunt6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignVyfqiGuxVq3xmbqY6UpMZTeKAGStodoTUezaviPryuWbodGoZZk10yxZqCmbSgxbI7-CjwrmlK5azj5o-Ilcf26SzLj8jngwzHpGC7zZRgmla2gbeou8uximMsyQYGqhJvj/s200/YBBunt6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064425875136758258" /></a>Yellow-Borwed Bunting (Neil Davidson)<br /><br />As we sat down to curry pot noodles for tea, the first spots of ran began to fall, bringing with it the prospect of new birds, but also a rough night as the wind began to pick up from the south. Around 11pm the wind and rain really began to pick up, ripping the top of our fragile accomodation, the most sheltered spots already being taken. Abandoning ship, we hastily gathered up our gear and decided to bed down in the disabled toilet, struggling out of wet things. It seemed a good temporary fix to our situation, with running water, electric light a clean floor and toilet nearby. it would end up being our digs for the remainder of the trip.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLnLu6ZPcPPMY-pb78-UUywuwoXFqYLhuGkz8Fdl7l_LIi3RXgPRSHoXBkA7AQ52IF5x60H78WtUcCSG3rYHSczX6nRuaR4x-m9UpyQvTYbi_6_88nJwHv34_VoH53ntAMyY-/s1600-h/home_sweet_home.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLnLu6ZPcPPMY-pb78-UUywuwoXFqYLhuGkz8Fdl7l_LIi3RXgPRSHoXBkA7AQ52IF5x60H78WtUcCSG3rYHSczX6nRuaR4x-m9UpyQvTYbi_6_88nJwHv34_VoH53ntAMyY-/s200/home_sweet_home.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064426283158651394" /></a>home sweet home (Neil Davidson)<br /><br />Tuesday May 1st<br /><br />After shocking the hell out of one of the scuba-girls when she cam to make her morning deposit, we got up to a dull, overcast morning with rain still in the air, and so it remained until the afternoon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz02kF7nnnuzigwUenjBtXCrwEF_erJbzattTsFEyyBPJ8t3MaKPOsPsLh-EBttsnYRWxMo5uUpbEc1pj6FZnCxZGMxYYc0cpMoeedTLfO3cNVicuU0AEKAhqSMY_PhGdcKP1y/s1600-h/20460005.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz02kF7nnnuzigwUenjBtXCrwEF_erJbzattTsFEyyBPJ8t3MaKPOsPsLh-EBttsnYRWxMo5uUpbEc1pj6FZnCxZGMxYYc0cpMoeedTLfO3cNVicuU0AEKAhqSMY_PhGdcKP1y/s200/20460005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064431381284831858" /></a>Siberian Stonechat<br /><br />Amazingly, unlike our tent, which was now a paddling pool, the Stilts had not been blown away in the night. Once again we did a tour of the nearby headland and were not able to add much to the previous days list except a nice, but rather washed out male Siberian Stonechat (NOBITAKI). So we deceided to make our way to the lighthouse in the north of the island, with Imai-san. in the hopes of finding something blown inby the wind. We were for the most part sadly dispappointed, with the only bird of note being a female Grey-backed Thrush (KARAAKAHARA) on the way back , which unfortunatley Neil failed to get on to, thanks to my rather crap directions before it disappeared into the scrub. We did however, manage a few of the commoner migrant warblers and flycatchers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAC7spEZJBojpYcnACJQgXR7XfjM2jZe3Xeb3R__apKUYIKIkCooolyGInkAUCdagHFACwDXBa0QKL-LNQg51aQtBL_0CgRtei4cyMkdhdc-gnYhIewGzGUmI0XnyAnIdjcu1/s1600-h/20470061.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAC7spEZJBojpYcnACJQgXR7XfjM2jZe3Xeb3R__apKUYIKIkCooolyGInkAUCdagHFACwDXBa0QKL-LNQg51aQtBL_0CgRtei4cyMkdhdc-gnYhIewGzGUmI0XnyAnIdjcu1/s200/20470061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064428387692626450" /></a> Blue and White Flycatcher<br /><br />Neil decided to stake out the thrush, as it was a lifer for him, while I returned to basecamp. I decided to walk along by the beach and the rain provided me plenty of opportunity to photograph commoner species such as Common Sandpiper (ISOSHIGI), Grey-tailed Tatler (KIASHISHIGI(), Great Egret (DAISAGI)and Blue Rock Thrush (ISOHIYODORI). I was also able to find some new birds for the trip, with Pelagic Cormorant (HIMEU) fishing a little offshore, and two divers, one Pacific (SHIROERIOHAMU) and one Black-throated (OHAMU) unusually fishing side by side, as well as an Oriental Honey Buzzard (HACHIKUMA) coming in low off the sea from the east..a rahter unusual direction.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtaExiLPxjoUSsdHZGWXJYkTYyw75iLhWM8SfQjlcAN22u8dvsUk8FGC-gfBqYrVUSJvyav-rds5c41AZ_M-hFHu2RAZQSQWcjcd00P9qyGKCkuQD8h4LhvrVFt7HgGOH3Nmn/s1600-h/20460049.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtaExiLPxjoUSsdHZGWXJYkTYyw75iLhWM8SfQjlcAN22u8dvsUk8FGC-gfBqYrVUSJvyav-rds5c41AZ_M-hFHu2RAZQSQWcjcd00P9qyGKCkuQD8h4LhvrVFt7HgGOH3Nmn/s200/20460049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064430548061176354" /></a>The beach<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QGqcU3ym5XB55iYlpNfMF8-tX429exTPNAgCLYdgTROMI1bDecj7TntdOqo4kWkOWvkWTWJEJ0HdlMTeVd9BQQxc0UVO_BgyT01ucBsN99uZUtyznF_C69llHkON5nsfhebg/s1600-h/20460056.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QGqcU3ym5XB55iYlpNfMF8-tX429exTPNAgCLYdgTROMI1bDecj7TntdOqo4kWkOWvkWTWJEJ0HdlMTeVd9BQQxc0UVO_BgyT01ucBsN99uZUtyznF_C69llHkON5nsfhebg/s200/20460056.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064430565241045554" /></a>Blue Rock Thrush<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOSN5NIWFjIzWKRNI0TBzbruRGUFsgH1ed2qi_X87CAqWeOr48ovmDPXRO3pwWTKkwJA5T1Kcb-d99BVbJI_4VChz6U6Qur8aer-irRv3tMCm68Xg_hXa5H_u-SiNdudHJhfE/s1600-h/20460067.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOSN5NIWFjIzWKRNI0TBzbruRGUFsgH1ed2qi_X87CAqWeOr48ovmDPXRO3pwWTKkwJA5T1Kcb-d99BVbJI_4VChz6U6Qur8aer-irRv3tMCm68Xg_hXa5H_u-SiNdudHJhfE/s200/20460067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064430578125947458" /></a>Pacific Diver<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeTQOV44PBq6vPu4dbLj0yjUwVT8S08c_4h6sVS-q_J_coTgst2LDR5zCOR_6Ydsw0oGAjCgBOYr9bNWQZYadv9_5KVCBKWHixEd0ak92w9ToOd_giqMJ3-jD-0Y1WpXyS6K4/s1600-h/20470123.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeTQOV44PBq6vPu4dbLj0yjUwVT8S08c_4h6sVS-q_J_coTgst2LDR5zCOR_6Ydsw0oGAjCgBOYr9bNWQZYadv9_5KVCBKWHixEd0ak92w9ToOd_giqMJ3-jD-0Y1WpXyS6K4/s200/20470123.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064430586715882066" /></a>Black-throated Diver<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIsnW-1JdF13rU15ZjyhN5_vdsjVNdKLQ4QtP-yljXXNyGNuQmZQxABPgEH-d9a2lYlWLXX-lMS-FQ-ZfKOdAhfzGU4cgBw-WmzSrnaXw-tmUHR7T3UsY5Sma9SzSs4LmxJTR/s1600-h/__BuA____B.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIsnW-1JdF13rU15ZjyhN5_vdsjVNdKLQ4QtP-yljXXNyGNuQmZQxABPgEH-d9a2lYlWLXX-lMS-FQ-ZfKOdAhfzGU4cgBw-WmzSrnaXw-tmUHR7T3UsY5Sma9SzSs4LmxJTR/s200/__BuA____B.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064430591010849378" /></a>Oriental Honey Buzzard (Chikako Miyazawa)<br /><br />Neil and I met up finally mid-morning, and though he said he hadn't had much, it soon transpired that he had seen and photographed a Daurian Starling (SIBERIAMUKUDORI). Despite searching for it, we could not relocate it and I had to be content with the hope that it might come to roost that evening. We slowly made our way up the mountain, stopping off to see a couple of White's Thrushes (TORATSUGUMI) in the old Kindergarten garden, rustling among the leaves alongside Brown Thrush and Pale Thrush (SHIROHARA).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL3_pvamIS2YWtV-VlOoTwETW3-XPrPRsonlx7B3opqdYsDxrfES-eChIZv9xnVxh_1yoB9_x0tVMtSAJWkG4QWogpymdofKy3gsI4piA4sFdQNKe9qLACxcMNIXERZyFB3op/s1600-h/20460085.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL3_pvamIS2YWtV-VlOoTwETW3-XPrPRsonlx7B3opqdYsDxrfES-eChIZv9xnVxh_1yoB9_x0tVMtSAJWkG4QWogpymdofKy3gsI4piA4sFdQNKe9qLACxcMNIXERZyFB3op/s200/20460085.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064432880228418178" /></a>White's Thrush<br /><br />We finally made it to the top of the mountain, again without any new birds of note and 1 more White's Thrush along with the commoner Pale and Brown Thrushes near the top.<br /><br />The rest of the day, passed in a blur, as despite the wind and rain, no other birds of note were seen, though we did have a Grey-faced Buzzard (SASHIBA) perhced halfway up the valley.<br /><br />Despite extensive searching neither the Daurian or Grey-backed Starling could be found. We retired to bed at a resonable hour, hoping that the brighter weather the following day would give us a chance to seeif the birds we thought might have come in, but had been hampered by the wind and rain were still around. We were not to be disappointed.<br /><br />Wednesday 2nd May<br /><br />Up again early, with brighter, less windy conditions. it soon became apparent that a lot of birds had been brought in. We soon had Black-naped oriole (KORAIUGUISU) singing, and lots of other migrants singing from cover, mainly Siberian Rubythroats (NOGOMA) and Siberian Blue Robins (KORURI). Two species we heard on subsequent days, along with Swinhoe's Robin, but were unable to see..except Rubythroat. Neil decided to make is way to the lighthouse hoping to find something good. He was able to find Grey Thrush (KUROTSUGUMI) the first of several over the next few days. Imai-san and I searched for the oriole without success, but among the larger numbers of Tristram's, Little (KOHOAKA) Yellow-browed and Black-faced Buntings, Imai-san and I were lucky enough to find a fine male Chestnut Bunting (SHIMANOJIKO). There were also plenty of Yellow-browed Warblers fresh in, along with Eastern-crowned and Sakhalin Leaf Warblers. I also had brief views of a Middendorf's Grasshopper Warbler (SHIMASENNYU) and heard Dusky Warbler (MUJISEKKA), one of several seen or heard on the island and Manchurian Bush Warbler (CHOSENUGUISU), with a song not dissimilar to the commoner Japanese Bush Warbler (UGUISU) but more melodius in quality.<br /><br />Luckily, we were all finally able to catch up with the White-shouldered Starling (KARAMUKUDORI), which finally decided to show off in the overgrown allotments.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiMhfKIZx1rZh9ygFMj_Lx4RJ0n1wV2oqslfZ4PGKb1D_ZPqjma9F4M1CWn8uPTnN8JVzyyy77_3hpeMJ8tZNwGzA1kM6IKwNgAvCIfcJFMwewR4zxb69d3T4N7coYhR_eKol/s1600-h/20470016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiMhfKIZx1rZh9ygFMj_Lx4RJ0n1wV2oqslfZ4PGKb1D_ZPqjma9F4M1CWn8uPTnN8JVzyyy77_3hpeMJ8tZNwGzA1kM6IKwNgAvCIfcJFMwewR4zxb69d3T4N7coYhR_eKol/s200/20470016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064441736450982594" /></a>White-shouldered Starling<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaRkmvxgIhlGySHnEIMOOAEyeLXNbt9YHtYBJhUyfenBS0kx-GBc_8PEod7B4SbtNyKFrSvPDFXJJwqsYeCxbsvnomyEwpAEdgfwg_MR8QGSF4Lb81eS01NIypG-CfVO3wvWe/s1600-h/J_Thrush_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaRkmvxgIhlGySHnEIMOOAEyeLXNbt9YHtYBJhUyfenBS0kx-GBc_8PEod7B4SbtNyKFrSvPDFXJJwqsYeCxbsvnomyEwpAEdgfwg_MR8QGSF4Lb81eS01NIypG-CfVO3wvWe/s200/J_Thrush_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064435727791735442" /></a>Japanese Thrush (Neil Davidson)<br /><br />Neil and I independently made our way up to the mountain mid-morning, with Neil and I both hearing the song of Pale-legged Warbler (USUIMUSHIKUI) along the 'secret' path, and bumping into several Yellow-throated Buntings (MIYAMAHOJIRO). Neil also heard and saw 8 Crossbill (ISUKA) en-route. While I rested at the top, Neil came and told me he had also seen and photographed a Wryneck (ARISUI) at the Sefl-defence Force barbecue area, where a Hoopoe had been seen the day before. He was lucky enough to also see the only Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (SANKOUCHO) flitting through the tops of some pine trees. I relocated the Wryneck, but the flycatcher seemed to disappear into thin air. <br /><br />Neil and I parted ways once again, as headed back down the moutain to Uzu, while I made my way on a different route to the ricefields of hachihata. Neil was lucky enough to finally find a Grey-backed Thrush (KARAAKAHARA) and later got nice photos of a Dollarbird (BUPPOSO) perched on wires above the 'mystery' track, after a telling off from the local defence force for stepping too close to their fence!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Oa8iYBsuka7-Qa5mzlsHQIoKlTH4zG4P7hNfAGCUR9jboZOTCoxvYWdOI5p404NTkypufaJU5vNoZIZ2Kta25ZP1k7JD-SV1t4xmdK0I3JxyuakUcpz56K26byTDrAQd6sww/s1600-h/Roller.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Oa8iYBsuka7-Qa5mzlsHQIoKlTH4zG4P7hNfAGCUR9jboZOTCoxvYWdOI5p404NTkypufaJU5vNoZIZ2Kta25ZP1k7JD-SV1t4xmdK0I3JxyuakUcpz56K26byTDrAQd6sww/s200/Roller.