North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #2

The campsite where we usually stay in north Hokkaido has its own population of Siberian Rubythroats...................

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #1

We spent a few days up on the Ohotsuku coast in north Hokkaido last week..........

Whiskered Tern

We just got back from a weeklong camping trip to north Hokkaido.

The above Whiskered Tern was right at the end of the trip near Hakodate. An uncommon passage visitor in this part of the world. Not a great photo but this is only the second one I've seen in Japan. As I've said before, terns are scarce in Hokkaido so it's always nice to see them.

I saw my first ever Whiskered Tern on Lake Tinaroo in FNQ about 23 years ago, I think this is only my 3rd one ever.

I have tons of photos to sort through, a daunting task.

On this day (June 25th).............

June 25th 2012.

A Red Fox going for a run around Lake Onuma 5 years ago today........................

The fish was for its cubs of course, hope they didn't mind nasty tasting bony fish.

The lull begins........

A Bull-headed Shrike fledgeling near my apartment yesterday..............

Midsummer 2017

Almost halfway through the year.....................

A family of flycatchers............

Some Narcissus Flycatchers from earlier in the week.....................

Bird of the month..............

In the fading light last Sunday after a long day out of town we stopped at the local port to watch the Rhinoceros Auklets again................

Some summer stoners

Some Siberian Stonechats from last weekend................

A summer favourite

A Black-browed Reed Warbler at Yakumo this afternoon...........

More of the same

The Rhinoceros Auklets were still around a couple of days ago......................

Auklets up close again

The Rhinoceros Auklets were still around last Sunday..................

On this day (June 15th).............

June 15th 2014.

A baby Ural Owl in Ouma 3 years ago today. There were 3 of them in this section of the forest. 3 owlets and about a billion mosquitoes.

Fallback Camera

The other afternoon I left the 100-400 lens in the car and my wife drove away for the day......................

More Rock Thrushes and Auklets

A female Blue Rock Thrush out west from a few days ago............

A surprise on the beach

A surprise on one of the local beaches last week...............

On this day (June 11th)...............................

June 11th 2011.

3 Cattle Egrets in the padis outside of town 6 years ago today. This is a scarce overshoot visitor to south Hokkaido in late spring/early summer, it was nice to see 3 together and all in summer plumage too.

A couple of common summer visitors

Summer can be a slightly quiet season birdingwise in south Hokkaido................

A Late Spring Trip #8

A while ago we noticed an injured Black Scoter in a port to the north of town.............

Some Ospreys and other stuff

I checked the Osprey and Peregrine nest sites on Monday...............