April cruise

I organized Tomakomai cruise, my first time held in April. Though I could not expect species observed in this time, it became good cruise.

Ancient Murrelet.




Hudreds of Short-tailed Shearwaters migrated to east.

Summer plumage of Long tail duck which is difficult to see in Hokkaido.

Flock of Velver Scoter. I could observe them at short range. Scoters are very timid, run away as soon as the boat approaches. Was it mating?

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 22th/Apr/2012.

Confusing female wigeon

A confusing female Wigeon was in flock of Eurasian Wigeon at Mukawa (left one).
It is seemed to be a female American wigeon.
The feature of American is grayish head and white wind flap. But I didn't see its wind flap...
A male American Wigeon stayed here one month ago. This female was looked paired with Eurasian Wigeon (right one). Is it Hybrid?

Right one is Eurasian and left one is pending individual.



Common Scoter.

Mukawa, Hokkaido. 14th/Apr/2012.

Cruise in midwinter

I organized Tomakomai cruise in February.
This cruise was held under weak wind although winter tended to be rough around these sea area in general.

But there was less appearance of sea birds as much as we expected.

Though there was a number of Least Auk, one of main target of this cruise,  other auks we expected (Crested Auklet and Long-billed Murrelet) were not seen.

Black-throated Diver.

Fur seal.

Black Scoters before riding on boat.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 19th/Feb/2012.

Coast

Red-throated Loon stays around Tomakomai coast. We observed 100± of them.

Velvet Scotters were also observed over 100.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 29th/Oct/2011.

A family of Mandarin Duck

A pair of Mandarin Duck bleeds in Hokkaido University.
6 chicks followed their mother.


Sapporo, Hokkaido. 6th/Jun/2011.

Hybrid duck and more

A Mallard*Northern Pintail hybrid stays in pond of Tomakomai Experimental Forest several years ago in winter.

Japanese Wagtail is a common species in Japan, but there is a few individuals in Hokkaido, Tomakomai Experimental forest is spot to see this species in Hokkaido.

Stellar's Sea Eagle, I think this is final observation in this season in Mukawa.

26th/Mar/2011.

Common Goldeneye vs Lamprey

I found a female of Common Goldeneye tried to swallow a Lamprey.

 It took a few minutes, so I tried to take video.

「Common Goldeneye eats Lamprey 」

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 25th/Mar/2011.

Souya

I heard female Steller's Eider which was very rare species in Japan was at fishery port in Wakkanai city, I had time to go to Northern Hokkaido.

As soon as I arrived port, I found the target at long distance with Long-tailed Duck and female Velvet Scotter. I observed it through scope, it was near shore. I tried to approach and success to take photo at short range. It was not so shy I expected because it didn't dive into water or flew away for escaping.

A Common Guillemot was also in this port.

Wakkanai, Hokkaido. 5/Feb/2011.

Chinese Merganser and Goledn-crowned Sparrow

On my way going back to Sapporo via Tokyo, I had enough time of birding in Kanto (around Tokyo), I tried to seek three stray birds I got information.

At first I went to Sagami river, Kanagawa prefecture for Chinese Merganser which lived in north east Russia and Chinese.

A young male Chinese Marganser was in flock of Common Merganser.
I heard it is difficult to see because it flew away to up or downstream constantly, so I was lucky.
After observation its floating water they flew away to downstream.

Soon I moved to Edo river, Chiba prefecture to see Red-breasted Frycatcher and Goledn-crowned Sparrow.

I could see Red-breasted Frycatcher easily but Goledn-crowned Sparrow didn't appear easily.

Pygmy Woodpecker.

Common Coot.

"no-tail"Long-tailed Tit caught a bug.

I beared until appearing of it. It was seen before my deadline...

26/Jan/2011.

Before and after of the cruise

Before the cruise, I went to Atuma where there was grass small birds feeding it.

Fortunately, I could see interesting birds.

Pine Bunting fed on Elymus mollis. It was first time to see it at short range, I saw it at a glance several years ago.

A flock of Rosy Finch. How many is it in this photo?

Additionally, I saw flock of Lapland Bunting, they flew away above us.

After birding, I went to Mukawa to see Short-eared Owl.

Young American Wigeon was in flock of Eurasian Wigeon, my friend pointed me.

Short-eared Owl were there yet.

New year birding

I went birding at 3th January to Tomakomai to Mukawa.

At first, I went to Utonai lake, foggy condition made Silhouette of Northern Pintails.

Eurasian Nuthatch in Tomakomai Experimental Forest.

In Yuhutu moor, I found female and male Merlin. Female one was far to take photo.
In opposite, male was on the electric pole at short range.

I got to take off of it.