A Big Round Trip

For the first time in many, many months, we got out of Chiba and headed for Hayama, Kanagawa and made a 'd'-shaped trip around the south part of the bay by car and ferry.

A lot of Black-eared Kites (Tobiトビ) welcomed us at the both ends of the ferry ride.

and Black-tailed gulls (Uminekoウミネコ) as well.

(this one had no foot... poor thing)

It took only 40 minutes from Kanaya, Chiba to Yokosuka, Kanagawa by ferry. We saw quite a few shearwaters shearing the water surface but sadly they were too far away for phototaking. 

 

The sea was very calm, maybe too calm for shearwaters?

At Enawan-higata (江奈湾干潟) in the Miura Peninsula (三浦半島), the mudflat we had expected to see was under water but it was a pleasant place just to walk around.

An old lady who was selling fishing bait threw something outside her hut, then as many as 30 kites were circling above her and swooped down to the ground to get their share.

Some decided to stay on the ground, pecked like a chicken and waited for another batch to come from the lady.

The harbour was an ideal place for White Wagtails (Hakusekireiハクセキレイ) and Blue Rock Thrush (Isohiyodoriイソヒヨドリ).

Near the reed beds, quite a big raft of ducks (Pintails (Onagagamoオナガガモ), Wigeons (Hidorigamoヒドリガモ) and Mallards (Magamoマガモ)) were calling and foraging. They must have arrived quite recently from their breeding grounds.

 

It was just so nice to get out of the house and feel fresh air, especially with birds:)

 Another beautiful morning in the Miura Peninsula🌞

After walking in the woods in the heart of the peninsula to see/hear Chinese Hwameis (Gabichoガビチョウ) (and we found them plenty!), we headed for a pond where someone posted about the sighting of grey buntings the day before. 

We weren't sure what sort of place it would be but it turned out to be a small but well managed nature reserve👍 

A female Daurian Redstart (Jobitakiジョウビタキ) was claiming her winter territory. 

lovely hedges which small creatures would love

We were looking for the habitat where grey buntings may/would find comfortable - in thick bamboo bushes.  Bingo! We heard them calling each other with a very subtle calls. There was no photo as the light wasn't good and they were just seen in between bamboo shrubs but we found them. Yay!

The other side of the bay was similar but different and we would like to come back again in different seasons.

Hamada-gawa, Makuhari

This pretty Blue Rock Thrush (Isohiyodoriイソヒヨドリ) was singing under a road on which there was heavy traffic.

She blended into the background...!

At the rivermouth, a lone Black-tailed Gull (Uminekoウミネコ) was on the concrete embankment and near him there were about 30 Thick-billed Crows (Hashibutogarasu ハシブトガラス) foraging on the grass.

I was expecting to see some diving ducks, which I heard have arrived in some places, but they were not yet around this harbour.

Many dragonflies flying over the thicket:

Amami Oshima 1

We had chosen Amami Oshima as our holiday destination in March and we are glad to have done so.

Amami Oshima is

situated about 800 miles southwest from Tokyo, kind of halfway between the southern-most tip of Kyushu and Okinawa, it is extraordinarily rich in nature.

Our first encounter on the island was the Blue Rock Thrush (Isohiyodoriイソヒヨドリ).

female

male

Common Sandpiper (Isoshigiイソシギ)

The Amami White-backed Woodpecker (Ooakageraオオアカゲラ) was far up the hill...

The Amami White-backed Woodpecker is still considered as a subspecies of the White-backed Woodpecker but could be seperated from it eventually.

We wished to see them once more but no luck...

Grey-faced Buzzard (Sashibaサシバ)

They were seen absolutely everywhere, perching on the telegraph poles, electric wires, trees and sometimes on the ground after they'd caught something. We were told that the buzzard is a winter bird in Amami and that it would disappear in a month or so till next autumn.

We saw only a few Kestrels (Chogemboチョウゲンボウ) during our stay.

There must be enough insects, reptiles, mice and other small living creatures to sustain so many birds of prey and other birds on the island:)


We had an experienced, enthusiastic guide, Mr Nagae, from Amami-shizen-gakko (Amami Nature School) for a day. He is an Amami boy born and bred and has a wide range of interests and knowledge - nature, cultural heritages, food, fishing ... basically anything on the island. If anyone has a plan to visit Amami Ohshima, we'd recommend him as your guide! You'll definitely have fun! 

The Sumida River

One hot and humid morning (well, it is the norm in Japan in July), I decided to go for a walk on the Sumida River in eastern Tokyo to look for Black-tailed Gulls (Uminekoウミネコ).

A few Black-tailed gulls were flying up and down over the river.

This one was there for a long time, its head against the wind.

Yanagibashi Bridge over the Kandagawa canal

On both sides under the concrete embankment, 2 Grey Herons (Aosagiアオサギ) and a Great Egret (Daisagiダイサギ) were standing still like decoys.

Grey Herons and Cormorants (Kawauカワウ) were resting on a concrete slab.

Two Thick-billed Crow (Hashibutogarasuハシブトガラス) fledglings were waiting for their parent to bring food for them on the girder of the motorway.

A Blue Rock Thrush (Isohiyodoriイソヒヨドリ) fledgling was hunting insects on its own. It still had a little bit of yellow on the side of its beak.

It was really hot (over 30 degrees) but strong winds were blowing over the river and as long as the winds kept blowing it was not too bad for walking.

It looks as if there is no life at all in the hostile-looking environment, but, if you look for it, interesting lives are everywhere! 

River-mouth of the Hamada

There were about 90 Black-headed Gulls (Yurikamomeユリカモメ) floating, pecking, flying and arguing by the vent.

I didn't see any other types of gull and I was wondering why.

Some brave ducks were trying to get their share.

Gadwalls (Okayoshigamoオカヨシガモ)

Ducks and coots away from the gulls looked rather relaxed in the winter sun.

a Greater Scaup (Suzugamoスズガモ)

 Wigeons (Hidorigamoヒドリガモ)

a Teal (Kogamoコガモ）

A male Blue Rock Thrush (Isohiyodoriイソヒヨドリ) was watching the feast from the bank.

A noisy family of Azure-winged Magpies (Onagaオナガ) found some berries in the trees by the water.

I am really glad that I decided to take the walk on that day.



PLEASE sign the petition for the Gyotoku Bird Observatory:
http://birdinginjapan.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/help-gyotoku-bird-observatory-in-crisis.html