The other one

Japanese Waxwing

More heavy blizzards today but I made it out in the gaps. Only 2 Crossbill and not many other birds around but I did find a flock of 7 Japanese Waxwing. They were feasting on a bigger berry than normal.

Japanese Waxwing

They yellow belly immediately distinguishes this species from Bohemian Waxwing (which were around last week but have since moved on).

Some Dusky Thrush were in the same tree…

Dusky Thrush

2020: a Waxwing Year

Japanese Waxwing

2020 will go down in history for other more important things but here in Hokkaido one thing I’ll remember is the number of Waxwings. From late January to late February and again in late November/early December. Loads of ’em.

Bohemian Waxwing

These ones in Yakumo were not as tame and easy to photograph as the ones near my apartment last winter.

Japanese Waxwing
Japanese Waxwing

Some more early Waxwings

Japanese Waxwing

There was quite a big flock of waxwings in Yakumo last weekend. Most were Japanese Waxwings…………

Japanese Waxwing

But there were a few Bohemians mixed in too…………….

Bohemian Waxwing

There were also a few Crossbill around. Waxwings and Crossbills both had huge invasions into south Hokkaido last winter so I wasn’t expecting to see either of them much this time round.

A snowy Monday in Hakodate

Japanese Waxwing

The first real snow of 2020 in Hakodate is falling. I went out for a walk this morning not expecting much but was happy to see a huge flock of Waxwings (300 or more). They seemed to be mainly Bohemian Waxwings (in fact I’d say over 90% were) but there were some Japanese mixed in there too. This must be a different flock from the one in town last month.

Bohemian Waxwing

Very very dark and heavy snow so it was tricky to take photos.

They were in the same place as last month’s flocks and under the trees they use to roost there are a lot of red droppings. A flock of 100 or so Bramblings were on the ground feeding there.

Brambling

Have to say I didn’t know Bramblings eat Waxwing poop. You learn something every day.