The Yellow Wagtails must have had nests nearby as they didn’t fly off. We were able to spend a few minutes with several pairs being leaving them be………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #12
Category: North Hokkaido
North Hokkaido 2019 #11
These are 2 common species which were both present on the Ohotsku grasslands although in slightly smaller numbers than down near Hakodate.
North Hokkaido 2019 #10
I can remember Yellow Wagtails perching on barbed-wire fences back in Penwortham so it was a nice blast from the past to see Eastern Yellow Wagtails doing it in Hokkaido………
North Hokkaido 2019 #9
There were at least 3 male Long-tailed Rosefinch at Omusaro and they posed nicely at eye level for a change this year…………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #8
There were 3 or 4 singing Siberian Rubythroat at Omusaro. This one was very tame and allowed approach down to a few feet. This was taken a ona cool overcast morning. Maybe it was just cold and tired……………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #7
Lots of nesting passerines in the grasslands means lots of Cuckoos……………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #6
A Middendorff’s Warbler showing itself at Omusaro last week……………
North Hokkaido 2019 #5
The coastal grasslands just east of Mombetsu are one of the strongholds of the local race of Yellow Wagtail and there were 3 or 4 pairs on the narrow coastal strip near Komuke.
North Hokkaido 2019 #4
There were 3 or 4 singing Common Reed Buntings at Omusaro. This is a species we get down near Hakodate and of course is also common back in the UK. They do seem especially tame in north Hokkaido though…………
North Hokkaido 2019 #3
On the other side of Mombetsu are 2 lakes: Komuke and Shibunotsunai. The former held 5 Japanese Crane and the latter had about 100 Greater Scaup. The narrow strips of land between these 2 lakes and the sea is very good for birding. White-tailed Eagle, Hobby, Japanese Green Pigeon, Eastern Marsh Harrier and many passerine species were present.
The above Chestnut-eared Bunting was there and was the only one seen on the trip: they seem far less numerous than down near Hakodate.
North Hokkaido 2019 #2
Another common bird at Omusaro was Long-tailed Rosefinch: there seemed to be far more than in previous years at that particular site…………
North Hokkaido 2019 #1
After a few days in the east of Hokkaido we headed to the Ohotsku coast to the grasslands and wild flower parks by the sea. Siberian Rubythroats were as common as ever, the above one was at Omusaro.