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064438523815445170" /></a>Dollarbird (Neil Davidson)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT5SY_iJzAY0mTW4TEbKJY4WOMlBIFsNbOfrWs-nX4gpNyFAmwLCIN_nFaG2kKS2LY_yn1gjdkywWpv5vRMCZv4IQMRulz2_ps51apHwjBeDluZZWMxl7EnVSrQlmxaI_jgTD/s1600-h/Wryneck2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT5SY_iJzAY0mTW4TEbKJY4WOMlBIFsNbOfrWs-nX4gpNyFAmwLCIN_nFaG2kKS2LY_yn1gjdkywWpv5vRMCZv4IQMRulz2_ps51apHwjBeDluZZWMxl7EnVSrQlmxaI_jgTD/s200/Wryneck2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064437643347149474" /></a>Wryneck (Neil Davidson)<br /><br />As I walked down towards the ricefields, I was able to see a few more warblers and flycatchers. At the bottom of the dam I met Imai-san, who told me he had found a Daurian Starling (SIBERIAMUKUDORI) with 15 Red-cheeked Starlings (KOMUKUDORI). We quickly relocated the Daurian Starling among the Red-cheekeds feeding in long grass at the side of the dam, but it was soon flushed and moved to trees, by the side of the Dam. Flushed again, it was briefly seen in flight, to never be relocated. Around the side of the dam were several Brown and Grey-Streaked Flycatchers (EZOBITAKI), as well as plenty of Brown and Pale Thrushes.<br /><br />We continued on down to the ricefields, and were able to see more Tristram's and Yellow-browed Buntings, as well as a few Yellow and Black-faced Buntings. We deceided to have a look for the Short-toed lark (HIMEKOTENSHI) by Honmaru Port, and were lucky enough to find him, alongside 2 Richard's Pipits (MAMIJIROTAHINBARI), as well as more Red-throated Pipit and Buff-bellied Pipits on the rice paddies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv5af6OTXYKNPMf8fn9NSvlUfq3R1JvNqfbJA7YK55VXJrOIQSR49G3JmDrUh3agRI3T_O0XcQPconfpyYKJDDLvf4dlJ5cRy0Q5I6j046KmG712z0fSze4bC8uS9JQyZkQQI/s1600-h/20470064.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv5af6OTXYKNPMf8fn9NSvlUfq3R1JvNqfbJA7YK55VXJrOIQSR49G3JmDrUh3agRI3T_O0XcQPconfpyYKJDDLvf4dlJ5cRy0Q5I6j046KmG712z0fSze4bC8uS9JQyZkQQI/s200/20470064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064442681343787730" /></a>Short-toed Lark<br /><br />A report of a male Yellow-breasted Bunting (SHIMAAOJI) and I took Imai-san in vain for a tour around the jomon tombs, before heading back over to the ricefields for a last look, before heading back to Uzu. As we were trying to work out the varous races of Yellow Wagtail, Imai-san suddenly noticed a small bunting feeding quietly on the deck. We soon both realized it was a male Palla's Reed Bunting (SHIBERIAJURIN). We managed to get good close views as he fed just 15 meters away, but proved difficult to photograph.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZX4lujfHGZ8QrmIMGzlAN27fe5wecq2JiPv5_wcZ2UQCQsssShbfkiEktmHBLWNnjpVdAz14sit1jhJIwe3KnYxDxq-cCnR2moraposjcP-GVCkliA0zWLLX5ahAQzaUFYJF/s1600-h/20470077.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZX4lujfHGZ8QrmIMGzlAN27fe5wecq2JiPv5_wcZ2UQCQsssShbfkiEktmHBLWNnjpVdAz14sit1jhJIwe3KnYxDxq-cCnR2moraposjcP-GVCkliA0zWLLX5ahAQzaUFYJF/s200/20470077.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064444403625673442" /></a>Palla's Reed Bunting<br /><br />The walk back to Uzu, once again proved uneventful, but a final look up on the hillside above the campsite, produced a Sooty Flycatcher (SAMEBITAKI), among the commoner warblers, flycatchers and buntings. A final look at the ricefields nearby also had us face to face with a Japanese Snipe (OJISHIGI), despite Neil and my best efforts to dismiss it at first as a Common Snipe!<br />The camera however, doesn't lie..well not always.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-eC22i_s1s5MM1MJ-4b7dusV6HmGzjMSts2BZNoYTHc4a1TWQj0mfy57ScMFnYSf6vgNd8F_UsEPStV6dptNn1GRLt5eEUB0kDX3K-pwZ2EgI6pZb7BSK1t1tQHRYK0_-os6/s1600-h/20470012.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-eC22i_s1s5MM1MJ-4b7dusV6HmGzjMSts2BZNoYTHc4a1TWQj0mfy57ScMFnYSf6vgNd8F_UsEPStV6dptNn1GRLt5eEUB0kDX3K-pwZ2EgI6pZb7BSK1t1tQHRYK0_-os6/s200/20470012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064445485957432050" /></a>Japanese Snipe<br /><br />Thursday May 3rd to Saturday May 6th<br /><br />The last 3 days of the trip were to prove not as productive as the Wednesday, with far lesser numbers of birds, but new species, though mostly not rare being added.<br /><br />Thursday saw Imai-san and I do the lighthouse and then me walk down the west side of the island in the morning. This produced a few new birds, a Korean race Meadow Bunting, stunning views of Japanese Woodpigeon, a Black-browed Reed Warbler ( KOYOSHIKIRI - another had been been briefly heard the day before), a Little Bunting and singing Japanese Robin (the only one of the trip).<br /><br />Once again Neil and I split up, but our seperate paths eventually took us to the other side of the island, with Hobby (CHIGOHAYABUSA) and Russet Sparrow (NYUNAESUZUME) being the only bird of note for me. Neil finally managed to catch up with the Short-toed lark, but not much else. up to 3 Palla'S Reed Bunting were in the field we had seen the male the day before. A Red-necked Stint (TONEN) had joined them, and there was 1 of two new Chinese Pond Herons closeby, as well as 3 of the previous days 7 Yellow Wagtails. Two more Red-necked Stints and a White Wagtail had also taken up residence on the beach.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q2Msb_4662a77EID-pmmpr3R_BwspmRucPTkQ36vWmpt-21N9DyWDSuB9xp-v2edWZ2cu2zSMjyenLd3_fglRF5KuCPBDR5LsvMPQguCQn4EO-z6MaIVBhYSW6yoBBTo0odP/s1600-h/20470094.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q2Msb_4662a77EID-pmmpr3R_BwspmRucPTkQ36vWmpt-21N9DyWDSuB9xp-v2edWZ2cu2zSMjyenLd3_fglRF5KuCPBDR5LsvMPQguCQn4EO-z6MaIVBhYSW6yoBBTo0odP/s200/20470094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064449308478325506" /></a>Red-necked Stint<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFHqPSrsWRyrnr2JNCZWBMF13WJqzT9sQT36SegQRWkbW_URJ6TSmH1u-iUtl0O6qcpu0zofGKIsvJCEoNY5xITyqUa2fExaRimx0stQwGKWKPKYCQczFJbHbUf2I9zLEeVvw/s1600-h/20470105.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFHqPSrsWRyrnr2JNCZWBMF13WJqzT9sQT36SegQRWkbW_URJ6TSmH1u-iUtl0O6qcpu0zofGKIsvJCEoNY5xITyqUa2fExaRimx0stQwGKWKPKYCQczFJbHbUf2I9zLEeVvw/s200/20470105.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064449355722965778" /></a>White Wagtail <br /><br />On the Friday a few more common birds were added to the list, a Daurian Redstart (JOUBITAKI) in off the sea, a Brambling (ATORI), a Bull-headed Shrike (MOZU). I had brief views of another Japanese Night Heron (MIZOGOI). There were still quite a few buntings, Little now taking over from Yellow-browed as the commonest and warblers with a single Arctic (MEBOSOMUSHIKUI) the only bird of note and a few flycatchers on the island, as well as Red-cheeked Starlings (KOMUKUDORI). Neil had the best birds of the day, a Quail (UZURA) flushed on an area I usually checked out in the center of the island, a lifer for him, which we couldn't find despite searching nearly every blade of grass, and another Richard's Pipit (MAMIJIROTAHIBARI)..again avoiding mine and Imai-san's eyes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04cdwUROKdnbuVMEU8VqPlaVMjBSxNqLyS29lk5-IUnqsg_KF0H0_82_SBIa2MzBbgK-rYrluRBU-bOt2kbSML_rg7sYUcdFfkp2icvC6kKXxAxav0jk9VF1ylITZP9SHQ7DW/s1600-h/20470080.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04cdwUROKdnbuVMEU8VqPlaVMjBSxNqLyS29lk5-IUnqsg_KF0H0_82_SBIa2MzBbgK-rYrluRBU-bOt2kbSML_rg7sYUcdFfkp2icvC6kKXxAxav0jk9VF1ylITZP9SHQ7DW/s200/20470080.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064450425169822498" /></a>Little Bunting<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyVHnG5iFJZqC2XMCdKnBXvWoqZE4UKRzpIsuSd0RY1AcCgb-vTUCV24rH10FZk0xuclNDl9XSb54P7fv8yXpxv2jsx3l5laUcmjzo411qc-c3W-VL0-CpxFNSnkAIBkoxfs5/s1600-h/20470165.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyVHnG5iFJZqC2XMCdKnBXvWoqZE4UKRzpIsuSd0RY1AcCgb-vTUCV24rH10FZk0xuclNDl9XSb54P7fv8yXpxv2jsx3l5laUcmjzo411qc-c3W-VL0-CpxFNSnkAIBkoxfs5/s200/20470165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064450446644658994" /></a>Red-cheeked Starling<br /><br />The Saturday morning, was a starling day and also the day of the one that got away. Little Bunting were it seemed everywhere still, with at least 11 near the campsite, and as well as erroneous reports of the Daurian or a another Daurian Starling, there were plenty of Red-cheeked and a few grey Starling (MUKUDORI). While I was on the loo, Neil phoned me with news of a mystery bird, only 50 meters away from where Mark and I had found the Blunt-winged Warbler the year before. it was photographed and videoed before disappearing never to be seen again, as an old man deceided to chop wood right where it had last been seen to fly into. Further inspecition of the photos and video revealed to me that it was a Song Sparrow (UTASUZUME), probably from the Aleutuains or NW Alaska. Despite going back later in the day, the bird never materialized. Had I known it responded to pishing at the time I would have pished away.<br /><br />Just as Neil and I were getting ready to leave the island sure nothing else would turn up, I got a phonecall from Imai-san telling me that a Black-capped Kingfisher (YAMASHOBIN) had been found. We legged it up the hillside and Neil got brief, if good views through bins before legging it back and just making the 10 o'clock ferry.<br /><br />Encouraged by this bird, the presence of the Song Sparrow and the weather slowly turning to misty conditions, I decided to saty on until the 4 o'clock ferry. So Imai-san and I set off up the mountain road, with little on the way. However, once at the top, a few birds gave themselves up, first a female Siberian Thrush (MAMIJIRO), next a small flock of Hawfinch(SHIME) feeding on cherries, and then 4-5 Grey-faced Buzzard (SASHIBA) and no less than7 Japanee Sparrowhawk(TSUMI) circling overhead. On the way back down the mountain brief tantalizing views of two Broad-billed Roller (BUPPOSO) were had as they flew into cover. later on we watched one bird distantly hawking and another flying to the north of the island and into the mist.<br /><br />As the mist rolled in, I had a last look in vain for te Song Sparrow and a green Heron that had been reported by Imai-san on two previous occassions, but could only turn up a Grey-tailed tatler and a 3rd race of White Wagtail.<br /><br />Even with the mist, the ferry journey back proved more eventful than the one 6 days before. Among the larger numbers of Streaked Shearwaters (OMIZUNAGIDORI) were a couple of darker shearwaters, most likely Sooty . There were also a few Red-necked Phalarope (AKAERIHIREASHISHIGI), three auklets, one close enough to see it was a Japanese Murrelet (KANMURIUMISUZUME) for which a big cheer went up from all the birders on the boat. Finally 4 terns diving distantly were too far way to ID for sure, but were most likely Common Terns.<br /><br />All told Neil and I managed to see or here 135 species in and around the island. Will I be back next year, you betcha.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHINgmV-BywOmoNb95eASgUCNiHru__iYF99OlH5Sva9YNoTsTPzw9Bp-uUQ4vEyND7zMo6P7Hy6ghbVqvChGrAoeZ4xSFXudLtpy3bBStAMwoSCMUuQNblQhoppluu844ML-m/s1600-h/20470128.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHINgmV-BywOmoNb95eASgUCNiHru__iYF99OlH5Sva9YNoTsTPzw9Bp-uUQ4vEyND7zMo6P7Hy6ghbVqvChGrAoeZ4xSFXudLtpy3bBStAMwoSCMUuQNblQhoppluu844ML-m/s200/20470128.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064456416649200450" /></a>Grey-tailed Tatler<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfbaf0ZkenZb0vrvh3zWTqf-bJkIhR7b7E_z5dVMLMl1T0kiC7cd4aGPmruZDp5o6u-9gpbm1ORziU54qAtvI8eBWyl8WP3ugqqnW4LTHE7ht4-OZV7nn1o8qLFwBIAv-RATG/s1600-h/20470135.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfbaf0ZkenZb0vrvh3zWTqf-bJkIhR7b7E_z5dVMLMl1T0kiC7cd4aGPmruZDp5o6u-9gpbm1ORziU54qAtvI8eBWyl8WP3ugqqnW4LTHE7ht4-OZV7nn1o8qLFwBIAv-RATG/s200/20470135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064456459598873426" /></a>Black-winged Stilt<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyba0bIKj1NOlP9RG8Coc_2vsKlcVV0ThGvzF1f70nnva2LMHVgmgJXSvcXv1B5B6BWlKmOwNXKcEhkJxUvHtrhPvtWlSrEh4rM_jI4aemCGMAvVzX7sKgLGYjzH6g_anpdch/s1600-h/20470144.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyba0bIKj1NOlP9RG8Coc_2vsKlcVV0ThGvzF1f70nnva2LMHVgmgJXSvcXv1B5B6BWlKmOwNXKcEhkJxUvHtrhPvtWlSrEh4rM_jI4aemCGMAvVzX7sKgLGYjzH6g_anpdch/s200/20470144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064456468188808034" /></a>Yellow Wagtail<br /><br />Imai-san and several other birders stayed on until the Monday, but few other birds of note were found despite the ensuing wind and rain. the best being Common Rosefinch (AKAMASHIKO), Yellow-breasted bunting (SHIMAAOJI), Chestnut Bunting(SHIMANOJIKO), Silky Starling (GINMUKUDORI) and Tree Pipit (YORROPPABINZUI).Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-57449800223230887192007-04-23T21:35:00.000+09:002007-04-23T22:51:41.169+09:00Mishima - here I come!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhuzlZpPrfysZ_z4Zg6rByp81g4TqtGKYy6d6cfsu96wvvbOHldH9O66Z1Da-6I8iOW3uGK9v2uO3HA3dI38V5FDUs75vtekab-xCDqprs1QmIPs8JVG9BMFGWYZo1s5QcYHr/s1600-h/tpgraph.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhuzlZpPrfysZ_z4Zg6rByp81g4TqtGKYy6d6cfsu96wvvbOHldH9O66Z1Da-6I8iOW3uGK9v2uO3HA3dI38V5FDUs75vtekab-xCDqprs1QmIPs8JVG9BMFGWYZo1s5QcYHr/s200/tpgraph.