All quiet on the western side...........

We headed west yesterday but it was pretty quiet...............

Lull #2

A pretty quiet week, not much to write up plus I was feeling a bit lazy. A bit repetitive, apologies for that.

Migrants continue to pass through, the above Asian Brown Flycatcher was sharing a tree with this Grey Streaked Flycatcher.

I've been checking the grass and bushes for Siberian Rubythroats but didn't find any alas. I did find a few Arctic Warblers.

The first Dusky Thrush of the season, Narcissus Flycatcher, lots of Bullheaded Shrike and a build up in duck numbers show that the season is changing although the leaves haven't really started to change colour in Hakodate yet.

We went to Onuma this afternoon, a grey rainy day much too dark for photos. I did see a Black Woodpecker and lots of Japanese Thrushes in the thinning forest, the leaves are falling here at least.

The Night Herons are still around.

This young one provided nice views from a bridge just near my flat..........

The adults were harder to photograph as always.

There were a few BIF opportunities including Grey Heron too.

Liverpool's plight is turning into a huge joke now, if they get that 9 point penalty they'll be facing a relegation dogfight for christ's sake.

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Slow start to autumn............

A Grey Streaked Flycatcher near my apartment a few days ago. Autumn is a pleasant time in this part of the world, warm and bright and with lots of interesting birds passing through. Most of these birds flit around in the bushes however. Arctic Warbler and Asian Brown Flycatcher have been very common this last couple of weeks.........

Grey Wagtail, Common Kingfisher, Grey Heron, White Wagtail, Mallard, Pintail and Teal have been around, all birds familiar to any UK local patch watcher. More exotically I got a brief view of a young Goshawk this afternoon and of course the local Night Herons which are a photographic staple this time of year.

Their habit of hiding in the shade and undergrowth can make it difficult to get decent shots though. Very tricky to get the exposure right.

Getting a bit repetitive, sorry.............

It's been a year since I got my 7D and I've taken nearly 30,000 shots with it, I'll blame machine gunning at BIFs for that figure.

Liverpool aren't so hot but I'm kind of past caring. Let's just hope they stay competitive this season and can sort out the ownership issue once and for all.

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Green Day

A male Japanese Green Pigeon on Sunday afternoon at Shikabe. It's been a few weeks since we went to the beach where they come down to drink seawater, it had been sunny in the morning but by the afternoon it was overcast meaning no nice BIF shots.

Migration is in evidence on the river near my apartment. Lots of birds flitting around in the vegetation, there could be anything there. Common stuff like Japanese White-eye and Black Faced Bunting. A few Arctic Warbler too (they always come after the Eastern Crowned Warblers which passed through a couple of weeks ago) and lots of Flycatcher.

This is a Grey Streaked Flycatcher.

And this is an Asian Brown Flycatcher.

I'm determined to get a shot of a Sooty Flycatcher this autumn but first I've actually got to find and ID one.................

The usual wader species were around at the weekend. Sanderling, Common Sandpiper, Red Necked Stint and Mongolian Plover.......

This is a flock of Mongolian Plover at Shikabe.

Other local bloggers have posted photos of Red Necked Pharalope (on the beach at Kamiiso, how many times have I been there this season?!?), Temincks Stint (several),  Pectoral Sandpiper, Broad Billed Sandpiper and Long Toed Stint............all I seem to get are lots and lots of Red Necked Stints........

I have 2 more chances in Kamiiso this week, hopefully I'll find something interesting...........

I watched 'Four Lions' last night which was pretty funny but utterly impossible to explain to the people I teach here.

Liverpool didn't lose at least, another draw on Sunday at Man Utd would be acceptable.

It's still pretty hot and the construction noise is still annoying the hell out of me. Forget roll on autumn, I say roll on winter..........

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Grey Streaked Flycatcher

Another Grey Streaked Flycatcher near my flat yesterday, and slightly better pics than last time too.

More stuff flitting around the bushes, god only knows what half of that stuff is.

There were some more Asian Brown but no Sooty Flycatchers.

The first Teal since May were about as were several Stonechat and the obligatory skulking Night Heron.

I have lots of Red Necked Stint photos to sort through from today in Kamiso, I'll post them later tonight or tomorrow............

More Flycatcher 'fun'

A sleeping Night Heron on the river yesterday, I spotted this whilst manfully trying to ID all the small migrants flitting around the bushes. These included Arctic Warbler, Stonechat and lots more Flycatchers......

Crappy 100% crops but I think this shows  Grey Streaked Flycatcher in amongst all the Asian Browns (still no Sootys though).

This, I think, is a female or immature Blue and White Flycatcher.

And this is a boring old Asian Brown Flycatcher.