Saturday 27 January 2018

Japanese Grosbeak

I just looked up to see a Hawfinch (Shimeシメ) when I heard its calls, there were 3 Japanese Grosbeaks (Ikaruイカル) having a munch with the Hawfinch. It was the first time to see them in Chiba-shi for me so it was a pleasant surprise!






They were high up in the tree so all the pictures were of their bellies but this one.

I couldn't go back to check if they still stayed in the same area because the following day after I saw them was a record-breaking snowy day.
5 days later when I went back to the park there was no sign of them.
Wonder where they've gone...

Saturday 20 January 2018

Birds in Chiba

Dusky Thrush (Tsugumiツグミ)
listening to something underground:)

Grey Starling (Mukudoriムクドリ)



Hawfinch (Shimeシメ)




Female Bull-headed Shrike (Mozuモズ)
She decided to move behind all the branches... 

Friday 19 January 2018

Pujie's House

Pujie (溥傑), the younger brother of the last emperor of China, briefly lived in Chiba-shi with his wife, Hiro, in 1937 just after they got married. The house is well looked after by Chiba-shi and is open to the public for free.

  intricate carving in the main room
Pujie's writing
 The annex which Pujie used as his study
 inside the study
 
 Garden

Front door
Pujie and his wife would have lived there longer but the war made it impossible just like everything for everyone else at that time.


Oriental Greenfinches (Kawarahiwaカワラヒワ) in the adjacent park



Tuesday 16 January 2018

Recent Sightings in Chiba

Male Mallards' (Magamoマガモ)

Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ)

Black-crowned Night Herons (Goisagiゴイサギ)







Eastern Great Tit (Shijukaraシジュウカラ)






Sunday 14 January 2018

Dancing Scaly Thrush


Scaly Thrush

My first birdwathing in Chiba of the year rewarded me with this lovely bird:)



She noticed me but decided that I wouldn't bother her so she just carried on hunting worms.

A Scaly Thrush (Toratsugumiトラツグミ) is a rather large bird but look at her! All melted into the surroundings.

A Pale Thrush (Shiroharaシロハラ) was foraging only a few yards away from the Scaly Thrush.

They seemed to have found the most quiet part of the park so that they could enjoy their meals undisturbed:)