Spring!

Great Egret

A common sight at this time of year is Great Egrets snaffling tiny fish in the local park…

Very springlike mild weather. Oriental Greenfinch and Eastern Great Tit singing everywhere, lots of Dusky Thrush hopping around. In Kamiiso a couple of days ago I had my first Osprey of the year as well 000’s of Common Gull, 3 species of grebe and various passage duck including Smew and Gadwall.

Canon RF 600 f/11

Whooper Swan

Someone very kindly lent me his 600 f11 lens when he heard about my dodgy shoulder.

It was a nice sunny day today so I took it out for a spin. It might take a bit of getting used to but it seems pretty reasonable for a walk about lens…

No exciting birds around, the injured long-staying Whooper and a few common ducks and lots of Dusky Thrush.

Dusky Thrush
Common Goldeneye

Another walk on the river…

Great Egret

Some more low-key birding around town…

There were 7 species of duck including a small flock of Pintail and a couple of Shoveler…and the long-staying Whooper Swan too.

Northern Shoveler

And 3 species of heron…

Black-crowned Night Heron
Great Egret

This Slaty-backed Gull had found a salmon-like fish to try and eat. I think its’ a salmon but not sure. I think there are 2 or 3 kinds in Hokkaido.

Slaty-backed Gull

Autumn begins

Black-crowned Night Heron

A common sight in autumn: Black-crowned Night Herons hiding in the bushes next to the small river near my apartment.

Lots of Stonechat passing through on the same river. Also around recently have been Eurasian Teal, Northern Pintail, Masked Bunting, Grey Wagtail, Common Kingfisher, Hawfinch and Bull-headed Shrike….

Cool enough for a jacket today too.