North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #10

We found a different choice of background for Siberian Rubythroats..................

The heat is on

It has got very very hot the last few days................

A family of Ospreys

We hadn't been out west to see the Osprey nest for a while...............

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #9

Siberian Rubythroats are very common in north Hokkaido in summer...............

Kingfisher in the gloom

It is very dark under the trees in Onuma in summer.................

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #8

A Long-tailed Rosefinch from last week..............

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #7

In between the Rubythroats I took a few Siberian Stonechat pictures.............

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #6

Some more shots of the very photogenic Rubythroats from the end of June................

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #5

A male Reed Bunting from last week.....................

Brown Hawk Owl

On the way back from north Hokkaido we stopped off near Tomakomai..............

Some bad family planning

We were in Onuma earlier in the week.................

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #4

Some more Rubythroats from last week................

North Hokkaido Summer 2017 #3

A Middendorffs Warbler from last week......................

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.....................