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056618957412818882" /></a> Mishima<br /><br />So my favorite time of year has arrived in Jappers...with my annual pilgrimage to an offshore island only days away, my lips are slavering with the excitement of it all.<br /><br />As in the previous three of the last five years, I'll be heading out to Mishima island. A 6km by 2km wide piece of rock, in the middle of the Sea of Japan, 1 hour and 20 minutes by ferry from quiet little Hagi on the Japan sea coast of Yamaguchi.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOwpgC1f4mjAXrY-fTWK0ARwafkp5G21XCKbylKFlXob8kHC-sD-XubbiAGOFGXM6d2qOzXLAX0eRPQRxQE7y5BmacfzRVuRWy-iJPja0urf2PUSkzDs8iVQdSpiac80Z8Eij/s1600-h/DSCN3538.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOwpgC1f4mjAXrY-fTWK0ARwafkp5G21XCKbylKFlXob8kHC-sD-XubbiAGOFGXM6d2qOzXLAX0eRPQRxQE7y5BmacfzRVuRWy-iJPja0urf2PUSkzDs8iVQdSpiac80Z8Eij/s200/DSCN3538.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056615396884930274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNfBH0JHs7furimSs95tD-gPRy6DXkGpesgcgVwe0bhkfArHS72pk-6hBNkVB-3P9MOjMALFRhnWtNPruVhRIlRPYdl6x9T1L_jLXwY_KR0U9mtvjj_QORBtHe_eQitOxfmwM/s1600-h/DSCN3540.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNfBH0JHs7furimSs95tD-gPRy6DXkGpesgcgVwe0bhkfArHS72pk-6hBNkVB-3P9MOjMALFRhnWtNPruVhRIlRPYdl6x9T1L_jLXwY_KR0U9mtvjj_QORBtHe_eQitOxfmwM/s200/DSCN3540.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056615396884930290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvPwm2r_vUdigNEz4RK3QBzdDJXRdJHOk8wHyJZOU4Y4bCrVrvnva3v-JPEOEXqdTdxAJ0QuPwTHGSvrMqIakFIIo1d9-q0Zg2kDp5sQCKImOsYkzCCnCwkzaUtMc6C0fTntx/s1600-h/DSCN3602.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvPwm2r_vUdigNEz4RK3QBzdDJXRdJHOk8wHyJZOU4Y4bCrVrvnva3v-JPEOEXqdTdxAJ0QuPwTHGSvrMqIakFIIo1d9-q0Zg2kDp5sQCKImOsYkzCCnCwkzaUtMc6C0fTntx/s200/DSCN3602.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056615401179897602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbHDWgTgbCjxfxYStHWzIps8awklDTf-fq7NDi2ZGFMFIyF4NR_fDLBOt13QRFLgZHtFE35Mu31pYVvEWMq0-l_iC2_MUIGurZQRVURcLhdqb65RvcFUYuDz17QRWJR0fPbCu/s1600-h/95010117.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbHDWgTgbCjxfxYStHWzIps8awklDTf-fq7NDi2ZGFMFIyF4NR_fDLBOt13QRFLgZHtFE35Mu31pYVvEWMq0-l_iC2_MUIGurZQRVURcLhdqb65RvcFUYuDz17QRWJR0fPbCu/s200/95010117.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056615401179897618" /></a><br /><br />This year I am gonna rough it for the second time and camp, after an attempt last autumn, was curtailed after a few days, because out of the kindness of their hearts the people running the campsite let us stay, but refused to turn on the water for showers etc, as it wasn't peak season.<br /><br />So what might we expect..well if todays little lunchtime jaunt around Hiroshima Castle is anything to go by, quite a lot. Today at the castle there were 3 male Japanese Thrush, 1 Wryneck and 1 male Siberian Rubythroat. The latter skulking and not playing ball, while the thrushes sung and fought over territory and the Wryneck showed well for a minute before being put up by someone.<br /><br />Also the Hiroshima WBSJ group just returned from a weekend trip there, where the highlights were Japanese Yellow Bunting, Japanese Murrelet, Siberian Rubythroat, Silky Starling, Little Bunting and Siberian Blue Robin among others.<br /><br /> Last autumn I vsited at the end of September for 2 days and managed to find quite a few goodies, including 3 Japanese rarities - Northern Wheatear ( around 20 records in Japan) ,Common Swift (not officially on Japanese list yet) and Blyth's Pipit, as well as some other scarce species - Middendorf's Grasshopper Warbler, Richard's Pipit, Long-toed Stint, Red-cheeked Starling, White's Thrush, Little Bunting and the one that got away..a swiftlet sp. There were also many Hobby and Kestrel on the island, and the commonest migrants seemed to be Grey Wagtail and Stonechat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWP18tdPIWgJ1qoTkDfkoUl8xs3OfjvM0DRpjKb9E-jHykJzdlkILbZrFnTGHZvGtRO74FuPNsLMc429khb6oHZxS0XXhESNC7EaSpo1BgGalAGtCzIOQcnoMvK3iJXT7KCks/s1600-h/DSCN3446.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWP18tdPIWgJ1qoTkDfkoUl8xs3OfjvM0DRpjKb9E-jHykJzdlkILbZrFnTGHZvGtRO74FuPNsLMc429khb6oHZxS0XXhESNC7EaSpo1BgGalAGtCzIOQcnoMvK3iJXT7KCks/s400/DSCN3446.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056614357502844562" /></a> Kestrel<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqbFXfbZKWtB8wmdapITVq95EZXFa5ojwj4BKI4TeCTQW4fpTjcpOSM_OHMb91SUul32RmWEnx-1pVNsavyoznev5vc2BF7EEVjNMHNA-AlmMfNDtCtqC1iMxexf1cWh8VEbj/s1600-h/DSCN3518.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqbFXfbZKWtB8wmdapITVq95EZXFa5ojwj4BKI4TeCTQW4fpTjcpOSM_OHMb91SUul32RmWEnx-1pVNsavyoznev5vc2BF7EEVjNMHNA-AlmMfNDtCtqC1iMxexf1cWh8VEbj/s400/DSCN3518.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056614357502844578" /></a> Northern Wheatear<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNbkpy3DuP4GgnEn92FpNGGBTaaGNHE8rZz-E4ij6vwQuC6WZrxdpc6Nw3lA56gdYFuENZlj7t-DSBp_Fn5DO23j_1fmwrtpOoBU-izLSgiMoZKscL0YtQqoVXMJSmZZtmM66/s1600-h/DSCN3533.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNbkpy3DuP4GgnEn92FpNGGBTaaGNHE8rZz-E4ij6vwQuC6WZrxdpc6Nw3lA56gdYFuENZlj7t-DSBp_Fn5DO23j_1fmwrtpOoBU-izLSgiMoZKscL0YtQqoVXMJSmZZtmM66/s400/DSCN3533.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056614361797811890" /></a> Stonechat<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqtD7rYKlKqoVATPe5_qGF92o8ud2IOTtdhldFQsTzEm01HJaak8WM1_9WkJF87jS8-zJYw5XkeUVLpuAfGpLeKsHwy0X_5T94mEA6FvGcmbLHl8D_idoB5loq7NJPjAU7e1P/s1600-h/DSCN3561.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqtD7rYKlKqoVATPe5_qGF92o8ud2IOTtdhldFQsTzEm01HJaak8WM1_9WkJF87jS8-zJYw5XkeUVLpuAfGpLeKsHwy0X_5T94mEA6FvGcmbLHl8D_idoB5loq7NJPjAU7e1P/s400/DSCN3561.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056614361797811906" /></a> <br />Sooty Flycatcher<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6_eOFMhqYbo-q95gZHzw8DrzR87XiqX1J4cgufVuUBe-hBVgg3R45hols_TW9ZepGZ9LI9HOBpfCJto3pQgmke5KhlcenCSJYVlZatSVBNDaMLIWLyY73V1FTCegY6Lyqxr0/s1600-h/DSCN3599.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6_eOFMhqYbo-q95gZHzw8DrzR87XiqX1J4cgufVuUBe-hBVgg3R45hols_TW9ZepGZ9LI9HOBpfCJto3pQgmke5KhlcenCSJYVlZatSVBNDaMLIWLyY73V1FTCegY6Lyqxr0/s400/DSCN3599.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056614366092779218" /></a> Northern Shoveler<br /><br />The previous spring saw Mark Carmody and I having what can only be described the best spring birding I have had in Japan, even outstripping my trip to Hegura in 2002. Major rarities included Black Drongo (2), Two-barred Greenish Warbler ( 3rd or 4th Japanese record- only me)Blunt-winged Warbler (first Japanese record) and Plain Martin (4th or 5th Japanese record - latter two only Mark, myself and 1 other birder) as well as a huge list of scarcities -Chinese Pond Heron, Silky Starling, Yellow-browed Warbler, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Swinhoe's Robin, Styan's Grasshopper Warbler, Jungle Nightjar, Richard's Pipit, Grey-backed Thrush, Japanese Night Heron (Mark only - I was looking the wrong direction as usual), Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Siberian Blue Robin, Siberian Rubythroat, Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo (heard only), Dusky Warbler (heard only), Japanese Robin (heard only), Black-faced Spoonbill (first island record), Little Bunting, Tristram's Bunting, Pintail Snipe, Dollarbird, Oriental Scops Owl (heard only) - the one that got away Lanceolated Warbler. In all we saw 120 species. A new best spring total for me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8kjc3CI247mYk7DDBmquB2-pfETEujsPfW2ExU1zJbsymjMIq1qyRFD63MftCwSh52MDj5YhTmqLtcvSMgvUoEzkTlINrvpk3Pqd7X7C4ofJNsBdrVBlN6cAyYRGsf8t8v26/s1600-h/DSCN2748.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8kjc3CI247mYk7DDBmquB2-pfETEujsPfW2ExU1zJbsymjMIq1qyRFD63MftCwSh52MDj5YhTmqLtcvSMgvUoEzkTlINrvpk3Pqd7X7C4ofJNsBdrVBlN6cAyYRGsf8t8v26/s400/DSCN2748.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056613000293178978" /></a> <br />Black Drongo<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWf2dYzwI4Mxw4pPafI_rm-H5geZVgLR9VPpJIPc54BkyiOKp7_osNPG1tExT2GsATs5bt9S1ADVWn98qQyidGtowr1b_ONRkkW6Or02uldMzzG-27slB01XXfEvAhmourtQh/s1600-h/DSCN2735.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWf2dYzwI4Mxw4pPafI_rm-H5geZVgLR9VPpJIPc54BkyiOKp7_osNPG1tExT2GsATs5bt9S1ADVWn98qQyidGtowr1b_ONRkkW6Or02uldMzzG-27slB01XXfEvAhmourtQh/s400/DSCN2735.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056613000293178994" /></a> <br />Grey-backed Thrush<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB6pu90ILow3UQua18WGm4wGsW5ogDyiLC3J29Ci2xFcnaS0rpJ1LSHF8QpAWM_YqqMbTaitGSkQQudu50dBgvBbvK3Bb5IgkdJErrIrgW4xjs43sWPew2J1Rp6HID8X3iN4B/s1600-h/DSCN2808.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB6pu90ILow3UQua18WGm4wGsW5ogDyiLC3J29Ci2xFcnaS0rpJ1LSHF8QpAWM_YqqMbTaitGSkQQudu50dBgvBbvK3Bb5IgkdJErrIrgW4xjs43sWPew2J1Rp6HID8X3iN4B/s400/DSCN2808.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056613000293179010" /></a> Pintail Snipe<br /><br />Several spring trips before that have produced some pretty nice birds too - Black-naped Oriole (1), Black-capped Kingfisher (1), Chestnut Bunting (1), Yellow-browed Bunting (6+), Purple Heron (1), Chinese Pond Heron (2), Japanese Night Heron (1), <br />Swinhoe's Egret (1), Short-toed Lark (1), Brown Shrike (2), Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (1), Mugimaki Flycatcher (5+).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDCPt_5GXh1UsCQw8w0eHpITz9Jp9HJMXG_32Ou9Omvmp-j_NTOH0_pYI8Ry1NeTVnz7TFU6Sovvk8rXrN-JWOEE8fUIGdf1VTQXYMgRInHyDxsRE9HzP_M2uzwFUzRBwSLmw/s1600-h/95010069.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDCPt_5GXh1UsCQw8w0eHpITz9Jp9HJMXG_32Ou9Omvmp-j_NTOH0_pYI8Ry1NeTVnz7TFU6Sovvk8rXrN-JWOEE8fUIGdf1VTQXYMgRInHyDxsRE9HzP_M2uzwFUzRBwSLmw/s400/95010069.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056612257263836754" /></a> <br /> Black-capped Kingfisher<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZDKjgXy7-yB_7Ve5A_g_lUxdTKnecjecGg4HwFk7IeCA8Hxe9US59wURFlj3KBZ3y6A9gcSbQTmc0Tp_2vcXcfOmvAXrh0TxhARE6-knc2No_FQb6uxwuuhneMgQ7uQVot0q/s1600-h/Swinhoes+Egret.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZDKjgXy7-yB_7Ve5A_g_lUxdTKnecjecGg4HwFk7IeCA8Hxe9US59wURFlj3KBZ3y6A9gcSbQTmc0Tp_2vcXcfOmvAXrh0TxhARE6-knc2No_FQb6uxwuuhneMgQ7uQVot0q/s400/Swinhoes+Egret.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056611071852863010" /></a> Swinhoe's Egret and Little Egret<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvg0y7yUKUTr_QSADQ1j3i8vu6rTFQxvDQZJYbsb-QQXZhhWR4npkwXW0mMamnLnbFFLMJ-om2Fs_5f6r7dOLb6rtO8fT6lAAP2sxGzrquVbRr9mb5UHPnEzk5Ha7tV4OuVix/s1600-h/purple+heron+2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvg0y7yUKUTr_QSADQ1j3i8vu6rTFQxvDQZJYbsb-QQXZhhWR4npkwXW0mMamnLnbFFLMJ-om2Fs_5f6r7dOLb6rtO8fT6lAAP2sxGzrquVbRr9mb5UHPnEzk5Ha7tV4OuVix/s400/purple+heron+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056611711802990130" /></a> Purple Heron<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gLMagh-7pE9bCdbZZ2ZVL_KHhUMs64qjFynoUKWCTGgZDgKpaOIwfSPCAKBlHqxjSbSRIGF1BVU3OBtU7YxWJvd9tz86K3M0XeDwHSH1Pqs6wmFiYUpOEpil4dP0QYQ3-cRV/s1600-h/Chinese+Pond+Heron.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gLMagh-7pE9bCdbZZ2ZVL_KHhUMs64qjFynoUKWCTGgZDgKpaOIwfSPCAKBlHqxjSbSRIGF1BVU3OBtU7YxWJvd9tz86K3M0XeDwHSH1Pqs6wmFiYUpOEpil4dP0QYQ3-cRV/s400/Chinese+Pond+Heron.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056611930846322242" /></a> Chinese Pond Heron<br /><br />In total I have seen about 155 species on the island since my first visit in 2000.<br /><br />Unfortunately past years have seen me miss many of the rarer visitors to the island - Golden Eagle, Spotted Eagle, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler, Palla's Grasshopper Warbler, Little Whimbrel, Hooded Crane, Indian Cuckoo, Pied Wheatear, Ferruginous Flycatcher among others.<br /><br />This island easily rivals Heguara for variety and numbers of birds, but is far more difficult to cover, as at its highest point it is over 200m, and much of the island is still largely impenetrable scrub! There have been well over 250 species recorded on the island, and it is defintely underwatched, with very few visitors going before or after Golden Week and virtually no-one visiting in the autumn, due to the Japanese holiday system.<br /><br />Still it is a great place to kick back and relax for a few days and hopefully find some good birds into the bargain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rzwc21_VT8RXzsKnl1JUn0KBIBlX-_yAM8SDf2oWvOepKrHWrfjWk8ypoj7eZJwMiG5pZe2XJ6KO6xfdlm9GDx1Glptt_TD42j21JxWEr4NK0Sz37NpRIdpuQapDpbCZDH4W/s1600-h/95010078.