Yatsuhigata II

Some wintering ducks arrived in Yatsuhigata and I saw Pintails and Teals on that day.

Teals (Kogamoコガモ) were busy dabbling on the surface of the mud. 

The light wasn't great for taking photos but they came quite close to the embankment.

Males are now in eclipse plumage so it was quite hard to identify them as a male or female.
(especially when their bills were coated in mud!!)

A flock of Pintails (Onagagamoオナガガモ) was in the middle of the pool.

There were not so many waders as I'd thought there'd be. Autumn migration is towards the end.

A lone Ringed Plover (Hajirokochidoriハジロコチドリ) was foraging at low tide.

Ringed Plovers are spotted in Chiba far more infrequently than Little Ringed Plovers so I must say I was very lucky*)

A Great Knot (Obashigiオバシギ) was foraging with other waders.

Grey Plovers (Daizenダイゼン) and Dunlins (Hamashigiハマシギ) are the two main waders which stay and winter here in Yatsuhigata.

 a Grey Plover

a bit artistic??

The water was gradually coming in through the very narrow waterways and suddenly all the cormorants, herons and egrets flew to one spot like it was a competition.

Fish, which were coming in with the tide, were stuck in shallow water and they had no chance against big eaters like those hungry birds!

By the time I got back to the north end of the mudflats, the water covered the whole area which was mudflats just half an hour ago.

A peregrine falcon flew in the sky and all went quiet.

a White Wagtail (Hakusekireiハクセキレイ)

Yatsuhigata I

The sky was very dull and grey, which wasn't a great day for birding but, anyway, there I was.

It was at low tide and many, many egrets and herons looked happy!
So did cormorants:)

a Great Egret (Daisagiダイサギ)

a Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ)

Black-winged Stilts (Seitakashigiセイタカシギ)

long legs!

A Black-tailed Gull (Uminekoウミネコ) flew towards me and landed only a few yards away from me.

Not to say hello to me but to find something on the pebble.

How on earth did you spot it from miles away?

He took the crab and dipped it in the water.

salty flavouring?


At the lowerst tide, the mudflats look totally different and rather deserted.

Huge numbers of Cormorants (Kawauカワウ) were chilling out with a couple of Grey Herons and Black-tailed Gulls:)

I went to the observatory to check the sighting board and to wait for the tide to come in.
He was the one who pleased me while I was having a cup of coffee:)

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...!

Yatsuhigata (on the mudflat)

The tide was coming in and it wasn't the greatest timing to see many waders but Yatsuhigata never bores you! 

On floating seaweeds, there were Red-necked Stints (Tounenトウネン) feeding or having a rest.

Cormorants (Kawauカワウ)

Black-tailed Gull (Uminekoウミネコ)

Little Grebes (Kaitsuburiカイツブリ)

A Black-winged Stilt (Seitakashigiセイタカシギ) & Teals (Kogamoコガモ)

A young Black-winged Stilt