Tokyo Bay Area

3 Grey-tailed Tattlers (Kiashishigiキアシシギ) were on the breakwater concrete blocks.

They were just standing there and I didn't see them move for a while. Waiting for the right moment?

Turnstones (Kyojoshigiキョウジョシギ) were, on the other hand, busy moving around on the rocks and concrete blocks.

Cormorants (Kawauカワウ) were resting and drying their feathers.

A lone female Scaup (Suzugamoスズガモ) was floating among the waves. All her friends must have left a while ago. She can't fly or just decided to stay longer?

Little Terns (Koajisashiコアジサシ) were preening on the buoys. They come to Japan to breed and a few pairs have bred on the artificial beaches around Chiba-shi. I hope they stay here to breed this summer again.

Early May in Chiba

There is not so much of a dawn chorus in May in Chiba as there is in Britain because there are not many songbirds breeding around here, but there are lots of activities going on among the thick leaves which already have grown.

An Azure-winged Magpie's nest

a flock of Azure-winged Magpie (Onagaオナガ) foraging in a tree and on the ground

a female Japanese Sparrowhawk (Tsumiツミ) calling

a pair at a different location

In Japan, Azure-winged Magpies are known to build their nests in the territory of a breeding pair of Japanese Sparrowhawks in order to avoid nest predation, mainly by Thick-billed Crows. Japanese Sparrowhawks probably benefit from it as the Magpies are colonial communal breeders and very vocal so they could be like an alarm system.

Oriental Turtle Doves (Kijibatoキジバト)

 a family of Long-tailed Tits (Enagaエナガ）

They were still so fluffy!!

A male Meadow Bunting was singing by a small pond.

It will be more lively soon as chicks start leaving their nests:)

Aoba no Mori Koen

The migratory season has arrived and I went to the park early in the morning, expecting to see/hear some birds on migration.

Yippee!! I heard 2 Narcissius Flycatchers singing!! Although I could not get close enough to them to take a photo, it was worth getting up at an ungodly hour:)

There were plenty of birds singing or foraging just after dawn.

Hawfinch (Shimeシメ) - they were everywhere in the park, nibbling new shoots (and whatever was good for them!), to get enough energy before they start their journey to the breeding grounds.

Some Bramblings (Atoriアトリ) were among the Hawfinch. I thought they all had already gone, so it was a great surprise.

A Japanese Wagtail (Segurosekireiセグロセキレイ) was busy hunting insects on the grass.

A pair of Little Grebes (Kaitsuburiカイツブリ) had some eggs in their nest!

Very noisy calls came from the bamboo thicket and there they were!
Long-tailed Tit (Enagaエナガ) fledglings.

It was warm even before 7 in the morning and when it got warmer lots of insects started buzzing around.

a beautiful Old-world Swallowtail (Kiagehakiキアゲハ)

Inage Park in April

It has suddenly become more like summer than spring, and all the birdlife is getting very active.

Brown-eared Bulbuls (Hiyodoriヒヨドリ) are making the most of the Cherry blossoms - they love the nectar.

Long-tailed Tit (Enagaエナガ)

Grey Starling (Mukudoriムクドリ)

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Kogeraコゲラ)

Olive-backed Pipit (Binzuiビンズイ)

Oriental Turtle Dove (Kijibatoキジバト)

The park is situated on the edge of Inage ward, which used to be the coastline before it was reclaimed. Pine trees were lined alongside the coast as windbreaks from the bay. Some of those pine trees are still kept and well maintained in Inage Park.

Inage Kaihin Koen

It was a lovely morning and I had wanted to see my first swallow of the year after many birding friends told me that they had already seen theirs so I cycled down to Inage Kaihin Koen (Inage Coastal Park) with hope:)

Only a few minutes standing by the water, I was welcomed by 2 Swallows! Hooray!
(no photo though)

There were still some wintering ducks and grebes in the bay.

Greater Scaup (Suzugamoスズガモ)

Great Crested Grebe (Kammurikaitsuburiカンムリカイツブリ)

Eurasian Wigeon (Hidorigamoヒドリガモ)

A few hundred of them were present.

Yacht Harbour

Coot (Oobanオオバン)

On the grass in the park, a flock of Grey Starling (Mukudoriムクドリ) were foraging.

Dusky Thrushes (Tsugumiツグミ) were fuelling up before the long flight.

A Skylark (Hibariヒバリ) was singing in the sky and flowers were coming out - It's SPRING!