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rzwc21_VT8RXzsKnl1JUn0KBIBlX-_yAM8SDf2oWvOepKrHWrfjWk8ypoj7eZJwMiG5pZe2XJ6KO6xfdlm9GDx1Glptt_TD42j21JxWEr4NK0Sz37NpRIdpuQapDpbCZDH4W/s200/95010078.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056616062604861218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguytxSXkYVu_8WFxZx0vmfljCCiAEAzOQtsgCNeJFJhSXz7i9COt-ooFnxPFtCsWlu3gI9dzHweu78dvLRuj2lEFP37FlFnl7YwZaAf3rkfPJEpMyDMmjrCOnvG1xIRfJGMLfM/s1600-h/95010082.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqYUI4Jqm3w-EseuHQBsU8sK5aSMDnErh-5hpgM-5qayttO0t-YWSaIK-sGBX9CxjSnVjqjdEipHPysx4hl9RPjG1u_ZdPGPg7N0S2HuI6yMzw-pCB_A98cZGasfdpio-YkXK/s200/95010096.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056617110576881554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_M_Yq38yQqM36D31S5v7Ce-3LItE2cojTD6Pho6kRvSgDzCZXbA-t4eNNaTqaGIfsJ4-U74hMkiMTUQKQOzXsHEm-qa-nPOgcoE1v6mXHMeB4IrW5OTXmvCZQibw0jVUOUOZ/s1600-h/grey+tailed+tatler.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_M_Yq38yQqM36D31S5v7Ce-3LItE2cojTD6Pho6kRvSgDzCZXbA-t4eNNaTqaGIfsJ4-U74hMkiMTUQKQOzXsHEm-qa-nPOgcoE1v6mXHMeB4IrW5OTXmvCZQibw0jVUOUOZ/s200/grey+tailed+tatler.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056617119166816162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXOMy66kmqYoy85vAp2yp3WnycxrPmCPl7vElbls2Upl3mn2AdmMoZoixjcVWPzTGDrMfEh7U4C-grNqy94cVr1ZNFU8yP4SFi4GxXQTIu8mD36Kef__xlzUFtS9If-YMK2bc/s1600-h/DSCN2773.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXOMy66kmqYoy85vAp2yp3WnycxrPmCPl7vElbls2Upl3mn2AdmMoZoixjcVWPzTGDrMfEh7U4C-grNqy94cVr1ZNFU8yP4SFi4GxXQTIu8mD36Kef__xlzUFtS9If-YMK2bc/s200/DSCN2773.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056617119166816178" /></a>Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-61323222477220304392007-04-22T20:25:00.000+09:002007-04-22T20:49:56.445+09:00Recent birding highlights - April 2007Well apart from the Hoopoe, highlights were pretty few and far between until this Friday, when I managed to find a few minutes to take a look around Shukkein Garden, in downtown Hiroshima.<br /><br />Apart from larger than usual numbers of Rufous Turtle Dove, there was also a small passage of Black-faced Buntings, around 4-5, a very confiding Short-tailed Bush Warbler who came within 2-3 meters of me, oblivious to me as he chomped on a caterpillar. Just as I had given up any hope of any other migrants, a beutiful male Narcissus Flctatcher appeared out of nowhere and diligently posed on a low post for a minute or so, before flitting off into the canpoy. I also managed to flush a Eurasian Sparrowhawk out of the canpoy, while the commoner birds of winter dwindle evermore - Dusky Thrush 2-3, Pale Thrush 4-5, Brown-eared Bulbul 1-2 and Olive-backed Pipit 1 accompanying freshly-fledged Long-tailed Tits.<br /><br />On the way back from teaching in Yano I was lucky enough to hear and see 4-5 Japanese Waxwings on roadside wires and trees next to busy route 2 briefly before they flew off.<br /><br />A trip to Minami-Iwakuni the previous weekend also found very few birds of note. a possible Pintail Snipe, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 11 Pacific Golden Plover, 1Spotted Redshank, 3 Grey-headed Lapwing, Penduline Tit, Ruddy Crake, Stonechat and Grey-faced Bunting..as well as a nice male Rustic Bunting. News afterwards also reached me of a 'lucionensis' Brown Shrike.<br /><br />Birding at the nearby Otagawa River, yielded 3 Chinese Penduline Tits, as well as at least 5 species of egret/heron in the henronry, as well as 20 odd wigeon and a couple of amorous Spotbill Ducks.<br /><br />There were also penty of gulls for me to sift through, get confused over and fail to ID as usual. I will post some picsof gulls this winter in a future post.<br /><br />Unfortunately rain, work commitments and some over- exhuberant soccer antics kept me from birding this weekend.<br /><br />Well off to Mishima Island in the Sea of Japan from next Sunday..camping under the stars and hopefully finding some nice birds in good company is in order. I wil post a taster of what might be on offer in the next couple of days.<br /><br />I'll finish with a few of some of my more than half decent pics...including some record shots of the big flock of 22 Great Knot that David Flack and I saw at the Yahatagawa 2 weeks ago.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3uOY97zkdz1rQlMDBLmENAyTXLlxb6EK9iWotOBzdvgc8i6MRlZMtb-fu84aek-b8x5Sa0FDUkxByixgqniDRR2Et7NLuctPa6udNscYD0k1fXAfMXVZBxVCLVDf688HrV0w/s1600-h/02050331.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3uOY97zkdz1rQlMDBLmENAyTXLlxb6EK9iWotOBzdvgc8i6MRlZMtb-fu84aek-b8x5Sa0FDUkxByixgqniDRR2Et7NLuctPa6udNscYD0k1fXAfMXVZBxVCLVDf688HrV0w/s400/02050331.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056216544746986898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANl4GKY6qmCJWu-Slui16QAXGs8hee1FnlRytXNsER4pFWOJMbHB3T9V5BJXr5xAI8cmxjIxq0tw6iMLG2Nk93Jno12FDvYN4Co-2FPmfF9Sc6ED25wkx3kVR0NiLzrgzQjUY/s1600-h/02050311.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANl4GKY6qmCJWu-Slui16QAXGs8hee1FnlRytXNsER4pFWOJMbHB3T9V5BJXr5xAI8cmxjIxq0tw6iMLG2Nk93Jno12FDvYN4Co-2FPmfF9Sc6ED25wkx3kVR0NiLzrgzQjUY/s400/02050311.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056216544746986914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJuJOh7WAxMQRA6aCZ49nv6fG8PabFWuWYNSjAKu-ZN-EfEi6gDYTmzX5ooP6PhKzWVmsUHLl-8TKc1ZBVJJDcNIvvD6r9l3AvYxpUjYlbmbsFRnvDjaiYOwT5kbQAhx6SHXk/s1600-h/02050011.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJuJOh7WAxMQRA6aCZ49nv6fG8PabFWuWYNSjAKu-ZN-EfEi6gDYTmzX5ooP6PhKzWVmsUHLl-8TKc1ZBVJJDcNIvvD6r9l3AvYxpUjYlbmbsFRnvDjaiYOwT5kbQAhx6SHXk/s400/02050011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056216549041954226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdA95hFoksaF-lddBi3TID7jsp5DsXn8gCRcUGJREoX44mT9_t-TFilYUjSYF4dmgW8ARVoiUawUciEw1UggxUQ-UGaMfRcWBb2f0Knap_LznYRD-Stc3HkQZuZurAyHzs3AP/s1600-h/02040700.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdA95hFoksaF-lddBi3TID7jsp5DsXn8gCRcUGJREoX44mT9_t-TFilYUjSYF4dmgW8ARVoiUawUciEw1UggxUQ-UGaMfRcWBb2f0Knap_LznYRD-Stc3HkQZuZurAyHzs3AP/s400/02040700.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056216549041954242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq8sIekRg5NEP2E9iWJCo91ae1imYTZQ3FycRQoVYNn1rtQFb8ib8D3Jx1zLwgm3sAkN2XzrUaZyMuf8gk1qyTSgVfnyxV1lYhzmXc5ue5N9V4hMqAgtIqLRwk-qov2iDrvm3/s1600-h/02060103.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq8sIekRg5NEP2E9iWJCo91ae1imYTZQ3FycRQoVYNn1rtQFb8ib8D3Jx1zLwgm3sAkN2XzrUaZyMuf8gk1qyTSgVfnyxV1lYhzmXc5ue5N9V4hMqAgtIqLRwk-qov2iDrvm3/s400/02060103.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056216549041954258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAyEdMq90LPl-32Df5Tvm8sAh7n4BbqO06mqgCdzTRSBMHMGktvNdbfBk2cyLKAyfIZPNbxxidi3SprD70iy8YNT8JQiBePnOU55HqpUtNwNU3aiyoAW_hb_RSthFKNUd4l3j/s1600-h/88360006.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAyEdMq90LPl-32Df5Tvm8sAh7n4BbqO06mqgCdzTRSBMHMGktvNdbfBk2cyLKAyfIZPNbxxidi3SprD70iy8YNT8JQiBePnOU55HqpUtNwNU3aiyoAW_hb_RSthFKNUd4l3j/s400/88360006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056218056575475170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHBq3FFolhaCvGZQ_UxHlibN3B_i6WeHJbapluLxk77dGsC-B7TuES6_AJw9EQoVsKSBjxEMJoWkL7echzYXh5-_MXLzDUl0sVUci5Gyl4l04LxiOBRsf9eOMJ7RerrRa8mPf/s1600-h/02040557.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHBq3FFolhaCvGZQ_UxHlibN3B_i6WeHJbapluLxk77dGsC-B7TuES6_AJw9EQoVsKSBjxEMJoWkL7echzYXh5-_MXLzDUl0sVUci5Gyl4l04LxiOBRsf9eOMJ7RerrRa8mPf/s400/02040557.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056218056575475186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7cF2FBAQuHEcCl1Oz58afadrwrXvoaMY8P9ic_UlYcHdVrmx-iBv1LzFbD8VcY5_QW2dzTxAN3RqkV1_LvHSYMXws6X0NBQVV51SxdSJITi659GsoyNAK8di7mCS-9g5H7oq/s1600-h/02040568.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7cF2FBAQuHEcCl1Oz58afadrwrXvoaMY8P9ic_UlYcHdVrmx-iBv1LzFbD8VcY5_QW2dzTxAN3RqkV1_LvHSYMXws6X0NBQVV51SxdSJITi659GsoyNAK8di7mCS-9g5H7oq/s400/02040568.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056218060870442498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINnQkkH8JhETh5sJQ_0EBGtDAQcKGCVFDXU1RdpB68DSE1a0VlffUQTV1ZMlypwkgtOSOSXkdLPf2Y9Pv52VQ9qKC-zVC9zxW6lvfe7FX6NhUSvhvkYu1Ttppcwwii6ECGtvt/s1600-h/02040521.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINnQkkH8JhETh5sJQ_0EBGtDAQcKGCVFDXU1RdpB68DSE1a0VlffUQTV1ZMlypwkgtOSOSXkdLPf2Y9Pv52VQ9qKC-zVC9zxW6lvfe7FX6NhUSvhvkYu1Ttppcwwii6ECGtvt/s400/02040521.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056218060870442514" /></a>Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-76520895156833929252007-04-22T18:55:00.000+09:002007-04-22T20:19:28.242+09:00Egret mystery- what is it?This egret was in the Otagawa heronry on Sunday. I thought at first it was probably just an odd-looking Intermediate Egret, but something about the jizz of this bird suggests that it is something else. The problem is though it doesn't fit any of the other candidates - Great Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, pale-phase Pacific Reef Egret or Chinese Egret.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURdkGQ5yY9kzLO6oDl-zoRcTuH7s_T1xZsxsEgvUi8u1vOU4ZuKHp7gu2XlPCdQ0haGKe2pZp8Lqi4cairVF6LTwUKQisuvq5QtNHjcgnhHfxSJeFmx5W_XgudR8Z2FlKCpZl/s1600-h/02060108.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURdkGQ5yY9kzLO6oDl-zoRcTuH7s_T1xZsxsEgvUi8u1vOU4ZuKHp7gu2XlPCdQ0haGKe2pZp8Lqi4cairVF6LTwUKQisuvq5QtNHjcgnhHfxSJeFmx5W_XgudR8Z2FlKCpZl/s400/02060108.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056206756516519186" /></a> Mystery Egret 1<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShhlbWxc9W4RopngIJUITmGl2AnoBEdfWLMM6i3Ei_VK9hFVmwWmN5U5QN9Vqn3Qh9oWiOWGKsgDIvdFiwAjIWiw2RiQFtY8GoEAgCm58Dol3Bmyyq5xN-FiusW8kdKRbjYTx/s1600-h/02060152.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShhlbWxc9W4RopngIJUITmGl2AnoBEdfWLMM6i3Ei_VK9hFVmwWmN5U5QN9Vqn3Qh9oWiOWGKsgDIvdFiwAjIWiw2RiQFtY8GoEAgCm58Dol3Bmyyq5xN-FiusW8kdKRbjYTx/s400/02060152.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056206756516519202" /></a> Mystery Egret 2<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM8wi6ZMuxMPUvKtJ7QIu8V1chqmX3Arg3Eq4YyqgZ-vySUE8nXRPc0uH2UJRvD3b4X5tmH0hvff2lODD5CFW-QCmdw3k_JgLi-28ctECv7GlKtamS6Y3-nWf0YotGj_F2wtg/s1600-h/02040594.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM8wi6ZMuxMPUvKtJ7QIu8V1chqmX3Arg3Eq4YyqgZ-vySUE8nXRPc0uH2UJRvD3b4X5tmH0hvff2lODD5CFW-QCmdw3k_JgLi-28ctECv7GlKtamS6Y3-nWf0YotGj_F2wtg/s400/02040594.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056190805007981826" /></a><br />Mystery Egret 3<br /><br /><br />I have also included some shots of Intermediate Egret, Great Egret and Little Egret taken at the same heronry on the same day.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7r8lrKfk6zRABLmWqXj0DGyLI2ovezEHQkNyIVcQClwbaZGnZ6uHjYZ9-x3MfzpNesXYtEA0FxxRTsgifp43bjNs6WNWr_VUCKr8YXc_5bZlOwCTfaXzPAaIYQP9sJ1Q-dRg/s1600-h/02060099.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7r8lrKfk6zRABLmWqXj0DGyLI2ovezEHQkNyIVcQClwbaZGnZ6uHjYZ9-x3MfzpNesXYtEA0FxxRTsgifp43bjNs6WNWr_VUCKr8YXc_5bZlOwCTfaXzPAaIYQP9sJ1Q-dRg/s400/02060099.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056207748653964610" /></a> Great Egret<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6wvVDBil3K10p_1iDIN0ceYijFtinfy-s7gohRe0mddsQ-EKTTfWN2LER5VpMWPAkVSUjzKgqK3wl8cdw_Nr6QjcIan04GV6uF65VqtcAFG0vQVbB1WtqC-HmLzIkZH03Tuh/s1600-h/02060167.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6wvVDBil3K10p_1iDIN0ceYijFtinfy-s7gohRe0mddsQ-EKTTfWN2LER5VpMWPAkVSUjzKgqK3wl8cdw_Nr6QjcIan04GV6uF65VqtcAFG0vQVbB1WtqC-HmLzIkZH03Tuh/s400/02060167.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056207748653964626" /></a> Little Egret<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirA-y_94_q-1aDl763TSrWa3p8kROuqCAQWDXEVz-ovE-Zhobn8PT3mfCpHHP0F594-BukEpoUbMa27Riwko5CF5tyJxQR0TZORinvjcukW5h-qINaP9D1F_UzEjYtQVvb_fv/s1600-h/02060160.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirA-y_94_q-1aDl763TSrWa3p8kROuqCAQWDXEVz-ovE-Zhobn8PT3mfCpHHP0F594-BukEpoUbMa27Riwko5CF5tyJxQR0TZORinvjcukW5h-qINaP9D1F_UzEjYtQVvb_fv/s400/02060160.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056207748653964642" /></a> <br /> Great Egrets<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRza5_LQUc5K2CkAJmVoBvRTSWbEMUX3ZWjjon_JDrsN2fAphLa2dnqZAWUdUiMSvSbflczcM1o9OTj_O_yFcy0JuUsCXAB___EdLP22Q_0lJT6sSrg6HdcTNaSSuDDmlJqWf/s1600-h/02050344.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRza5_LQUc5K2CkAJmVoBvRTSWbEMUX3ZWjjon_JDrsN2fAphLa2dnqZAWUdUiMSvSbflczcM1o9OTj_O_yFcy0JuUsCXAB___EdLP22Q_0lJT6sSrg6HdcTNaSSuDDmlJqWf/s400/02050344.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056207752948931954" /></a> Intermediate Egret<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ClfUicHJ7t-MiOBWlqAxcLADibPfJ9hk03-bVlWJIsOPI6qPKb_w463K3lgRJyO8jwOPYzqVCAX3jymLLsHASlE4XdOHQxS43GUMrTaBgcPZg7h7IuSNRgwHwRqZAbL978vn/s1600-h/02050338.