Birding in Shimane4 -Great Bittern-

Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) was found at Hikawa.
It usually hides in reed, but comes out sometimes.

It moved slowly and stopped this style to aim fish and caught a small one.

All photos in Hikawa, Shimane prefecture. 3/Jan/2010.

Birding in Shimane3 -Black-faced Spoonbill-

 Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) was found at Hiikawa, Shimane prefecture.

This species is threaten extinction because their estimation number is c.a. 2000.

I took photos of  its taking off.

All photos in Hikawa, Shimane prefecture. 29/Dec/2009.

Birding in Shimane2 -Geese and Ducks-

In winter, many ducks and geese stay in Shinji-ko and Nakaumi.

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) and Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) are dominant in these lake.

Tufted Duck male in Matue, Shimane prefecture. Dec/2009

Greater Scaup male in Matue, Shimane prefecture. Dec/2009.

Greater Scaup female in Matue, Shimane prefecture. Dec/2009.

Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and Bean goose (Anser fabalis) are found around mouth of Hiikawa and Yonago waterbirds sanctuary.

Photos in Hikawa, Shimane prefecture. Dec/2009.

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) and Baikal Teal (Anas formosa), these are mainly seen in western Japan, stay around here(But I couldn't find Baikal Teal).

Photos in Higashiizumo, Shimane prefecture. Dec/2009.

I found hybrid duck (Mallard-Spotbill) in Mallards' group.

Photo in Matue, Shimane prefecture. Jan/2010.

Birding in Shimane1

Year-end and New Year, I went to Shimane prefecture where is famous for birding spot in western Japan.

Shinji-ko and Nakaumi (link is explanation of there) are famous of southern limit of passing winter place for Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus).

And Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) is seen only at Hiikawa, Shimane in Japan.

In this season, four individuals came to Hiikawa.

In Shimane, there were other attractive birds, I will upload later entries.

Photos in Matue city (Bewick's Swan) and Hikawa town, Shimane prefecture, Japan.

Ural owl

Ural owl (Strix uralensis)

This tree cave is used by Ural owl in winter.

Photo in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Dec/2009

Birds feeding

A day in December, I took photos of birds' feeding behavior walking around Teganuma, Chiba prefecture.

Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) fed on lawn grass.



Dusky Thrush (Turdus naumanni) fed on a dried fruit.



Common Coot (Fulica atra) ate floated grass and alga on pole in water.



Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) were striped reeds and search bugs but I couldn't see their catching bug.




In opposite, Siberian Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides) picked reeds' spike.


Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) ate peal of mandarin orange.


White-cheeked Starling　(Sturnus cineraceus) fed on fruit, I don't know name of this tree.



All photos in Kashiwa, Chiba prefecture. Dec/2009

Shiretoko Ship -Sea mammals-

On the Shiretoko Cruising,I saw two mammals: sea lion and whale.


Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus).



Giant beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii).
The island behind their is Kunashiri island.

All photos in Rausu, Hokkaido. 28/Nov/2009