Nihon Ike

I just popped in around Nihon Ike again to see the Shoveller (Hashibirogamoハシビロガモ) there.

Good!

On the rail and the little island in the pond, there were more than 50 Tree Sparrows (Suzumeスズメ) tweeting loudly.

A Brown-eared Bulbul (Hiyodoriヒヨドリ) was pecking on the ground where someone had scattered some kind of grain.

Something moved on a fork of a tree.

He startled me and I did him:)

A Pale Thrush (Shiroharaシロハラ) was drinking water stored in a gap on the tree.

An Eastern Great Tit (Shijukaraシジュウカラ) was singing! 

Ecology Park (again!)

Gorgeous Falcated Ducks have been seen frequently on Funada-ike in the Ecology Park this winter. They showed themselves really well in the early morning on 24th Jan then retreated into the reedbeds for the day.

Pretty little Teals (Kogamoコガモ) have been staying here as well.
The fourth from the left was the only female seen for the last couple of weeks.

A Kabuki actor-like Hawfinch (Shimeシメ）was happily (?) foraging under the pine trees.

When I'm lucky, I can see as many as 20 odd species in the Ecology Park. On that day, I counted 25, including a Varied Tit (Yamagaraヤマガラ), Japanese Bush Warbler (Uguisuウグイス), Daurian Redstart (Jobitakiジョウビタキ) and a couple of Pale Thrushes (Shiroharaシロハラ). 

Ecology Park

One morning after snowfall, an unexpected visitor turned up in the Ecology Park.

A Buzzard (Nosuriノスリ) was the centre of the mayhem early in the morning.

He stayed on the same perch by Funada-ike for half an hour or so, didn't seem to be bothered by the crows mobbing him, then flew off somewhere.

He, on the other hand, is a regular and a star of the park. 

 male Kingfisher (Kawasemiカワセミ)

Do Not Disturb...
 Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ)

Oriental Turtle Dove (Kijibatoキジバト)

In the late afternoon, hundreds of Grey Starlings (Mukudoriムクドリ) came to bathe and drink at the lake and

stayed in the trees by the lake, preening and chatting until going back to their roost.

Just Round the Corner

In a tiny local playground, this lovely bird showed herself really well when the kids were at school.

A female Daurian Redstart (Jobitakiジョウビタキ) went down on the ground for a few seconds and then flew back to where she had been.

She is often seen perching in the same place, obviously one of her favourite parks when it's quiet:)

Waterfowl in Akanehama

Akanehama, once a beautiful beach, now a concrete covered shore, is, oddly enough, a hot place for watching wintering waterfowl.

a male Wigeon (Hidorigamoヒドリガモ)  and his Mrs?

 a female Gadwall (Okayoshigamoオカヨシガモ), male Teal (Kogamoコガモ) and female Teal?

a female Teal and...

is he a Slavonian Grebe (Mimikaitsuburiミミカイツブリ) or Black-necked Grebe (Hajirokaitsuburiハジロカイツブリ)?

Pochards (Hoshihajiroホシハジロ)

a huge raft of Pochards

A few hundred (or maybe over a thousand) Great Crested Grebes (Kanmurikaitsuburiカンムリカイツブリ) are out in the sea, only visible through a scope.

Tokyo Bay is famous for Greater Scaups (Suzugamoスズガモ), who winter there every year in great numbers.

When a small fishing boat startled them, all went up in the air, which was a stunning view. 

Akanehama is a 15 minute walk from the Shin-narashino Station on the JR Keiyo-line.

New Year's Day Birding in Sarue Koen

The year of 2014 started with a gorgeous sunny day and with lots of birds in Sarue Koen.

Tufted Ducks (Kinkurohajiroキンクロハジロ), Spot-billed Ducks (Karugamoカルガモ), Pintails (Onagagamoオナガガモ) and Black-headed Gulls (Yurikamomeユリカモメ) in a small pond.

Black-headed Gulls are winter birds in the Kanto area.

The pond doesn't particularly look like a bird-friendly one but those birds come and stay there every winter. 

One of the most common birds in Japan: Tree Sparrows (Suzumeスズメ).

A Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ)
and Cormorant (Kawauカワウ) in a canal adjacent to the park

Grey Starlings (Mukudoriムクドリ) on the wires













 Can you spot the odd one out? 

akemashite omedeto gozaimasu!

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!