Paddy Fields in Sakura

My new bird-watching friends living in Sakura asked me out to see Grey-tailed Tattlers and Whimbrels on paddy fields near their places.

Grey-tailed Tattlers (Kiashishigiキアシシギ)

Whimbrels (Chushakushigiチュウシャクシギ)

Both species are migratory birds and only stop over on the paddy fields around here in spring. Unfortunately, the paddy fields in Japan have no water when they are on their way back south in autumn.

The estuaries, mudflats and beaches in Japan have become catastrophic as habitats for wildlife, and paddy fields have started to attract attention as important areas for wildlife. Some wildlife-friendly projects, such as 'Fuyumizu-tambo' in which the rice farmers keep water even after harvesting the rice so that wintering waterfowl can have extra places to rest and forage, and 'Tageri-mai' in which the rice farmers keep their paddy fields as wildlife friendly as possible especially in favour of wintering Tageri 'Lapwings', have been developed and hopefully, it will be acknowleged and supported by many more people.

Amami Oshima 3

Amami is a larger island than many people imagine and has a variety of landscapes which sustain a wide range of creatures.

paddy fields

vegetable patches and a papaya tree

primary forest - jungle!

rock pools

secondary forest

the sea before a storm

Mangrove forests, estuaries, cliffs, sugar cane fields, the strait between Amami and the Kakeroma Island, beaches are also in and around the island and each of the habitat has interesting and unique creatures in it.  


a male Falcated Duck (Yoshigamoヨシガモ) in the paddy fields

a lone Richard's Pipit (Mamijirotahibariマミジロタヒバリ) on grass in one of the many little fishing ports

a Marsh Sandpiper (Koaoashishigiコアオアシシギ)

Pacific Golden Plovers (Munaguroムナグロ)

Coots (Oobanオオバン) and ducks

Coots and Pacific Golden Plovers

It felt a bit strange to see Teals (Kogamoコガモ), Spotbilled Ducks (Karugamoカルガモ) and Shovelers (Hashibirogamoハシビロガモ) foraging together with Coots and waders on the rockpools.
We also saw a couple of Ospreys (Misagoミサゴ) at the same spot.

When we were looking for Barred Buttonquail (Mifuuzuraミフウズラ) in the sugarcane fields, we were lucky to see a male Elegant Bunting (Miyamahojiroミヤマホオジロ) but no luck for the buttonquail.

Tokyo Bay Area

3 Grey-tailed Tattlers (Kiashishigiキアシシギ) were on the breakwater concrete blocks.

They were just standing there and I didn't see them move for a while. Waiting for the right moment?

Turnstones (Kyojoshigiキョウジョシギ) were, on the other hand, busy moving around on the rocks and concrete blocks.

Cormorants (Kawauカワウ) were resting and drying their feathers.

A lone female Scaup (Suzugamoスズガモ) was floating among the waves. All her friends must have left a while ago. She can't fly or just decided to stay longer?

Little Terns (Koajisashiコアジサシ) were preening on the buoys. They come to Japan to breed and a few pairs have bred on the artificial beaches around Chiba-shi. I hope they stay here to breed this summer again.

Kemigawa no Hama

I went to Kemigawa no Hama to check if there is any sign of the Little Tern. Sadly, I saw no terns but other birds pleased me on the beach and on land.

A lone Grey-tailed Tattler (Kiashishigiキアシシギ) was foraging on rocks by a pier.

I walked slowly and slowly to get closer to him, but he didn't seem to mind much.

very intricate patterns in a closer look

A lone Turnstone (Kyojoshigiキョウジョシギ) was on the other side of the pier, foraging.

He was on his own too so he often looked up to check if there would be any danger.

He also has a beautiful summer plumage.

Rather gentle begging-like calls somewhere in the park caught my attention. There was a Thick-billed Crow's nest (Hashibutogarasuハシブトガラス) with 3 chicks in it.

A parent flew into a tree near me, looking a bit alert so I just took one shot and left them in peace. (The Thick-billed Crow are famous for their agressiveness when they have chicks. I was lucky not to get my head kicked!)

A huge flock of Cormorants (Kawauカワウ) were flying out on the sea.

The number of them was 1,200 or more!! (It was quite hard only through my bins)

I thought they were shearwaters, but an aqueintance of mine, who is an ornithologist, told me they were cormorants. A bit disappointed, not that I don't like cormorants but that shearwaters are rarer.

I don't think I'll ever get used to the ugly, disgusting views of Tokyo Bay in the background...

Yatsuhigata (from the windows of the observation centre)

On the freshwater pond by the observation centre, many Teals (Kogamoコガモ) were feeding, having a bath, preening or having a rest. They are always the first ones to arrive on the way to their winter migration grounds.

The freshwater pond was covered with Water Velvet (Akaukikusaアカウキクサ), which is an aquatic plant in the fern family. 

 
There was an Intermediate Egret (Chusagiチュウサギ) with other herons & egrets.

from the left - Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ), Little Egret (Kosagiコサギ), Intermediate Egret (Chusagiチュウサギ)

two Little Egrets (Kosagiコサギ) & a Great Egret (Daisagiダイサギ)


Towards the closing time for the day, a Common Sandpiper (Isoshigiイソシギ) and a Pintail (Onagagamoオナガガモ) landed on the narrow shore by the observation centre. 

And as we were just about to leave, the ranger told us a young Greenshank (Aoashishigiアオアシシギ) had turned up on the freshwater pond.

He is rather a fast eater...!