The first signs of spring..............

The Black Necked Grebes are still in Kamiiso and one or two are starting to change into summer plumage as you can see..........................

On this day (February 26th)............................................

February 26th 2012

A Ural Owl in Onuma 3 years ago today. There are several holes where they appear in winter and this was a nice one close to the road. As the holes are invariably in dead trees their homes have a limited life.............this tree has since fallen and the Owls can no longer use it.

From Siberia?

A small flock of tired cold looking Dunlin were at Oshamanbe on Monday..................

Some ducks in a harbour..............

Some more pictures from Monday...................

Some more Bullfinches

Some Bullfinches at the start of a very long drive around SW Hokkaido.................

A grey Sunday in late February

Well you can see how the White Tailed Eagle got its name.

A walk to the beach

I had a few hours spare so I walked down the local river to the beach..............

A grey Monday in mid February

A Bohemian Waxwing in Mori this morning..................not a great photo: a grey sky, crappy angle and twigs in the way..........

Return of winter

A male Bullfinch in Kamiiso this afternoon...................

Bedraggled Rosy Finches

A very wet Asian Rosy Finch near Shikabe on Sunday afternoon................

Peregrine #2

After being harrassed by a Black Kite the Peregrine relocated to the beach................

Peregrine #1

A Peregrine at Sawara today.................

Last of the eagles................probably.

On Monday we went up to Yakumo......................

February begins

A low key start to February in Onuma...................

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

January 30th 2012

A drake Smew at Onuma 3 years ago today. Normally very shy I surprised this one (it was with a female) and he was so unsure what to do he didn't fly off for a few seconds allowing me to take this close up shot (only very slight cropping). Not perfect but much better than my recent efforts with this species.................just a shame it was so dark.

More tired arms........................

I spent more time at Yakumo on Monday.................

A Monday afternoon in Oshamanbe

We spent yesterday afternoon in Oshamanbe...............

An eagle assault

Some more shots from Sunday's visit to Yakumo................

An eagle up close.............

I spent a couple of hours in Yakumo this morning..................

A real mouthful

A quiet week (with very mild weather) is coming to an end...................