Not a very good shot but this is a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a bit of a scarce visitor to Hokkaido. This is the second time I've seen this bird (or third.....I also got a Taiga Flycatcher which may or may not be a subspecies and anyway I can't really tell them apart in this plumage). Each time has been in mid to late autumn, long after all the other flycatchers have gone.
It was in a park in the east of town and difficult to keep track of. I also only had limited time and had to go home without any nice shots, just record shots.
As you can see there is a bit of snow, in fact yesterday was very wintry with about 10cm of snow on the car in the morning and frozen icy roads too.
Other common stuff in the park included Rustic and Black Faced Bunting, Siskin, Nuthatch, 4 species of tit, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Wren and Goldcrest. This was taken when I was waiting in vain for the flycatcher to appear again..............
Thanks for clicking this link.......
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Gee, Stuart. Nice for record shots....the leaves, snow and bird. Looks pretty artistic and beautiful to me.I'm having a dull birding year by comparison.
ReplyDeleteThanks Russell, nobody has ever called me artistic before!
DeleteI really like the first one! I'm imagining the cold now.
ReplyDeleteIt was cold for sure and a few weeks earlier than normal too.........
DeleteHI Stuart A lovely little bird and a great find for you. Love the red foliage and snow.
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret, yes it is a tad unusual to see autumn leaves and snow together in south Hokkaido......
DeleteGreat bird. I think it may be RBF. From memory, one of the best ID features is uppertail covert colour. I believe Taiga should be as black or blacker than the tail.
ReplyDeleteIn pic #1 they look paler?
They have been split here with Taiga being an extreme rarity.
The opposite aplies here, Taiga is a regular (if scarce) passage visitor and RBF is the vagrant.......
DeleteWell, I've got plate 205 of Mark Brazil's book in front of me...and I'll take your word on the identification.
ReplyDeleteThe fresh snow really adds to the photo.
Hi John,yes snow is great for bird photos I have discovered......
DeleteFair play. After looking at it again - no buff tones, clear white throat, cold median covert bar and tertial edges it does look right for Taiga.
ReplyDeleteApologies for impugning your ID!
I have no idea most of the time, don't worry!
DeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteA very cute bird Stuart, and lovely pics.
ReplyDeleteN°1 is gorgeous!
It is always sooo rewarding to see rare species, so it does not matter if you can't get the pics you would wish for. Some can be as interesting in a documentary way.
Enjoy your WE!
Hi Noushkas, yes it is a cute one. Just wish it would stay still...............
ReplyDeleteVery nice seeing this flycatcher among the snow and red maple leaves! Something I would never imagine.
ReplyDeleteYou may see similar sights in Germany..........
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