40± Tufted Ducks and 40± Black-headed Gulls have arrived for the winter.
Wednesday, 22 November 2017
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!
40± Tufted Ducks and 40± Black-headed Gulls have arrived for the winter.
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.
A small flock of Lapwings (Tageriタゲリ) was foraging on the ploughed paddyfields.
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, 5 November 2017
Autumnal Day
on a beautiful autumnal day in Mitsuwadai Park, Chiba
A flock of Eastern Great Tits (Shijukaraシジュウカラ) was busy foraging.
the answer:)
Saturday, 4 November 2017
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!
Falcated Duck (Yoshigamoヨシガモ)
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!
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
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.
Greater Scaup (Suzugamoスズガモ)
Great Crested Grebe (Kammuri-kaitsuburiカンムリカイツブリ)
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.
A lone Great Egret (Daisagiダイサギ) was stretching his neck.
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.
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