
A dark rainy Monday, not ideal for either birding or bird photos.
We went back to one of the Crossbill spots but there were only a few around and there weren’t many other birds either, only common stuff.

I picked up a new camera yesterday: The Canon R5. I took it out today and tried it out for the first time………..
The Crossbills were in the same place as a couple of weeks ago. The new camera is taking a bit to get used to……………a lot of new things to think about.
In among the Crossbills (and Redpolls) were other winter passerines……….
Also around were Hawfinch, Brambling as well as various tits and woodpeckers, Eurasian Jay and Dusky Thrush.
Several White-tailed and at least 3 (!) Steller’s Sea Eagles were in the Esan area in addition to Eastern Buzzard, Peregrine and 2 Mountain Hawk-Eagles too.
Crossbills seem easy to photograph near Hakodate: there are lots of lowish pine trees for a start……….
This particular spot has lots of pine trees on a windy cape. A very quiet place with hardly anyone around especially on a wintry weekend.
These are all females.