Morning

I went birding only morning last Saturday.

Red Squirrel.

Summer visitors came to Sapporo.
In this time, I only took photo of only Short-tailed Bush Warbler.

Surprisingly, Brown-eared Bulbul caught a cicada. I was aware cicadas already emerged they will sing in a few days. Summer is comming, though it is still cold.

Carrion Crow.

Sapporo, Hokkaido. 14th/May/2011.

Intra family competition

I found a Chipmunk in Maruyama park, Sapporo. Did it recover its hibernation in this season?

 !!!!!

 Of course, lager one wins the contest.

Goldcrest.

Sapporo, Hokkaido. 2/Apr/2011.

After cruise in Tokachi

After birding cruise, I went to a birding spot in Tokachi.

A family of Japanese Crane breeds in this spot, two chicks walked with their parents.

Back of Long-tailed Rosefinch.

Lanceolated Warbler is a grasshopper warbler, so it is difficult to see because it hides in grass like Minddendorff's Grasshopper Warbler. And the breeding habitat is more restricted than other Grasshopper Warbler in Hokkaido.

This was my first time to observe it though I've ever heard its song.

This spot is one of Yellow-breasted Bunting sighting area. Yellow-breasted Bunting which breed in only Hokkaido in Japan is a endangered species. Recently, it shows drastic decrease and disappearing many area.
I've ever seen this bunting just for a moment of its flying several years ago in Sarobetu which is a famous Yellow-breasted Bunting spot in northern Hokkaido.

Fortunately I could see a male individual.

I hope it successes breeding in this season.

Arctic Warbler in my campus

Many Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) sing in my campus,  so I got up early and tried to take photo of them before going to my labo.

But they moved so high region of tree to take photo.

I gave up and aimed other birds.

Grey Starling had something.

Large-billed Crow

 ate a dried earthworm.

Tree Sparrow breeds under roof of dust house.

These photos in Sapporo, Hokkaido. 9/Jun/2010.

Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler

Grasshopper Warblers are difficult to observe because they hide in grass.

I challenged to take photo of Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler.

It sings at edge of grass in a short time and doesn't sing about 20 minutes.

Fortunately I found a Friendly individual.

Photos in Ishikari, Hokkaido. 08/Jun/2010.

The season for bird at grassland and wetland habitats

Tree leaves make us difficult to see birds, while it is the best season for birds in grass land habitat.
I went to lower area of Ishikari river wetland.

Black-browed Reed Warbler has a high profile in this habitat.

 The next is Stonechat.

Song of Grey-headed Bunting is similar to Siberian Meadow Bunting which is the most measure Bunting in Japan.
But few Siberian Meadow stay in Hokkaido, it likes higher temperature habitat.

Reed Warbler breed in only Hokkaido, Japan. Birders in Hokkaido know well about summer plumage of this species and not well know about winter plumage. The other (most Japanese birders) are opposite.

I found a invasive Pheasant which introduced for hunting.

I found a Magpie which is also a invasive species.
It lives around Tomakomai.
But why is it in Ishikari?

All photos in Ishikari, Hokkaido. 6/Jun/2010.

Before and after Cruising

I organized Tomakomai sea bird cruising, I upload the entry later it was very exciting.
Before cruising, I searched bird in Yuhutu moor and saw Wryneck, Long-tailed Rose Finch, Reed Bunting, Japanese Grey Thrush, and Eastern Crowned Willow Warbler.

After cruising, I went Mukawa.
I heard Little Stint which was rare species in Japan appeared, but I couldn't see.

I could only took photo of Grey-tailed Tattler.

Photo in Tomakomai and Mukawa, Hokkaido. 9/May/2010.