The crossbills were too high up but there was also a flock of Hawfinch.
And lots of Nuthatch. These have been unusually common this autumn/early winter. Some are a bit more reddish below, perhaps another subspecies? Who knows…
And on a mild day the ice receded and this Great Egret was fishing for tiddlers.
Other common species shared the same park as the crossbills…
In the tiny park near my place there were 4 species of tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, a small flock of Brambling, 1 Hawfinch, a male Daurian Redstart, 1 Long-tailed Rosefinch, several Dusky Thrush, 2 Eurasian Nuthatch and 4 Crossboll. On the river were Great Egret, Grey Heron and above was a Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Not a bad haul…
Not great photos. Shoulder issues etc etc…
Some of the common birds that seem to be everywhere this autumn…
Also around are flocks of Brambling and Siskin as well as a flock of Bohemian Waxwing. And lots of Eastern Buzzard.
The end of April/start of May is Golden Week in Japan, most people have a few days off and it’s the start of the migration season up here. This morning we were in one of the local parks: nothing rare about but lots of spring arrivals and common residents…
A few common species in a park just outside town kicked off Golden Week………….
It was an overcast grey day, not great for photos.
A quiet Sunday east of town. 2 Steller’s Sea Eagles, 4 or 5 White-tailed Eagles, 1 Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Harlequin Duck, Great Egret, Common Crossbill, Whooper Swan, Buff-bellied Pipit, Brent Goose and a few common species like the above Nuthatch……………
And it was freezing cold again.
Flocks of Whooper Swan were at Yakumo and Onuma and the first Eagles of the season (7 or 8 White-tailed Eagles) were at the former site.
Otherwise rather quiet: Mountain Hawk Eagle and 8 species of gull were at Yakumo and there was a large flock of Black-necked Grebe at Onuma as well as common woodland species such as the above Nuthatch.
Winter is just around the corner…………..