Summer near my apartment

I took a short walk near my flat yesterday. For various reasons I hasn't been there for over a week and the speed at which the vegetation has grown was astonishing. This happens every year, of course, but never fails to amaze me. It's the quiet season for birds though: really not much around at all. 2 or 3 Oriental Reed Warblers (slightly fewer than in previous years), a few Red-cheeked Starling, Asian House Martin, Barn Swallow................

Last shots from the pool

The last batch of shots from the pool near Shikotsuko............

Some Long-tailed Tits

One of the most popular subjects for bird photographers here seems to be the Hokkaido race of Long-tailed Tit.........

2 Bush Warblers

Some more birds from the pool near Shikotsuko last week.............

Some early summer birds

The weather has been very warm and sunny the last few days...............

On this day (June 5th).......................

June 5th 2015.

A Common Tern in the Marina in Preston 3 years ago today. I wish we had a tern colony up close in Hakodate. Terns of any species are rare around here and in fact no tern species breed in Hokkaido at all.

Another fail

An Eastern Marsh Harrier today near Yakumo. Before today I had never taken a decent shot of one.

For once, one flew near the road and alongside the car. I wasn't quick enough to focus on it and get the camera settings right. I've still never taken a decent shot of one.

If I'd had my wits about me I could have gotten some killer shots of it. If.......................

A pair of Narcs

Some Narcissus Flycatchers also frequented the pool near Shikotsuko.............

A couple of Phylloscopidae

There were 2 species of leaf warbler visiting the pool....................

Some Spring Blues

We spent 3 nights camping up at Lake Shikotsuko.....................

The last arrivals...........

We stopped at Yakumo on the way and way back from our short trip..................

A Brown Dipper

We just got back from a short trip.....................

A lot of photos to sort through but this was from the start of the trip. A Brown Dipper, the east Asian species of Dipper that is common on almost every local river (upstream at least).

I've seen Dippers in Europe, Nepal, the USA and Japan.3 species in all. I recall the first ones I ever saw: on a stream high up in the hills in the Lake District near a farm where my grandparents kept a caravan. Must have been over 40 years ago............

They appear to be difficult to photograph wherever they are though.

On this day (May 29th)................

May 29th 2015.

Common Eider at Seahouses 3 years ago today. This would look as exotic to japanese birders as Harlequin Ducks look to those based in the UK.................

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

May 28th 2015.

An Arctic Tern on the Farnes 3 years ago today. This one looks like butter wouldn't melt in its beak but I'm sure it was one of those which crapped all over me and pecked me on the top of the head mercilessly.............

That's that..............

A totally and utterly crap picture of an Oriental Honey Buzzard high in the sky near my apartment a couple of days ago. There were 2 of them, presumably just arrived from the south and slowly drifting over Hakodate..................the last of the spring migrants I guess.

The spring migration is just about over and it wasn't a vintage year. Maybe the weather wasn't helpful plus I was a  bit sick at thes start of the month or too busy to do much birding later on. Perhaps the autumn will compensate.......

At Kamiiso today there were a couple of Grey-tailed Tattlers, 1 Pintail, 2 Goosander and 2 Wigeon. Oriental Reed Warblers, Common Cuckoo, Siberian Stonechats and Chestnut-eared Buntings are singing on the outskirts of town but otherwise not much to report............

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

May 25th 2015.

An Avocet at Leighton Moss 3 years ago today. It's amazing this species has spread to NW England whilst I've been living in Japan. It hasn't made my J-list yet though.................

Lingering Spoonbill.........

The Spoonbill was still in the padis on Monday.............

Some more Narcs

There is a park just outside town that is good for Narcissus Flycatchers...................

Some more Tattlers...........

There were still some Grey-tailed Tattlers in town on Sunday............

All quiet on the western side...........

We headed west yesterday but it was pretty quiet...............