Grebes in the blizzards.............

There were 4 species of grebe in Kamiiso today......................

Laid low

White Tailed Eagle and Long Billed Plover at Yakumo a couple of days ago.............

A roadside surprise

A Mountain Hawk Eagle in Yakumo today.............

New Year in Yakumo #2

A Stellers Sea Eagle in Yakumo yesterday morning.

New Year in Yakumo #1

A Mountain Hawk Eagle in Yakumo yesterday...............

2015 ended

There were 2 Ural Owls at Onuma yesterday. This was in a hole that I thought had been abandoned.............

2015 ending slowly............

The weather relented a bit and we ended up at Onuma in brilliant winter sunshine.............

Fox and Owl

On the way back from Yakumo we stopped at Onuma just before sunset. It was dark and snowing. A pair of Black Woodpecker were around as were 2 staples, Red Fox and Ural Owl.

Christmas in Yakumo

We spent the 25/26 in and around Yakumo.............

On this day (December 26th).....................

December 26th 2011.

A Solitary Snipe at Yakumo 4 years ago today. This is a scarce winter visitor that inhabits frigid winter streams in the hills. I've seen the species several times at Yakumo but this was the only time I ever managed a photo................and even then it was a hastily taken massively underexposed heavy crop too.

Phoned in Xmas eagle

Processed in camera and on phone, these never look good when done on my iphone for some reason.

That time of year again

A Ural Owl at Onuma last weekend. Not feeling very christmassy despite it being Christmas Eve, no snow outside for starters. Maybe I'll feel differently after a few beers and some movie watching..............

Some birds from around town.............

A quiet couple of days in town..................

Some Scaup

Finding solstice in the fishing ports

The shortest day of the year was mild and rainy in Hakodate.............

Still BIFness as usual

Another mild Sunday saw us up in Yakumo..............

Still no winter

A Common Buzzard outside Hakodate yesterday............

Another mild December day

On this Day (December 8th)..............

December 8th 2013.

A Ural Owl 2 years in Onuma. This was in a  huge dead 'chimney' tree with a huge hole for it to rest in. My photos from the last few weeks are of a different individual in a different hole.

Unfortunately the next spring the tree snapped in half during a storm................so the Owl had to move somewhere safer but also away from prying cameras....................

Grey Monday skies

Grey skies again saw us up in Yakumo and Oshamanbe...........