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ClfUicHJ7t-MiOBWlqAxcLADibPfJ9hk03-bVlWJIsOPI6qPKb_w463K3lgRJyO8jwOPYzqVCAX3jymLLsHASlE4XdOHQxS43GUMrTaBgcPZg7h7IuSNRgwHwRqZAbL978vn/s400/02050338.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056207752948931970" /></a> Intermediate EgretMinnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-15661907179990720492007-04-22T18:42:00.000+09:002007-04-22T18:54:48.378+09:00A Hoopoe in the neighbourhood<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuvkd8LNUIqhuuzn7D_qnFt58KVWKy1uNqHqFQz5DC7k3i_iEtQOYlD7fP2eftbL8osNEEqk2k_DERmLSTtZdzT0qui7sfOjy9bDxmLk50Zo29bP5YshAbZHkYMpnqEZtD-AU/s1600-h/02040727.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuvkd8LNUIqhuuzn7D_qnFt58KVWKy1uNqHqFQz5DC7k3i_iEtQOYlD7fP2eftbL8osNEEqk2k_DERmLSTtZdzT0qui7sfOjy9bDxmLk50Zo29bP5YshAbZHkYMpnqEZtD-AU/s400/02040727.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056188700474006722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjCvGDV-98V7wt4GPm0UJMCloIyWbvBMQN80Tqo5SRjzRSkD-5dDURZBqEPpHFVlVCvCVEao0izPyZYEKEz2Lk39tU_5g3NBYoJjlsBiszZVI8QD9mxYORxNiY5SAEaibqCvd/s1600-h/02040722.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjCvGDV-98V7wt4GPm0UJMCloIyWbvBMQN80Tqo5SRjzRSkD-5dDURZBqEPpHFVlVCvCVEao0izPyZYEKEz2Lk39tU_5g3NBYoJjlsBiszZVI8QD9mxYORxNiY5SAEaibqCvd/s400/02040722.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056188700474006738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3OANt2m5Lkag5a2hfAnHENtG7RruEQXNUHQNAlwZEG8B_NNPOR3peNqC2UHQHCW8C5lVdJOHX102KQAA3ZmEbP6iuoRyLKF8jBNcvEkKP2NMlHU3UiXb15zZl_1erQU3XFYn/s1600-h/02040725.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3OANt2m5Lkag5a2hfAnHENtG7RruEQXNUHQNAlwZEG8B_NNPOR3peNqC2UHQHCW8C5lVdJOHX102KQAA3ZmEbP6iuoRyLKF8jBNcvEkKP2NMlHU3UiXb15zZl_1erQU3XFYn/s400/02040725.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056188700474006754" /></a><br />I got a call from my good friend Sumida-san about a possible Hoopoe in a small park, on the mountainside, just 5 minutes bike ride from my house..so how could i reseist an early morning visit just before work.<br /><br />As I got to the park a dog fox trotted 20 meters in fromt of me crossing from the scrubby hillside and walking up the path with some kind of bird firmly clenched in its jaws.<br /><br />I met the other gallant birders able to surface at the carck and we waited and waited for the Hoope to appear.<br /><br />As we waited, various birds sung from the hillside, or briefly showed themselves..the buzzing cricket-like song of Short-tailed Bush Warbler could be heard close behind us, while Pale Thrush and Dusky Trhush skuluked in the undergrowth, along with Grey Bunting, Black-faced and Meadow Buntings, which from time to time briefly burst into song. Swallows swooped and dived overhead, while Blue-and White Flycatcher and Little Cuckoo called more distantly from on top of the mountain.<br /><br />We continued to wait in what had been the favoured place of the Hoopoe the day before, a large area of open turf on top of the local waterworks, which was dotted with hungry Dusky Thrushes and Rufous Turtle Doves picking through the short turf for bits and bobs.<br /><br />Teh montony of waiting was broken by the dog fox cantering bold as brass across the turf, putting everything up in its path.<br /><br />Finally, we decided to walk dow to the bottom of the hill below the waterworks and what should fly up, but a glorious Black, White and Pink Hoopoe, that promptly disappeared behind a clump of bamboo before any of us could get decent pics.<br /><br />We waited another 15 minutes, but it didn't return.<br /><br />So I made my way back to the original spot, and was lucky enough to watch the Hoope fly across and finally settle and start feeding on the open turf. I called the other birders and they got some distant pics and then I had to leg it for work!Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-12359610933715043842007-04-22T18:37:00.000+09:002007-04-22T18:42:03.511+09:00Mystery tringa or just bad photo of immature Greenshank?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B0Nc3rXYMow-t25cHwjMz59IW33_VJDuSs6-q1kG-dBvYUggFrvJAqJSUE7Y0J5_Vf_yP7lItqm5-hBunC9aF-_Yjrtgt4x9zlDdxQPWDSgJcvUxWMGeUVchmr38yuuan-wS/s1600-h/DSCN3812.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B0Nc3rXYMow-t25cHwjMz59IW33_VJDuSs6-q1kG-dBvYUggFrvJAqJSUE7Y0J5_Vf_yP7lItqm5-hBunC9aF-_Yjrtgt4x9zlDdxQPWDSgJcvUxWMGeUVchmr38yuuan-wS/s400/DSCN3812.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056185260205202578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp2nWIKWtaa3clFggq_dbImiDxEYKuQ0wsxGHAnIoUodE27LizG6fAthabxYZCItVrMQfGlD2TIW8_APwoBcaF5DPClfP4vUOQPiHUNMqvuPQC3AahnMiOxY_Vovvf7oLWnM4/s1600-h/DSCN3813.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp2nWIKWtaa3clFggq_dbImiDxEYKuQ0wsxGHAnIoUodE27LizG6fAthabxYZCItVrMQfGlD2TIW8_APwoBcaF5DPClfP4vUOQPiHUNMqvuPQC3AahnMiOxY_Vovvf7oLWnM4/s400/DSCN3813.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056185264500169890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQTs3TrIf08OYeMymWMksAtKAtX_rbHb8SBLTD7izE2l0tvuS0QBsa89kAuKlsD-eRg6mHQf2tdKZvcbbb7F-8ZvCXvCY17vBCx-sMQcTV4S5Fzjae6Xm5ANqVfEWLC5CB9qD/s1600-h/DSCN3815.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQTs3TrIf08OYeMymWMksAtKAtX_rbHb8SBLTD7izE2l0tvuS0QBsa89kAuKlsD-eRg6mHQf2tdKZvcbbb7F-8ZvCXvCY17vBCx-sMQcTV4S5Fzjae6Xm5ANqVfEWLC5CB9qD/s400/DSCN3815.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056185264500169906" /></a><br />I have posted these pics on other forums, but never really received satisfactory answers as to what this might be.Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-49371714613023132162007-04-18T14:22:00.000+09:002007-04-18T14:36:34.301+09:00mystery bunting from the past<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6q39bSGkdthEO515MQW2aUrn9-t62kgn05gFz535qeo7OPPq-wwrz9z1Y2rHv7a4kV1mfZK6NC8iFiPJU1Jmz7356c9jp5f9eu_NTzWxXQPyerESRYy63NYf_oeDWKm2f6nb/s1600-h/mystery+hong+kong+bunting+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6q39bSGkdthEO515MQW2aUrn9-t62kgn05gFz535qeo7OPPq-wwrz9z1Y2rHv7a4kV1mfZK6NC8iFiPJU1Jmz7356c9jp5f9eu_NTzWxXQPyerESRYy63NYf_oeDWKm2f6nb/s400/mystery+hong+kong+bunting+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054635087291292690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV_qgFqnJcrVXhRUGhTRdAm1wVNFAFnNbxrUKJgQEsRrVHkE9cWZclyqwl86fq00p0aqdvxQ4pLlX8FNMtQWefkeYEds3jF5NcYzQRE2HDVLj74uMIM9tDTpRwHcDVvPP3aBL/s1600-h/Mystery+Hong+Kong+bunting.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV_qgFqnJcrVXhRUGhTRdAm1wVNFAFnNbxrUKJgQEsRrVHkE9cWZclyqwl86fq00p0aqdvxQ4pLlX8FNMtQWefkeYEds3jF5NcYzQRE2HDVLj74uMIM9tDTpRwHcDVvPP3aBL/s400/Mystery+Hong+Kong+bunting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054635087291292706" /></a><br /><br />Anyone got any ideas on this bunting? A female of indertiminate species. I took the photos at the Long Valley in April 2003.<br /><br />Chestnut-eared was mentioned by local birders at the time, but this is like no Chestnut-eared I've seen in Japan.<br /><br />I am guessing that this is a 1st winter or female 'sordida' or 'spodocephala' Black-faced Bunting..with an outside chance of a Ist year Yellow-browed Bunting, though I would have thought it would have some yellow on the brow by early April if it were the latter species.<br /><br />I have only seen one 1st winter Black-faced of those two races, the first UK record, the others have all been males here in Japan.<br /><br />I have also never seen 1st year Yellow-browed Bunting, only adult males and females.Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1176046868022717012007-04-09T00:17:00.000+09:002007-04-09T00:46:02.976+09:00More spring bird higlight picsI couldn't put these photos on before, as my camera-lead has decided to give up the ghost on me (as has my other camera..the Fujifinepix), but finally got them onto CD at Deo Deo and was happy with some of the results. <br /><br />Birding this week has been restricted to the environs of Hiroshima. Managed to go out to Miyajima with David Flack, a nice birder/photographer from my part of the world... Essex. I learnt a lot about cameras and only ish I had his skil and camera..maybe one dy soon I can get the Canon D20 or D30 with a nice Sigma 500mm lend and telecoverter and one of those new snazzy Casio 10 megapixel jobs!<br /><br />We saw a few birds of interest, such as Red-flanked Bluetail, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Brambling and Siskin on Miyajima, and a nice flock of 22 Great Knot at the Yahatagawa on the way back, along with 100+ Dunlin and 27 Kentish Plover.<br /><br />Well anyway here are the less than perfect images I have been taking of late.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/741444/88340094.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/761845/88340094.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/989023/88330190.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/990487/88330190.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/595410/88340026.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/172300/88340026.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/307296/88340103.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/95246/88340103.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/433560/88340031.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/75341/88340031.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/727209/88340111.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/468732/88340111.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/42170/88350002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/78621/88350002.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/821879/88340113.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/311839/88340113.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/246890/88340137.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/264323/88340137.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/829504/88340193.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/348713/88340193.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></<br />a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/17294/88350034.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/758449/88350034.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/246251/88350027.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/561713/88350027.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/888741/88350080.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/517027/88350080.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/489485/88350062.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/55028/88350062.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/73562/88350018.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/256684/88350018.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/903459/88350090.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/90150/88350090.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/943433/88360001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/601141/88360001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/697926/88350115.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/929965/88350115.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/206358/88350102.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/135810/88350102.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/672883/88350107.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/779990/88350107.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am gonna save this winters selection of gulls for the next post.Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1175817528132325502007-04-06T08:41:00.000+09:002007-04-06T09:00:13.690+09:00The tale of the not so funny Scaup<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/895517/88340070.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/320/344204/88340070.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/604025/88340039.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/320/225878/88340039.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/440293/88340068.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/320/44139/88340068.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/685748/88340063.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/320/912471/88340063.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/882896/88340042.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/320/923342/88340042.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/2436/88340058.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/320/446508/88340058.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I found this bird at the beginning of March on a reclamation pond close to the mouth of the Yahata Riverin Itsukaichi City, Hiroshima.