It started raining just before we left…
Midsummer Trip 2024 #11
Category: Sapporo
Midsummer Trip 2024 #10
Maybe better luck next year…
Midsummer Trip 2024 #9
Some more birds snapped whilst waiting in vain for the Brown Shrikes to come closer…
Midsummer Trip 2024 #8
The same ringed bird as last year? One of several singing males…
And the same tame Black-browed Reed Warbler was singing in the same spot…
Midsummer Trip 2024 #7
We headed north towards Ishikari and got this surprise Cattle Egret roadside in Naganuma…
At Ishikari the target bird was Brown Shrike and although it was easy to find it was too hard to get close to for any decent shots.
Midsummer Road Trip 2023 #6
There were several Siberian Rubythroat singing (shame about the lighting) and as you can see this was one was ringed.
The Brown Shrikes didn’t come close again but the Wrynecks were some compensation.
Midsummer Road Trip 2023 #5
We planned to go back to the Brown Shrike location at sunrise the next day to get better lighting…
But it was foggy and we were tired after the first night in the car so we slept in at the hotel. By the time we got to the spot the harsh bright sunshine had returned.
There was pair of Wryneck at least.
Shame about the lighting. Very soft images.
Midsummer Road Trip 2023 #4
I’ll have to try again next year for better photos of this species…
All photos are of the male.
Midsummer Road Trip 2023 #3
Whilst I was waiting for the Brown Shrike to appear in nice light there were several other common species more obliging…
Midsummer Road Trip 2023 #2
My target bird for the trip was Brown Shrike. I have seen this species in Japan a couple of times before but didn’t have any photos. It is now very scarce in Hokkaido but there is a well-known spot near Sapporo where a few pairs breed.
Not great photos as they were heavily backlit.
A long day trip #4
Siberian Rubythroats were fairly common near Sapporo………..
This female was showing a bit of red too………….
A long day trip #3
‘Tis the Season for Stonechats…………..
