North Hokkaido 2018 #2

We stayed on one of our favourite campsites in north Hokkaido for the 5th year in a row...........

North Hokkaido 2018 #1

Not a good photo at all but this roadside Northern Hobby near Asahikawa was taken just after sunrise at the start of a short camping trip we just returned from.

The weather wasn't great for most of the trip and we drove north through rain and dark skies. Hobby is always a nice bird to see though and one I rarely get to photograph.

More posts to follow after I sort through my photos.

On this day (July 12th).........................

July 12th 2015

A Lanceolated Warbler at Mukawa 3 years ago today. This species isn't found near Hakodate: this may be the nearest place it breeds. It was a lifer at the time although I've seen some since.............

On this day (July 10th)...............

July 10th 2011.

A Chinese (Swinhoes) Egret in Kikonai 7 years ago today.

Not a good photo, this is pretty much a 100% crop but it does show a bit of a rarity. It remains the only one I've ever seen in my life.............

July begins............

July is generally the quietest month for birds in south Hokkaido.............

Slow time a comin'

The slow season is approaching. The weather forecast is awful the next week too and of course the World Cup is on (Germany-ha!)................

Still there, still cute...........

The Red Fox family was still around last Sunday.............

Some June Ospreys

The regular nesting site out west has produced 2 young this year................

Some more KPs

The Kentish Plovers were still watching over their young on Monday....................

More from a grey Sunday..........

Just common stuff at this time of year..............

Some summer pondlife

It was very dark in Onuma on Sunday....................

Ospreys on a grey Sunday

Sunday was a grim day..........................

More gold in the gloom

The Narcissus Flycatchers were still in the park last Saturday....................

Summer begins..........

Despite the cool temperatures it is definitely summer in the birding world............

On this day (June 16th)..........

June 16th 2014.

A female Ural Owl in Onuma 4 years ago today. I don't often see adults except in their roosting holes (and I haven't found such a hole for a couple of years anyway). This one was watching ovver its fledglings high in the trees.........

Some more foxes

My wife wanted to photograph some baby foxes............

Some Narcs in the gloom

Just outside town there is a park which is good for Narcissus Flycatchers.................

A very grey June weekend.............

Some rotten weather at the weekend...............

Stonechats in the typhoon

An early typhoon just passed by Hokkaido................

Newborns

The grasslands to the north of town always seem to have a lot of Red Foxes and in late May/early June they leave the den.............

We saw 2 or 3 families and one bold cub even took a walk down the side of the road..........