<br /><br />I wasn't sure of it's ID, as it seemed to me from the poor views and shots that I got just before dusk to show characteristics of Lesser and Greater Scaup. It semed to have a small black nail, subtle grey vermicualtions on the flanks and quite tightly packer darker grey vermicualtions on the back all pro- Lesser. However, it did seem too round-headed and long necked for Lesser, and the bill shape/pattern at times resembled both species depending on which way the bird was facing. It seemed to spend all its time on the freshwater pool, rather than on the nearby estuary with the flock of 250+ Greater Scaup. It also seemed to swim always with it's rear end raised..however I wasn't sure which species it was..or if it might even be a hybrid. Unfortunately, the first time round I could not get any shots of the wings. The pond is on a private site and access is only really possible on Sundays, so I had to wait two more weeks until th local bird club meeting at the site to have another look.<br /><br />After about 5 minutes I relocated the bird, among the other ducks,,and this time after spending 30-40 minutes I finally managed to get some shots of the wings, which prove it is not Lesser and most likely a young male Greater..though the slightness of the black nib on the end of the bill still bugs me.Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1175430261695692772007-04-01T19:32:00.001+09:002007-04-01T21:31:49.936+09:00Late winter/early spring highlightsWell I set this darn blog up so guess I had better use it right.<br /><br />Had a lotta free time the past few weeks, which has largely been spent birding or playing around on the puter.<br /><br />Anyroad thought I would summarise birding hilights of the past few weeks, since i got back from the UK.<br /><br />Hiroshima Castle/Shukkein Garden/Ushita<br /><br />The two best birds have been Manchurian Bush Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler, neither of them found by me So if you wanna see pics you are gonna have to go Sumida-san's great website at the following link. <br /><br />http://darrowby.seesaa.net/article/37113241.html<br /><br /> A small brown phylloscopus warbler was also heard and seen briefly in the last week, but could definitely not be identified, though Dusky Warbler sems most likely.<br /><br />Other birds of note were a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Hiroshima Castle, a possible first for the site and cetainly an incongruous sight in the city center! Unfortunately it never stayed long enough in one place to have it's photo taken.<br /><br />There has also been several Brambling, Oriental Greenfinch, Red-flanked Bluetail, Hawfinch, Japanese Grosbeak, the odd Naumann's Thrush among the Duskies, as well as flyover Osprey, the early morning roosting female Peregrine on the nearby Rhiga Royal hotel, a fluctuating flock of Tufted Duck and Pochard, with the odd view of Grey Heron, Little Egret and Kingfisher thrown in for good measure and the odd fleeting visit from Black-backed, Japanese and Grey Wagtails. The number of Daurian Redstart has fallen in the last week, although there was a high count of 8 at Hiroshima Castle, perhaps a small fall after a heavy night of rain. The only other raptor was a probable Eurasian Sparrowhawk diving into cover and narrowly missing a Rufous Turtle Dove.<br /><br />A short trip to the mountain behind my house turned up a few nice birds - 7+ Japanese Waxwing, 1 Red-flanked Bluetail, 1+ Siskin, 2+ Grey Bunting and 2-3 Rustic Bunting.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/901744/DSCN4643.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/866062/DSCN4643.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/885775/DSCN5940.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/246964/DSCN5940.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/57330/DSCN6011.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/55488/DSCN6011.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/778595/DSCN4520.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/346278/DSCN4520.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/261127/DSCN5921.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/170168/DSCN5921.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/203031/DSCN5961.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/364890/DSCN5961.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/315862/DSCN5896.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/882488/DSCN5896.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/49749/DSCN5929.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/724142/DSCN5929.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Otagawa<br /><br />I have been regularly checking the gull roost on the Otagawa river in the hopes of finding a white-winged gull, but only come up with odd hybrid birds among the Vegae, Heuglin's, Mongolian, Kamchatka, Black-tailed and Black-headed gull. The Long-billed Plovers departed at the end of February at Suimon Bridge and have finally been replaced with two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers. There have been several Osprey fishing, as well as the ubiquitous Black Kite but no other raptors of note. he star passerine was a male Brown Thrush a few weeks back, which I got a bad photo of. They have been scarce this winter in Hiroshima. There have aso been a few Reed Buntings present and today I found 3+ Chinese Penduline Tits. Other passerines are few, but include Black-faced Bunting, Meadow Bunting, Daurian Redstart, Olive-backed Pipit, Japanese Skylark, Brown-eared Bulbul, Dusky Thrush and Pale ThrushThe heronry has been active since Mid-February and as well as having up to 500 Common Cormorant roosting there, I counted 55 Grey Heron nests today. 3-4 Little Egret seem to have moved in and will start nest-building. Up to 70 have been roosting regularly there too. No sign of any Night Heron or Great Egret, but they tend to roost further upriver. They used to breed, along with Night Heron on another of the islands, until someone or perhaps the local council in ther infinite wisdom decided to cut down the two small trees they used. Swallows are back in force, with mud-gathering already taking place, and they have been in residence for the past week in Hiroshima, though passing through since the 10th March. The only duck of note was a male Falcated Duck which joined the small Wigeon flock for a few weeks. There have also been small numbers of Gadwall, Teal, Spotbill Duck, Pochard and Tufted Duck.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/2708/DSCN4684.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/850240/DSCN4684.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/337883/DSCN4749.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/835568/DSCN4749.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/498173/DSCN4831.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/422896/DSCN4831.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/329420/DSCN4676.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/43076/DSCN4676.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/552685/DSCN4694.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/862658/DSCN4694.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/142672/DSCN4819.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/308793/DSCN4819.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/963425/DSCN4910.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/636437/DSCN4910.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/500691/DSCN4861.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/473522/DSCN4861.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/105217/DSCN5019.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/842243/DSCN5019.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/521217/DSCN4838.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/126373/DSCN4838.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Yahatagawa<br /><br />The river has been sluggish for birds as usual, as most birds continue to use the landfill area with large reclamation pond to roost and feed on. However, I have managed access to that pond twice and the numbers of ducks and other waterbirds has been good - Smew 1, 1 Goldeneye 1, Shelduck 6+, Red-breasted Merganser 11+, Scaup 280+, Black Scoter 4, mallard, 200+, Gadwall 100+, Wigeon 500+, Spotbill 50+, Shoveler 50+, Pintail 100+, Eurasian Teal 100+, Garganey 26, Pochard 50+, Tufted Duck 30+, Coot 400, Moorhen 1, Red-necked Grebe 1, Great Crestd Grebe 70+, Black-necked Grebe 2+, Little grebe 20+, Water Rail 1-2 calling. On the passerine fron there are the usla assortment of Reed Bunting, 3 commoner wagtail species, Buff-bellied Pipit, Dusky Thrush, Daurain Redstart, Fan-tailed Warbler, Japanese Skylark and since the 10th March increasing numbers of Swallow. The only raptors are up to 7 Osprey, the ubiquitous Black Kite, a female Kestrel and an immature Peregrine. A few waders were noted in recent weeks - 2 Little Ringed Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Greenshank, Dunlin and Kentish Plover.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/936640/DSCN5247.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/947149/DSCN5247.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/514900/DSCN5824.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/830238/DSCN5824.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/590568/DSCN5273.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/741947/DSCN5273.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/698225/DSCN5261.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/901504/DSCN5261.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/992894/DSCN5254.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/693293/DSCN5254.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Mitaraigawa/Hatsukiachi<br /><br />This small river has been hosting the only Saunder's Gulls this winter, with up to 7 birds, along with 500+ Black-headed Gull and the odd Vegae and Heuglin's Gull. Not much else of note here except small numbers of Wigeon, Pintail anf the usual assortment of common passerines. A brief view of 7 or 8 japanee Waxiwing was also obtained at the end of February.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/491832/DSCN5198.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/685572/DSCN5198.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/587452/DSCN5145.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/81969/DSCN5145.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/557768/DSCN5235.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/811408/DSCN5235.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/258316/DSCN5154.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/149782/DSCN5154.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/667900/DSCN5147.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/469934/DSCN5147.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ohno Town<br /><br />A visit to a dam famous for Chinese Merganser, was too late for them, but did turn up an assortment of passerines, including an unidentified phylloscopus warber, with good numbers of Yellow-throated Bunting, Red-flanked Bluetail, and Rustic Bunting and Osprey. There was also no sign of the immature White-tailed Eagle photographed here in mid-January. The only rptor of note being a Buzzard over the nearby hills. The nearby nature reserve did have about 20+ Mandarin and a pair of Bullfinch, but not much else of note. However, the pictures inside the center revealed a Japanese Night Heron picture taken in Mid-June last year, as well as Jungle Nightjar and Chinese Merganser.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/286776/DSCN5122.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/883556/DSCN5122.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/605047/DSCN5126.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/156115/DSCN5126.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/634989/DSCN5125.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/719930/DSCN5125.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Minami-Iwakuni<br /><br />This site has been quite productive in terms of waders with the following high counts in recent weeks - Common Sandpiper 4, Green Sandpiper 2, Wood Sandpiper 2, Temminck's Stint 2, Grey Plover 1, Dunlin 5, Far Eastern Curlew 2 (though 42 seen by Sumida-san), Marsh Sandpiper 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Black-winged Stilt 4, Ruff 2, Common Snipe 50+, Swinhoe's Snipe 2, Japanese Snipe 1, Grey-headed Lapwing 2, Northern Lapwing 6+, Little Ringed Plover 30+ and a dowitcher sp. No godwits or Whimbrel as yet, though they have been reported from other sites in the Prefecture. Other birds of note in recent weeks - Ruddy Crake 1, Water Rail 2, Shelduck 6, Red-throated Pipit 7+, Peregrine 1 male, Chinese Penduline Tit 10+, Reed Bunting 50+, Swallow 100+. Birds seen by others here, but not me in recent weeks - Eurasian Starling and Common Redshank (scarce in Japan). Hopefully the coming weeks will bring in some more interesting birds.