A normally wary species but this one was not so shy.
Category: Buntings
Some more Maskeds
Common birds in interesting poses…
An early morning bunting
A very common species but a bit of an underrated one I think.
An early spring trip #6
The most interesting species at the pool was this male Grey Bunting…
Golden Week 2023 #6
Yesterday Narcissus Flycatcher and Eastern Crowned Warbler were around in the park just outside town, as well as Pale Thrush, Wryneck and all the usual stuff but not many photo opps. Pretty quiet compared to 2021 and 2022 in this location and at this time.
The above Olive-backed Pipit was nice to see and there are always the common species like Russet Sparrow. This is a sparrow species that stays high up in the trees…
And the very common Masked Bunting…this ringed male was in exactly the same corner of the park last year.
Another short stroll
Another short stroll with the RF 600 f/11. Before Hakodate City chopped down most of the riparian bushes/trees there were often interesting birds passing through in spring. Not much around today: the above singing Masked Bunting being the most noteworthy…
More from the dark pool…
Only 5 species visited the forest pool but some of them were interesting…like the above Grey Bunting.
And this juvenile Japanese Robin.
As you can see lots of noise reduction in these images.
In addition to the dark it was raining and very very humid. And there were loads of mosquitoes too.
2022 Summer Road Trip #20
Rubythroats still seemed reasonably common around Kiritappu.
And there were plenty of Reed Buntings too.
Buntings on a windy cape
These 2 bunting species were in the same spot as the Ospreys. Also around were Blue Rock Thrush, Lesser Cuckoo and Rhinoceros Auklet whilst nearer Hakodate some stray wildfowl including a drake Falcated Duck and at Kikonai there was a lone Greater White-fronted Goose.
An actual rarity
A crappy heavily cropped pic but a lifer: a Richard’s Pipit today. A rare passage visitor to Hokkaido and a very nice find. Shame I couldn’t get close as it was so jumpy.
I got up late and was out in the harsh midday sun so terrible light for photos. Apart from the above pipit not much else around anyway…
Golden Week 2022 #26
Some of the commoner birds in the park this morning…
Golden Week 2022 #17
A very common but shy summer visitor and a bird I don’t often photograph. This is a male.