Tuesday 3 November 2020

A Big Round Trip

For the first time in many, many months, we got out of Chiba and headed for Hayama, Kanagawa and made a 'd'-shaped trip around the south part of the bay by car and ferry.

A lot of Black-eared Kites (Tobiトビ) welcomed us at the both ends of the ferry ride.


and Black-tailed gulls (Uminekoウミネコ) as well.

(this one had no foot... poor thing)

It took only 40 minutes from Kanaya, Chiba to Yokosuka, Kanagawa by ferry. We saw quite a few shearwaters shearing the water surface but sadly they were too far away for phototaking. 

 

The sea was very calm, maybe too calm for shearwaters?

At Enawan-higata (江奈湾干潟) in the Miura Peninsula (三浦半島), the mudflat we had expected to see was under water but it was a pleasant place just to walk around.

An old lady who was selling fishing bait threw something outside her hut, then as many as 30 kites were circling above her and swooped down to the ground to get their share.

Some decided to stay on the ground, pecked like a chicken and waited for another batch to come from the lady.



The harbour was an ideal place for White Wagtails (Hakusekireiハクセキレイ) and Blue Rock Thrush (Isohiyodoriイソヒヨドリ).


Near the reed beds, quite a big raft of ducks (Pintails (Onagagamoオナガガモ), Wigeons (Hidorigamoヒドリガモ) and Mallards (Magamoマガモ)) were calling and foraging. They must have arrived quite recently from their breeding grounds.

 


It was just so nice to get out of the house and feel fresh air, especially with birds:)


 Another beautiful morning in the Miura Peninsula🌞

After walking in the woods in the heart of the peninsula to see/hear Chinese Hwameis (Gabichoガビチョウ) (and we found them plenty!), we headed for a pond where someone posted about the sighting of grey buntings the day before. 

We weren't sure what sort of place it would be but it turned out to be a small but well managed nature reserve👍 


A female Daurian Redstart (Jobitakiジョウビタキ) was claiming her winter territory. 

lovely hedges which small creatures would love


We were looking for the habitat where grey buntings may/would find comfortable - in thick bamboo bushes.  Bingo! We heard them calling each other with a very subtle calls. There was no photo as the light wasn't good and they were just seen in between bamboo shrubs but we found them. Yay!

The other side of the bay was similar but different and we would like to come back again in different seasons.






Saturday 4 April 2020

A Calm Spring Morning


Spring!

Nobody ever thought the beginning of the year of 2020 would be like this. I'm really sorry for those who are suffering. In these strange times, spring has come just as usual. Barn Swallows (Tsubameツバメ) have arrived in Chiba!


A pair of them were working together hard to build their nest from scratch. (Some kind person has put the tray for their nest under their shop's canopy)👍

Sunday 12 January 2020

South Korea VII Royal Tombs

Cemeteries are always wildlife-friendly - little disturbance and lots of green.
Byoungwoo, our excellent bird guide, took us to one of the big royal tombs and we saw a lot of woodland birds there!

Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Akageraアカゲラ)

White-backed Woodpeckers (Ooakageraオオアカゲラ)

After a white-backed woodpecker pecked the tree a bit, a Grey-headed Woodpecker (Yamageraヤマゲラ) took over the place! what a bully!
a bit like Humpty Dumpty...


male Red-flanked Bluetail (Ruribitakiルリビタキ)

Nuthatch (Gojukaraゴジュウカラ)

male Elegant Bunting (Miyama-hoojiroミヤマホオジロ) or Yellow-throated Bunting

Jay (Kakesuカケス)

Water Deer (Kibanoroキバノロ)
Water deer are an endangered species in China but, according to Byoungwoo, they are thriving in South Korea. We saw them quite a few times although they are thought to be very shy. We may have been very lucky:)

King's tomb
The shrines and tombs for high class people have a stone corridor straight from the main shrine building, which is apparently a path for the sacred spirits to be led to the shrine. Interesting.

Korean lunch - dried cod soup & kimchi & little dishes
Korean light supper - cold noodles with chili paste covered with nori seaweed


Thanks to Byoungwoo, we really had a great time in South Korea. Nearly 60 species of birds in two days, some of which were lifers for us. It is a very good number considering the fact that Japan and Korea share many species. And of course we totally enjoyed his excellent choice of Korean cuisine as well!

Byoungwoo's Birding Korea site is here:
https://www.birdingkorea.com/

Saturday 11 January 2020

South Korea VI The Han River

On the way to Cheorwon, we stopped at several locations where Byoungwoo, our guide, showed us wonderful Korean birds.

The mighty Han River
Byoungwoo spotted a pair of Scaly-sided Merganser (Kourai-aisaコウライアイサ) in the middle of the river, which was too far for a photo. Argh!

BUT! There were plenty of other birds for us to watch.
Whooper Swans (Oohakuchoオオハクチョウ) - a lot of them!

A raft of Goldeneyes (Hoojirogamoホオジロガモ)
 One of them flew towards us and swam away:)

Whooper Swans, Taiga Bean Geese (Oohishikuiオオヒシクイ) and Mallard (Magamoマガモ)

familiar Spot-billed Ducks (Karugamoカルガモ) & Eurasian Teals (Kogamoコガモ)

This handsome male Daurian Redstart (Jobitakiジョウビタキ) was foraging in the shrub by the river.


At another location by the Han

We were lucky to see two species of eagles!

Steller's Sea Eagle (Oowashiオオワシ) taken by Byoungwoo. Awesome!
& a white-tailed eagle (Ojirowashiオジロワシ) with no photo.

In the river below the eagles were some sawbills.
Common Mergansers (Kawa-aisaカワアイサ)
Smews (miko-aisaミコアイサ)

It was only a couple of hours after our birding trip started but we already saw quite a few lovely birds by the river, thanks to Byoungwoo.

Byoungwoo's bird guide site:
https://www.birdingkorea.com/