Trip to east end2 -Kiritappu-

First accommodation was Etopirika-mura in Kiritappu, which organized conservation act for Tufted Puffin and Spectacled Guillemot.
Kiritappu is a famous breeding spot of these species, but these are seen in summer.

This time, I tried to see buntings which were here from pre-information.

At first, I saw Rough-legged Buzzard which was also fever in Kiritappu.

I heard two rare buntings in Kiritappu, the first was five-Lapland Bunting which I saw easily, but I
could not take a photo.

The second, it was one of main target of this trip: Snow Bunting.
I tried to find hard, seek and seek.
I decided to give up seeking Snow Bunting at noon and moving to Nemuro.
At 11:15, I found flock of white-small birds!!

I got it!!
Snow Buntings.

I could see some variations of plumage.

Trip to east end

I went to eastern Hokkaido last week.

On the way to go, I dropped into Tokachi river.

This is not a gulls photo.
The main target is right duck floating water: it is Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)!!
A male Bufflehead came to Tokachi river.

Spotted seal (Phoca largha)

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) could be seen same place.

Tomakomai Cruising in winter

I organized Tomakomai bird cruising at 20/Feb/2010.

This day was good weather: weak wind, low wave, and shine.

 I could see many flocks of Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck.
But it was far, they flew away....

In this cruise, some Auk and Guillemot were able to be seen.

 This bad photo is Least Auklet (Aethia pussilla), several individuals were observed but it was difficult to take a photo especially my manual focus lens (Ai 500/4P).
I decided to use an auto-focus lens (Ai AF 300/4D) next cruising.

Brünnich's Guillemots (Uria lomvia)  were relatively near.

And Parakeet Auklet  was confirmed by my friend's photo.

After Cruising, I went Mukawa and saw Rough-legged Buzzard.

Flying back but...

Today, I observed Siberian Flying Squirrel's coming back to its nest.
At about A.M. 6, one individual gliding back to its nest but it didn't enter at once.

It stopped for a minute in this posing.

And this individual　tried to enter its nest, but it  was rejected by other individual which entered previously.
This individual gave up to enter this wood hole and moved to another hole.

Comparison

 Photo in Matue, Shimane prefecture. Jan/2010.

Comparison between Bewick's Swan and Common Teal.

Yuhutsu & Mukawa again2

After birding in Yuhutsu, we went to Mukawa.

We saw two and twelve Lapland Buntings.
We could take photos of two-Lapland's flock.

And we saw three Rough-legged Buzzards.

Two of them are the same individual which is adult male.

Juvenile perched on antenna of mobile phone.

These species were my friend's objective species, so he was so satisfied.

Photos in Atuma and Mukawa, Hokkaido. 14/Feb/2010.

Yuhutsu & Mukawa again

My birding friend came to Hokkaido from Tokyo, and we went to Yuhutsu and Mukawa, because he wanted to see Rough-legged Buzzard and Lapland Bunting.

After picking up him at New Chitose Airport, we went forward Yufutsu.
At first, we waited ready for Great Grey Shrike's point where this shrike was seen sometimes, we had not seen this species. We cost about 20 minutes but nothing came front of our.

Magpie is an alien species but seen only in northern Kyusyu and around Tomakomai. So, he was glad to see this bird and took photos.

There was spot of Long-tailed Duck, I usually didn't go there because it was necessity for some walking to edge of coast bulwark it means we were exposed by strong wind and very cold, but this day is not so cold for "me" and he wanted to see Long-tailed, so we went there.
This decision made our lucky.
We could see not always Long-tailed, but saw Dolphines!
We saw two of Harbour Porpoise　(Phocoena phocoena). We didn't take photo. It was my lifer.
And Long-tailed Duck were very near and we observed there calls and display.

We went to Mukawa, but it continued next entry.

All photos in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 14/Feb/2010.

Today is my birthday...