At Shibunotsunaiko there were several Siberian Rubythroat nests deep in the hamanasu bushes………….
Crows were watching and I saw a weasel running around too. Tough times to raise chicks…………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #13
Category: North Hokkaido
North Hokkaido 2019 #12
The Yellow Wagtails must have had nests nearby as they didn’t fly off. We were able to spend a few minutes with several pairs being leaving them be………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #11
These are 2 common species which were both present on the Ohotsku grasslands although in slightly smaller numbers than down near Hakodate.
North Hokkaido 2019 #10
I can remember Yellow Wagtails perching on barbed-wire fences back in Penwortham so it was a nice blast from the past to see Eastern Yellow Wagtails doing it in Hokkaido………
North Hokkaido 2019 #9
There were at least 3 male Long-tailed Rosefinch at Omusaro and they posed nicely at eye level for a change this year…………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #8
There were 3 or 4 singing Siberian Rubythroat at Omusaro. This one was very tame and allowed approach down to a few feet. This was taken a ona cool overcast morning. Maybe it was just cold and tired……………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #7
Lots of nesting passerines in the grasslands means lots of Cuckoos……………..
North Hokkaido 2019 #6
A Middendorff’s Warbler showing itself at Omusaro last week……………
North Hokkaido 2019 #5
The coastal grasslands just east of Mombetsu are one of the strongholds of the local race of Yellow Wagtail and there were 3 or 4 pairs on the narrow coastal strip near Komuke.
North Hokkaido 2019 #4
There were 3 or 4 singing Common Reed Buntings at Omusaro. This is a species we get down near Hakodate and of course is also common back in the UK. They do seem especially tame in north Hokkaido though…………
North Hokkaido 2019 #3
On the other side of Mombetsu are 2 lakes: Komuke and Shibunotsunai. The former held 5 Japanese Crane and the latter had about 100 Greater Scaup. The narrow strips of land between these 2 lakes and the sea is very good for birding. White-tailed Eagle, Hobby, Japanese Green Pigeon, Eastern Marsh Harrier and many passerine species were present.
The above Chestnut-eared Bunting was there and was the only one seen on the trip: they seem far less numerous than down near Hakodate.
North Hokkaido 2019 #2
Another common bird at Omusaro was Long-tailed Rosefinch: there seemed to be far more than in previous years at that particular site…………