Category: Esashi

A quiet week before the main event

by Stuart Price, posted in Esashi
Blue Rock Thrush

We were in Esashi yesterday; pretty windy but a bit quiet birdwise. Some passage Red-flanked Bluetails, Brambling, Rustic Bunting and Daurian Redstart but nothing rare. Other stuff included Peregrine and lots of Ospreys.

In town last week there were lots of Dusky Thrush, more Bluetails, a lone Hawfinch, a surprise flushed Eurasian Woodcock, several Stejneger’s Stonechat and some singing Masked Bunting.

I didn’t have the big lens with me yesterday; these Blue Rock Thrush pics with the RF 600 f/11 just about survived the cull.

Blue Rock Thrush

The peak spring migration season, the main event in the birding year for me, is just about on us. I have a dodgy right shoulder and a painful left calf but I also have a lot of days off so it’ll be no pain no gain I guess.

An actual rarity

by Stuart Price, posted in Esashi, Raptors, Rarities
Richard’s Pipit

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…

Osprey
Siberian Meadow Bunting

Lots of these

by Stuart Price, posted in Esashi
Black-throated Diver

We headed west today hoping to find some interesting birds blown in by the strong west wind. We couldn’t find anything but there were lots of divers on the sea. Red-throated, Black-throated and Pacific………..and all but this individual were too far off for any photos……….

Black-throated Diver
Black-throated Diver

Out west

by Stuart Price, posted in Esashi
Peregrine

We were watching 2 very active Peregrines on the west coast today, difficult to get any keeper shots as it was so windy.

I was hoping the wind would have wafted a Hoopoe over but no such luck. A big flock of Crossbill, lots of Great Egret but not much else of note.