A spring afternoon in Onuma

A beautiful spring afternoon saw us in Onuma for a couple of hours.......................

There were 3 Bewicks Swan..................

I've seen lots of this species this year, way more than normal. Did I just overlook them before? Are my ID skills finally improving?

I guess they are regular passage visitors and maybe 2015 is a bumper year............

This male Long Tailed Rosefinch was in the grass near the swans.................

Mandarin Ducks were scattered around the lakeside and as difficult to photograph as ever..............this one had lots of thin branches between itself and the end of my lens..............

This is a typical view...............

Also in Onuma were the usual common resident species plus Crossbill, Wigeon and the first Coot/Moorhen of the spring....................

In Hakodate there were Stonechat in the local park as well as the first Bullheaded Shrike, Asian House Martin and Red Cheeked Starling of the year.

I have a feeling the remaining trees next to the river will be felled soon: some workmen were marking them the other day (apparently they are being cut down because they represent a flood risk). The second noisy election of the fortnight is in full swing and there will be some some people moving into the apartment upstairs very soon. 18 months it has been empty...............the silent bliss will be rudely interrupted imminently.

Despite all that the weather is great and f**k it, I have a 3 week holiday in England coming up very soon.