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/362596/DSCN5552.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/837661/DSCN5552.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/199431/DSCN5590.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/798928/DSCN5590.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/38856/DSCN5617.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/363532/DSCN5617.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/826942/DSCN5609.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/625392/DSCN5609.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/221618/DSCN5610.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/120900/DSCN5610.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/911593/DSCN5689.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/271814/DSCN5689.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/162100/DSCN5706.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/98437/DSCN5706.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/578362/DSCN5718.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/362135/DSCN5718.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/854072/DSCN5756.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/418452/DSCN5756.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/779167/DSCN5658.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/974278/DSCN5658.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/936163/DSCN5432.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/256186/DSCN5432.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Ryokka Center<br /><br />This site had been rather quiet over the winter period, with Saijo-cho having more birders and photographers visiting as up to 100 Palla's Rosefinch (some estimate 200!) in that area, with lesser numbers of Rosy Finch and Long-tailed Rosefinch too. However, I was able to find 3 Palla's Rosefinch one one visit, as well as 4+ Long-tailed Rosefinch, Yellow-throated Bunting, Peregrine, Bullfinch, brief views of a Copper Pheasant, Siskin 1+ and the 4 woodpecker species (Japanese Green, Pygymy, great Spot and White-backed) among a comoner selection of passerines.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/94398/DSCN4668.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/662243/DSCN4668.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/687188/DSCN4669.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/322699/DSCN4669.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/102945/DSCN4664.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/991656/DSCN4664.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/734128/DSCN4655.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/803436/DSCN4655.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/551114/DSCN5817.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/762371/DSCN5817.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/7699/DSCN5813.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/354601/DSCN5813.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Nabara Town<br /><br />After a pair of Scarlet Rosefinch were reported here a few days before I deceided to look for them, but was unsuccessful. Birds of note were a Japanese Green Woodpecker, 30+ Siskin , 20+ Rustic Bunting, 10+ Yellow-throated Bunting, 4+ Eurasian Jay and a 'drumming' Copper Pheasant.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/260908/DSCN5884.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/623669/DSCN5884.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/220650/DSCN5876.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/808863/DSCN5876.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/976921/DSCN5879.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/14615/DSCN5879.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/637249/DSCN5850.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/627738/DSCN5850.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Roll on spring!Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1173458479452294112007-03-10T01:33:00.000+09:002007-03-10T01:41:51.386+09:00Possible Thayer's Gull on Otagawa River - March 2006<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/712293/75550004.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/855544/75550004.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/161662/75550003.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/344534/75550003.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/603436/75550002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/465081/75550002.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/1600/481318/75550007.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2115/3011/400/173975/75550007.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I am so lax with this blog, that not only have I not posted in 6 mnths, but when I do finally decide to blog, i put on photos of a bird I saw a year ago!<br /><br />Well, enough tittle tattle ...so what is it?<br /><br />Thayer's or am I just hallucinating and it is actually just a 'funny' Vegae?Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1159337938885379022006-09-27T15:05:00.000+09:002006-09-27T15:20:07.856+09:00The tale of the funny gullTwo weeks back I visited my local wader hot spot, trying to find something good among the commoner autumn fare.<br /><br />Unfortunately, apart from a Long-toed Stint there was not much happening..so I turned my attention to the gulls.<br /><br />Among 3 immature Black-headed Gulls was a very odd gull. It didn't match the primary pattern of a normal Black-headed, seemed to have a paler back, a larger hood and more coral-red legs and bill. At the distance I was viewing, over 500m, I could not see black on the bill (clear on subsequent pics).<br /><br />I struggled to put a name to it..was it just an aberrant Black-headed? a hybrid? or something really rare like a Relict Gull or (Indian) Brown -headed Gull? Never having seen Brown -headed I could't rule it out, but it just didn't seem quite right for Relict, despite the upright pigeon-like stance, the prinamry pattern didn't match this species, or Brown-headed or indeed any species of gull.<br /><br />Unfortunately, once I got home and reviewed the poor photos I had taken and cross-referenced them and my notes with Malling. Olsen and Larsen I was still none the wiser.<br /><br />I asked friends, but they seemed unsure...mainly as my shots were so poor!<br /><br />Then finally, another Japanese birder who had heard about my 'funny' gull, managed to get some much better shots, which revealed that the gull was almost certainly an aberrant Black-headed gull..though the hood, leg color and size (nearly as big as a neighbouring Black-tailed) still leave me not 100 percent certain.<br /><br />Any comments are most welcome.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/641_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/400/641_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/641_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/400/641_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3147.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/400/DSCN3147.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3145.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/400/DSCN3145.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1158855349055087552006-09-22T00:50:00.000+09:002006-09-22T01:19:45.066+09:00This week I have been mostly ..finding rare birds!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/shimasennyu001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/shimasennyu001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/IMG_1172.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/IMG_1172.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3388.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/DSCN3388.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3267.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/DSCN3267.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It is not often I get to say this, but suddenly downtown Hiroshima is turning into a postivie Avian Mecca.<br /><br />In the past week I have seen more rare or unusual birds than in the past 8 years in the grounds of Hiroshima Castle. I would like to pretend that I have been finding all the truly rare birds ...but well I didn't, that was mosty down to Sumida-san..who is rapidly turning into something of a twitcher..pretty much unheard of outside Tokyo. <br /><br />The local birders have accused me of having magical pockets..little do they know that this purple patch cannot last!<br /><br />We have had so many good birds, that a birder from Osaka even turned up!<br /><br />So what is all the fuss about? Well the star players in this surreal avian movie-like feast are mainly some locustela warblers that seem to think they are mice (big ones mind) and creep around, pretending that the sad little few box hedges we have are the wide grasslands of hokkaido.<br /><br />In the past week, we have had 3 or 4 Grays Grasshopper Warblers (1 adult and 2-3 juveniles) and 4 Middendorf's Grasshopper Warblers (2 aduts and 2 juveniles)...sometiimes 2 of each species at once.<br /><br />This has been backed up by an admirable supporting cast: 1 Brown Hawk Owl, 2 Oriental Honey Buzzard, 1 Ashy Minivet, 1 Black-browed Reed Warbler, 5 Stub-tailed bush Warblers, 10+ Eastern Crowned Warblers, 2-3 Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, 5+ Arctic Warblers, 10+ Brown Flycatchers, 2-3 Sooty Flycatchers, 5+ Narcissus Flycatchers, 2 Blue and White Flycatchers, 1-2 Grey-streakd Flycatchers, 2 Japanese Paradise Flycatchers, 1 Siberian Blue Robin, 2 Grey Thrush, 1 Swinhoes Robin, 20+ Red-cheeked Starling..and a Yellow Bunting (alas I missed the Bunting, Grey-Streaked Fly and Swinhoe's Robin).all in two small green oasis of hiroshima Castle and Shukkein Garden.<br /><br />I have even found time to fit in a couple of side trips to the hasu fields of Minami-Iwakuni, with a Red-necked Phalarope and Long-toed Stint taking the wader prizes and an odd gull (answers on a postcard please!) running a close second.<br /><br />Also managed to find a Greater Sand Plover and Marsh Sandpiper at the ever declining Yahata River.<br /><br />What ever will be next...I have a wish list, but don't want to jinx things... The photos of the grays Grashopper Warbler and the iddendorf's Warblers are Sumida-san's..the phalarope and flycatcher are my...alas rather pathetic attempts!<br /><br />If you want tosee more of his stunning images, go to his blog:<br /><br />http://darrowby.seesaa.netMinnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1156776437302213542006-08-28T23:19:00.000+09:002006-08-28T23:47:18.110+09:00Autumn is just around the cornerWell I thought I would be blogging on a more reugular basis than this, but it seems that once the initial novelty has worn off and the realization has set in that no-one is ever gonna bother reading it...you can't be arsed most of the time.<br /><br />But since the long hot summer is coming to a cose and I have managed to get out birding the last few weekends, I thought I would share a few pics of the nice Painted Snipe I saw over the last two weekends. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3080.1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/DSCN3080.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3134.1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/DSCN3134.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3098.1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/DSCN3098.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN3119.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/DSCN3119.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I visited two sites, one is a small mudflat in Hatsukaichi City. A Greater Sand Plover, Redshank and Turnstone had been reported there, all scarce in Hiroshima..but off course all had gone. I was left with the blazing hot sun, a few Red-necked Stint, Dunlin, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Grey-tailed Tatler, Terek Sandpiper among the commoner Kentish Plover.. and after 10 minutes found myself sticking to the tarmac between the cracks...yuck!