Ujihodai #2

Some more common local species feeding on the maggots and insects in the rotting seafood detritus last Saturday.................

Japanese Robin

A male Japanese Robin to the north of Hakodate, a bird I'd never photographed before..............until this Tuesday morning.

Ujihodai #1

Some shots from Yakumo last Saturday................

Monday morning blues

A male Blue and White Flycatcher and a male Narcissus Flycatcher, 2 of the most striking summer visitors to Hokkaido.

We were on the east coast early in the morning (where these 2 photos were taken) and Onuma this afternoon. The forests were full of summer migrants............in addition to the above 2 species there were loads of Eastern Crowned Warbler and Japanese Thrush singing. Brown Thrush, Japanese Robin and Asian Stubtail were also around..............it was the start of another long days birding.

Some April waders.........

Only a few passage waders around, so here is a summer visitor and a winter visitor from Sunday.............

Saunders Gull

It's the time of year when rarities often appear and yesterday I found one. Well, a local rarity.

A blue start to the day

A long long day started in a park to the north of Hakodate...................

Small birds on a rainy day

Siskin and Coal Tit from yesterday................

Nice weather for ducks...........

It was raining on the eastern coast all day today..................

Crossbill and sakura

A Crossbill in the cherry blossoms in the local park yesterday morning............

A tired Diver

The tired/injured Red Throated Diver was still in the same place in the west of town on Monday..............

Cattle Egret

A Cattle Egret on the outskirts of Hakodate yesterday..................

Spring cliches and a rarity

We were on the west coast on Monday morning...............

April Ospreys #2

I managed to get some shots of Ospreys fishing yesterday..............

April Ospreys #1

A beautiful spring afternoon was spent west of Hakodate where I found some Ospreys fishing close inshore...............

Before the deluge

A tired looking Red Throated Diver offshore near Kamiiso this afternoon. Probably an injured bird but it was a bit far off to see any damage.............this photo is already a heavy crop as it is.

There were several Gadwall around as well as a flighty Crossbill flock, some Black Headed Gulls in summer plumage, Great Egret and the usual common stuff. Spring migration will surely kick in very soon, hope it's a deluge on any days off I have coming up................

Still Still around..........

A quick look in the park and the Falcated Duck was still there..............but it hadn't gotten less shy.

Still around

The Falcated Duck was still in the park, and as jumpy as ever................

A (very) windy Monday

Last night was as windy as I can recall since a typhoon hit Hakodate 12 years ago..............

I was hoping the strong SW wind might have blown some vagrants our way but the only really visible migants were lots of Common Gull and Dusky Thrush.

Not much posing for the camera but I did see Pale Thrush, Pacific Swift, Black Faced Bunting. Gadwall, Peregrine, Osprey, Buzzard, Siskin, Hawfinch, Long Tailed Rosefinch, Great Egret, Grey Headed Woodpecker, Mandarin Duck, Harlequin Duck, Terek Sandpiper, Red Throated Diver and common stuff like the above Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker.

At Onuma lots of big trees had been blown over, it really was windy last night.

A rainy Sunday

A wet wet Sunday, a bit annoying after a hard week when it was sunny outside most of the time but I was stuck inside...............

Still, there were a few birds about in the rain.