A windy Sunday

An Osprey at Yakumo this afternoon.................


It was very windy, a strong wind from the southwest blowing dust from the topsoil everywhere (it's been very dry recently). We were on the 'wrong' (east) side of the peninsula though so it wasn't blowing anything interesting our way.

This fish had no head, is that the first part Ospreys eat? Was it a quick snack on the sly before it takes it back its' mate on the nest?

It was difficult to hold the lens steady in such strong winds...............it must have been even harder to fly.

These Great Egrets were also at Yakumo...............this lot flew up after a Peregrine dived at some Teal..............

Most of the common stuff was around but not many new summer visitors. There were hardly any Glaucous Gulls anywhere but we did see lots of Black Headed Gulls which are now in summer plumage, like these ones at Kamiiso, later in the day when the sun had gone behind some clouds...........they do look exotic after living in Japan for many years. Of course I'll see loads of them next month in England............

This is the only regulsr 'hooded' gull in Hokkaido and they don't breed here so we just get them like this for a couple of weeks before they head north.

This tired looking Red Breasted Merganser was also at Kamiiso.