Tokachi Cruise

My friend organized sea birds cruise in Tokachi, Hokkaido last Saturday.
He charters local fishing boat and researches faunal information about sea birds and mammals in this area.

We started Atunai port at 6 A.M.

A Slaty-backed Gull had nesting in the bank which human can access easily...


 As soon as we leaved port, Rhinoceros Auklets showed up.

A Black-naped Tern and Rhinoceros Auklet were on a log.
I can understand Tern perched on the log. Despite it is not easier for Auklets perching on the log than floating, I think. Some Rinoceros Auklets tried to perch on the log.

Short-tailed Shearwaters.

The captain on this boat started fishing suddenly, and it happened interesting thing.
I will mention about it later entries.

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.

Flat of Sand Martin

I went to Sand Martin's colony.

A flat of Sand Martin was produced.
It wasn't formed when I came to this place last time.

Kentish Plover.

All photos in Otaru. 2/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.

Tomakomai cruising -Diver and Murrelet-

Pacific Diver had so high wariness to be close, so I had not able to observe its brilliance of throat.
This photo confirm its brilliance a little.

Finally I mention about Murrelets in this cruise.

I could see many flocks of Ancient Murrelet.
Young Rhinoceros Auklets were seen in this season at this sea area.
Though Crested Auklet was determined, the member didn't notice at that time unfortunately. After cruising, my friend attended this boat confirmed two individual contained in the large flock of Phalarope in his photo.

The best bird in this cruise was......

Long-billed Murrelet!
I observed 7 individual (not flock) of them at cost area.

I heard their voice.
It was very exiting time!!

Tomakomai Cruising -Shearwater and Albatross-

In this Cruising, Short-tailed Shearwaters were not so many.

But I saw over ten Laysan Albatrosses.

An individual was beside a floating dead cod with Slaty-backed Gull.
Did it eat such large fish?

Though I saw a young Short-tailed Albatross, I couldn't take photo because my camera battery dead.....