After cruising

After birding cruising, I went to see land birds.

Skylarks came back to Hokkaido.

Although White-fronted Geese also came Hokkaido, it was still snow.

Whooper Swan.

Yuhutu cruising

I organized bird cruising in Yuhutu, Tomakomai.

Some Brünnich's Guillemots were seen.

These individuals were very near.
I saw some two-individual-flock of this species.
I don't know whether they are pair.
It is impossible to distinguish their sex.

I was surprised to see Spectacled Guillemot, two individuals were seen.
This species breeds in sea of Okhots and sea of Japan at sea side cliff habitat, but there is no habitat around here, so I've not hear they bleed around here.

I could take photo of flying.

And I was also surprised was Pigeon Guillemot, one individual went along with Spectacled Guillemot.

A lot of Least Auklets were seen in this cruising, but they were so shy to fly away as soon as I found.

I will organize this cruising next month, it expect more auks, shearwaters, and albatrosses.

All photos in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 28/Mar/2010.

Raptors in Ishikari

It was snowy in Toubetu-town which was a raptor observation spot at 27/Mar.

A adult White-tailed Sea Eagle was mobbed by pair of Black Kite.

They relentlessly attack the eagle, did they make their nest around here?

And I found a female Merlin.

It was seemed to be relax. This photo is its yawing.

It started grooming.

Turn!!

All photos in Tobetu town, Hokkaido. 27/Mar/2010.

Oarai-Tomakomai Ferry

Ferry on the way back, I could see many Brünnich's Guillemots.

But it was so far to take photo.

And I saw two flocks of Crested Auklets (the distance was long....).

I met Australian birder who went to eastern Hokkaido.

Penguin?

Black-crowned Night Heron is a nocturnal bird.

It is a little difficult to see this species during the day.

But I know a observation spot.

The spot is

the ZOO.

At Ueno zoological park, Tokyo, "wild" Night Herons can be seen in Penguins exhibition.

They are waiting for penguins' food and try to steal.

 In other birds, Black-tailed Gull and Grey Heron (it was not in this day) can be seen.

Of course Penguins can be observed.

Sambanze

I went to Sanbanze which was famous tideland for shorebirds in Chiba prefecture.

Hundreds of Dunlins.

The distance from birds was so long, I could not take photos of near shot.
This photo is Far eastern Curlew.
I could see Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit,  Sanderling, and Kentish Plover.

Little Egret.

Water Pipits foraged around horbor.


There was a narrow reed habitat in Sambanze, Reed Bunting and Fan-tailed Wabler stayed occurred.

Male Reed Buntings started turning to summer plumage, many camera-mans tried to take photo of them because Reed Bunting regarded as a winter bird around Tokyo.
But I live in Hokkaido, this species is a summer bird in Hokkaido. I didn't have so interest for this species.
I had much interest for Fan-tailed Wabler which did not distribute in Hokkaido.

I heard a female Bufflehead stayed in this place.
I could see, but it was enough for seeing through scope but so far for camera.

A female Bufflehead with canoe.

Black-necked Grebe turned to summer plumage.

All photos in Chiba prefecture. 14 or 19/Mar/ 2010.

Tomakomai-Oarai ferry

In this week, I stay in Tokyo. For transportation, I chose ferry to see birds.

I met a Hong-Kong birder in this ferry and did birding together.

 Streaked Sheawaters came back in this area.

Most birds changed to summer plumage.

Rhinoceros Auklets.

In Fukushima area we could see many Murrelets, Ancient and Japanese.

Ancient Murrelets.

Japanese Murrelet.
I felt the occurrence ratio of Ancient:Japanese = 7:3.

Other birds I saw were Diver sp, Slaty-backed Gull, Black-backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Red-necked Phalarope.

The Hong Kong birder will go to Bonin Island, so his accommodation was Hamamatu-cho which was near port of Bonin ferry.
But he booked Hotel in Hamamatu...
Hamamatu-cho and Hamamatu are different.
Hamamatu-cho is in Tokyo but Hamamatu is a city of Shizuoka prefecture.
It is difficult for not foreigner but Japanese...

Nemuro

A Canvasback was at fishery port in Nemuro.

I went to Nosappu cape which was famous view point of sea birds from land.
I could find Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Least Auklet, Spectacled Guilmot, Pelagic Cormorant, and Red-faced Cormorant and seals: Harbor Seal and Spotted Seal, but I couldn't take photos of them because it was so far.

In Onnemoto port, I found Rock Sandpiper but it was too far....

Eagles in Notuke

In the end of February, many eagles were in Notuke.

White-tailed Sea Eagle.

Stellar Sea Eagle.