An actual rarity

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

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

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.