The last stragglers

The last group of Waxwings I saw in town were a few days ago...............and now they appear to have all left.

On this day (February 3rd)........................

February 3rd 2012.

An immature Rough-legged Buzzard just outside Hakodate 6 years ago today.

There was a big invasion of this species into southern Hokkaido 6 years ago. I saw them in 3 or 4 places that year but hadn't seen any before and haven't seen any since....................

Almost over...............

It was sunny yesterday...................

Some backstreet Waxwings...........

Yesterday I found a small flock of Waxwings on a quiet backstreet.....................

More downtown Waxwings

The Waxwings are still putting on a show in the middle of Hakodate...............

Estate Waxwings #2

Some more Waxwings from a few days ago............

Estate Waxwings #1

The Waxwings were very close to my apartment a few days ago.................

The snow just keeps falling................

Another big dump of snow last night................

A grey Sunday in the port...........

Sunday afternoon was grey and snowy again...............

On this day (January 28th)......................

January 28th 2009.

A Spectacled Guillemot in one of the local ports 9 years ago today. I've only ever seen this species twice in south Hokkaido although they do breed further north and east.

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

Friday afternoon was sunny.................

Another snowy day...............

The Waxwings and Bramblings were still around yesterday.................

Some calmer berry-eaters............

A Brambling in town yesterday.................

The second wave...........

It was so cold today our door froze shut.................

Some miscellaneous winter birds..............

A Dunlin north of town a couple of days ago....................

An early finish............

There weren't so many eagles at Yakumo yesterday...............

Some high ISO ducks...........

The small flock of Falcated Duck were at their regular spot.....................

Another Sunday out east..............

On a bitterly cold Sunday we headed east of town again.................

On this day (January 21st)....................

January 21st 2011.

A Lapland Bunting on a beach in Hakodate 7 years ago today.

This is a scarce but probably overlooked winter visitor to Hokkaido. I've seen them in several places but they tend to favour windswept beaches blocked to most normal people by snowdrifts..............

On this day (January 20th)...............

January 20th 2014.

An Olive-backed Pipit in Hakodate 4 years ago today. Unusual to see one in winter in Hokkaido. It is a fairly common summer visitor but is a species that seems difficult to photograph. Not this time though..............