<br /><br />A visit to Minami-Iwakuni, an area of Lotus fields, produced little of note, with it still being early in the season, and many areas remained uncut. Among the hordes of Moorhen, herons and Egrets were a few waders, a couple each of Green, Wood and Common Sandpiper, a few more Little Ringed Plovers and a very photogenic pair of Painted Snipe in the same place as an immature bird last week. As the tide receded on the nearby estuary I was able to find 5 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Terek Sandpiper and 8 Great Knot, as well as a few Black-tailed Gulls and the off fishing Osprey. I missed the best two birds of the weekend, a Black-browed Reed Warbler (rare here) and a Swinhoe's Egret reported among the large numbers of 'white' egrets and Night Herons. Still no snipe either.<br /><br />A few weeks back I did manage to add Grey-headed Lapwing to my Hiroshima list from the back of a cab...but not much else to report birdwise. Hopefully in the coming weeks I'll be adding some more images of other autumn migrants,,,big and small.Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1154449455270917112006-08-02T01:23:00.000+09:002006-08-02T01:24:15.270+09:00Matterazzi vs Zidane<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGFVhzmnYWg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGFVhzmnYWg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1154448297453372552006-08-02T01:01:00.000+09:002006-08-02T01:21:34.773+09:00Zi...summer!Well, well, wel, well well!<br /><br />Can't believe I have had nothing to say for 2 months!<br /><br />Is my life that empty?<br /><br />No, the opposite really, been doing too much shit of late, learning JAPPERS,<br /><br />so I can write stuff like this:<br /><br />僕のちんちん は で会 です!<br /><br />Also watching England's humiliation in the World Cup on penalties for the umpteenth time, then seeing France throw it all away to those cheating, diving Italian mother#$"%"s.<br /><br />Still we were left with some highlights.....see what happened to Zidane and Materrazi for real:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGFVhzmnYWg<br /><br />Just gonna sweat out the summer, turn 35, feel one year older and no wiser and get pissed and have some fun on my biffday weekend init!<br /><br />maybe I should post some long overblown polemic on the whole messed up Israel-Hezbullah mess, but I won't...suffice to say, the whole world turns a blind eye once again while Israel dputs Lebanon back 10 years, and systematically destroys 100's of 1000's of peoples lives, including their own citizens..idiots! There and I said I wouldn't say anything.<br /><br />Well better rest now, tis late and I am away to me pit!Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1150008707263943302006-06-11T15:42:00.000+09:002006-06-11T18:05:31.356+09:00TimeImages preserved<br />Times remembered<br />People immortalized<br />Objects glorified<br />Good times had<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/95010182.0.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/95010182.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DH000075.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/DH000075.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/95010187.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/95010187.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/95010139.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px <br />10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/95010139.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DH000015.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/DH000015.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/07370059.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/07370059.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/94990029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/94990029.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DH000014.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/200/DH000014.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />lost but <br />for the lens.....Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1149179257069665882006-06-02T01:14:00.000+09:002006-06-02T01:32:28.560+09:00BOZU!They say bald is beautiful..well whether or not it is true..thanks to the shear efforts of a Kiwi and his clippers i was shorn of my shaggy mane and given the smoothest of summer cuts...Andy Warhol never heard of im..<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2028.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />other shots in this wonderful new collection celebrating the BOZU cut<br /><br />the poseur<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2024.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2024.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />blinded by the pate....... <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2018.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2018.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2019.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2019.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />and the hills are alive with hairMinnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1148483902133472032006-05-25T00:06:00.000+09:002006-05-25T00:19:15.023+09:00Of all the books in all the world..I had to buy this one!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2054.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2054.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2058.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2058.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2059.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2059.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Yes, just when you thought there was nothing left to write aboutMinnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1148400349480527942006-05-24T00:22:00.001+09:002006-05-24T01:39:10.710+09:00Lazy Sunday afternoonFinally, 2 days in a row without rain! How best to celebrate? get in a fight with the Mrs over something as trivial as not wanting to look around an insectarium on the Saturday. It rather spoilt an otherwise perfect day and a nice little visit to one of Hiroshima's multifarious forest parks. Still all is harmonic bliss now. <br /><br />We managed to see The Da Vinci Code on Monday, and it is 'thankfully' better than the book, though still smacks of a Hollywood cliquiness. Tom Hanks and Ron Howard having their own Hollywood eqyuivalent of a special relationship..he stars in his films, just as Blair does in Bushes little epics, and the movie is all the poorer for it, as the world is with Bush and Blair in it. There is also a penchant for treating the audience like idiots. We don't need to have everything explained with 'artsy' flashbacks , or certain historical facts or suppositions explained with 'reconstrucution' scenes do we? Sorry, jumping the gun there, assuming that 1) anyone is readin this and 2) that any of you have read the book or seen the film. Please see it for yourself and make up your own mind.,,still I think that Jesus and Mary, though they may have got it on, never produced any little sprogs who would be kings of France. I mean why would a woman from the totaly opposite end of the Roman Empire choose France to land in and call home, above all other places. True the food is good, and they do have a way with 'l'amour', but what else did they have to offer at that time?<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/Photo%2052.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/Photo%2052.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, going back to the weekend. While the Mrs spent the day out with her mum, soaking in yet another hot spring, I managed to drag me bum out of bed at 4.30am, and go with my most excellent birding pals Miyazawa-san and Funakawa-san for a spot of spring birding, around Garyuzan-san in the Chugoku mountains. We arrived around 6.30 and heard the tail end of the 'dawn' chorus, with plenty of Winter Wrens, Grey Thrush, Narcissus Flycatcher, Blue and White Flycatcher and Siberian Blue Robins singing their collective hearts out, all with glorious sunshine, a rare thing in recent weeks, and as yet not too hot tempratures.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN2889.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/DSCN2889.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We tootled slowly up the narrow little mountain road, passing lush green broadleaved beech forest, concealing most of the singing birds, with the occasional movement revealing a wren, thrush and once briefly a Ruddy Kingfisher.<br /><br />Once we had reached the top of the mountain, where the cool spring water bubbles up from inside the mountain, while frogs croak all around, we began to slowly walk back down. As we walked we heard Siberian Thrush, Japanese Woodpigeon, Oriental Cuckoo and Litle Cuckoo, catching glimpses of the commoner woodland birds, such as Coal Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit and Nuthatch going about their woodland business of eating caterpillars and what have you. Occasionally one of the 4 species of woodpecker would call or drum, and we caught the odd glimpse of them, as well as an overflying Little Cuckoo, as well as the Blue Robin and the flycatchers, with Wrens singing sometimes just a few meters ahead of us.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN2898.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/DSCN2898.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Finally we stopped at an area, where Ruddy Kingfisher had bred in the past, and waited patiently fo them to start givng their beautiful descending trill, and perhaps treat us to a passing flash of orange and blue. Unfortunately, despite sometimes being only a few meters away, the most we ever saw was an orange blur as they flew between perches, the large leaves obscuring them, while their calls tantalisingly led us on a merry chase without success.<br /><br />As the morning progressed, and we whiled away the time chatting about what was about and taking the odd photo we were lucky enough to watch an adult White-backed Woodpecker feeding one of its young, and later on a male Japanese Green Woodpecker busily excavating a hole, to try and entice a mate.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN2992.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/DSCN2992.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After a nice lazy picnic lunch, we went down to the flat area of rice-fields and scrub at the foot of the mountain, but the day had warmed up so much, that apart from some scrumptious local ice-cream, the only thing of note, was the first cuckoo of the spring 'kakkoing' away in the distance.<br /><br />On the way back to Hiroshima, we decided to stop for Dollarbirds, and were rewarded with nice views of both birds, as they flew around nearby trre-tops, trying to blend in unsuccessfully with their gaudy blue-green plumage and carrot bills. While standing there we were also treated to nice views of a pair of Crested Kingfisher chasing each other in the late afternoon light and surprise bird of the day a Grewen Sandpiper, flying around a wet rice paddy looking totally out of place so high up in the mountains.<br /><br />On the way back my attempts to remain awake, proved frutiless, as I could not beat the 1 hour of sleep and the relentless sun. My profuse apologies were greeted by the usual don't worries from the lovely ladies.<br /><br />Twas a great way to spend the day and escape the hustle and bustle of Hiroshima's Sunday shoppers.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/DSCN2960.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/DSCN2960.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Hirobirders best birds: Siberian Blue Robin, Dollarbird, Crested Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher.<br /><br />Weekend eats and drinks: 7-11 Bento and the wonderfully whisked-up Green Tea of Funakawa-sanMinnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1148094733430660672006-05-20T12:10:00.000+09:002006-05-20T12:12:13.430+09:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/1600/0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2115/3011/320/0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Minnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28417994.post-1148090826050348782006-05-20T11:01:00.000+09:002006-05-20T11:07:06.056+09:00My first blogWelcome one and all..well probably just one, coz I haven't told anybody else about this blog yet.<br /><br />I hope to be able to post pics,life-shite, birdy stuff, music, books and all that jazz on here, and then maybe one day some others out there might post, read or do whatever the hell they like once they have seen.<br /><br />All thanks to my super new MAC, which now comes a close third, behind my wife/family and birds as the love of my life..enough drivel...I just wanna see if this works!<br /><br />minnsyMinnsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11456993897958852512noreply@blogger.com0