Chiba Park

On my way back from the lovely day out on the paddyfields, I stopped by at the pond in Chiba Park and was welcomed by this gorgeous female Kingfisher (Kawasemiカワセミ):)

40± Tufted Ducks and 40± Black-headed Gulls have arrived for the winter.

Somebody started feeding them on the other side of the pond and everyone tried not to be left behind!

Paddyfields near Inbanuma

2 new birdwatching friends asked me out to their fields near Inbanuma, Narita-shi, Chiba and we had a wonderful few hours out on the paddyfields.

A small flock of Lapwings (Tageriタゲリ) was foraging on the ploughed paddyfields.

Lapwings flying, a Grey Starling (Mukudoriムクドリ) posing on the pole, three Water Pipits (Tahibariタヒバリ) sitting on the wire.

5 Pacific Golden Plovers (Munaguroムナグロ) were foraging on the same paddyfield where the Lapwings had been. They looked like juveniles but one of them had a beautiful golden tint on its back.

Hundreds of Oriental Greenfinches (Kawarahiwaカワラヒワ) were on the wires and on the fields.

 Some were even singing just like they'd do in spring!

Water Pipits were everwhere, so were Skylarks (no photo).

On the way back to the station, we stopped by the lake (Inbanuma) to see if there were ducks on it and there they were! There were not only ducks but some Great Crested Grebes and Black-necked (or Slavonian?) Grebes as well.

And Cormorants (Kawauカワウ) were drying themselves over the water.
The ducks behind the cormorants were probably Greater Scaups but I'm not 100% sure.

Other interesting sightings: Common Snipes, Grey Herons, Dusky Thrushes, Bull-headed Shrikes, Japanese & White Wagtails, Meadow Buntings, Eastern Marsh Harriers, Buzzards, Black-eared Kites, an Osprey fishing!, and thousands of Tree Sparrows.

Autumnal Day

on a beautiful autumnal day in Mitsuwadai Park, Chiba

Can you see a grasshopper?

A flock of Eastern Great Tits (Shijukaraシジュウカラ) was busy foraging.

the answer:)

Ecology Park

After two typhoons, the water level of Funada-ike pond has been higher than ever, and probably because of that, there have been lots of visitors showing themselves well from the hide.

Falcated Duck (Yoshigamoヨシガモ)

In eclipse plumage, it is hard to tell the difference between female and male.

Shoveler (Hashibirogamoハシビロガモ)

Pochard (Hoshihajiroホシハジロ)

Coot (Oobanオオバン), Pochard and Teal (Kogamoコガモ)

Mallard (Magamoマガモ), Gadwall (Okayoshigamoオカヨシガモ) and Little Grebe (Kaitsuburiカイツブリ)

A male Mandarin Duck (Oshidoriオシドリ) was there as well but very shy. He didn't come into the open.

Great Egret (Daisagiダイサギ)

Varied Tits (Yamagaraヤマガラ) were very vocal near the visitor centre and came right up to me!

Sanderlings in Akanehama

Akanehama

In Akanehama, one of the good birdwatching spots for the wintering birds, many birds have already arrived as expected.

Greater Scaup (Suzugamoスズガモ)

Thousands of them have arrived and most of them were floating a bit far away from the shore but these ones were resting at the river mouth in a small group.

Great Crested Grebe (Kammuri-kaitsuburiカンムリカイツブリ)

A few hundred or even a thousand have arrived all in winter plumage.

Under the ugly concrete breakwater blocks, an underwater stream was coming out and a lots of ducks and other birds seemed to be having a feast.

There were Coots (Oobanオオバン), Wigeons (Hidorigamoヒドリガモ), Teals (Kogamoコガモ), Black-headed Gulls (Yurikamomeユリカモメ) and several Greater Scaups in that huge gathering.

A lone Great Egret (Daisagiダイサギ) was stretching his neck.

Suddenly he jumped and skimmed the water surface with his long beak while flying.
I'd never seen an egret hunting in such an agile manner!

A Vega Gull (Segurokamomeセグロカモメ) found a lucky snack!

Sanderlings (Miyubishigiミユビシギ) appreciated the small sandy 'beach' area.

I expected to see more Cormorants (Kawauカワウ) but this one was the only one on that day.

Wintering birds were found on land as well.

Daurian Redstart (Jobitakiジョウビタキ) female

Bull-headed Shrike (Mozuモズ) male

More and more wintering birds will be arriving and some will stay in this area. I'd like to go back there in a month or so to see if I can find new arrivals.

Singapore in September IV

Scaly-breasted Munia (Shimakimparaシマキンパラ) - resident

Feeding time! 
A man was feeding birds in a park and lots of Tree Sparrows, Scaly-breasted Munia, Common Mynah (not in the picture) and Zebra Doves were taking advantage of the opportunity.

They can be found on the forest edges as well as in the urban parks.

Red Junglefowl (Sekishoku-yakeiセキショクヤケイ) - resident
a female foraging amongst the trees

A male foraging in a residential area

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Seaka-hanadoriセアカハナドリ) - resident

 He picked out the very red berry, crushed it, and ate only the juicy pulp.

The flowerpeckers are very small and fast moving birds so I was lucky to meet one that stayed at the same spot long enough for me to take photos of him.


Stork-billed Kingfisher (Kohashi-shobinコウハシショウビン) - resident

Despite its size - around 40cm, which is almost the same size as a woodpigeon, though the kingfisher is not that plump:) - and the stunning colours, they are hard to find. They blend well into the colourful background.


White-breasted Waterhen (Shiroharakuinaシロハラクイナ) - resident

You can spot one or two without fail if you are close to water. Some of them living in parks are so used to humans that they just walk past in front of you as if you don't exist.


Yellow-vented Bulbul (Meguro-hiyodoriメグロヒヨドリ) - resident

One of the most successful bulbuls in Southeast Asia. They normally fly around in a family flock and are very vocal.


Swiflets
There are 3 very common swiflets found in Singapore - Glossy, Black-nest, and Germain's Swiflet,  and they are almost impossible to identify when flying.

Grey-rumped Treeswift (Kammuri-amatsubameカンムリアマツバメ), House Swifts (Hime-amatsubameヒメアマツバメ), Asian Palm Swifts (Ajia-yashi-amatsubameアジアヤシアマツバメ) are occasionally flying amongst them, so you can't just ignore them!


We had 2 full days with our excellent guide, Kim Seng, and managed to see/hear over 80 species of birds. If you have plan to do some birding in Singapore, even for a couple of hours, with a professional guide, Kim Seng is your man!
http://www.birdingsg.com/about-me.html



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Other interesting wildlife in Singapore

a Monitor in the tree!

So comical to see one so relaxed in a tree! 

Common Fruit Bats

Butterflies

Centipede vs Ants

Sumatran Gliding Lizard

Wagler's Pit Viper

Lovely sunset☆