Great Egret – Hakodate Birding

A failed Spoonbill chase

June 5, 2023 by Stuart Price, posted in Raptors, Yakumo

2 Eurasian Spoonbills were seen at Yakumo so we went for a look. I saw one standing in the middle of the river, went back to the car to get my camera (with 2X T/C attached) but the bird flew off. I snapped the above warbler and then got the portable 600 f/11 and walked around trying to relocate the spoonbill but no joy.

Quite a lot of birds around though…

A lens I struggle with for BIFs.

Other stuff around included Pacific Swift, Mandarin Duck, Garganey, White-fronted Goose, lots of singing Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, Common Cuckoo etc…

But no spoonbill pics.

Spring!

March 23, 2023 by Stuart Price, posted in Hakodate

A common sight at this time of year is Great Egrets snaffling tiny fish in the local park…

Very springlike mild weather. Oriental Greenfinch and Eastern Great Tit singing everywhere, lots of Dusky Thrush hopping around. In Kamiiso a couple of days ago I had my first Osprey of the year as well 000’s of Common Gull, 3 species of grebe and various passage duck including Smew and Gadwall.

Way home in the rain

March 16, 2023March 16, 2023 by Stuart Price, posted in Onuma, Oshamambe, Wildfowl, Yakumo

It was raining all the way home…we stopped at a few spots.

Another quiet week

November 11, 2022November 11, 2022 by Stuart Price, posted in Hakodate

A Great Egret in town a couple of days ago. Several species of duck around including a pair of Common Goldeneye, my first Daurian Redstart of the season but not much else.

The first Steller’s Sea Eagle were at Yakumo last weekend but way too far off for a photo. Still very autumnal, wonder when winter will start?

Back in town

November 5, 2022November 5, 2022 by Stuart Price, posted in Gulls, Hakodate, Hokuto, Wildfowl

Very autumnal in Hakodate. Some birds around too: 3 Great Egret on the river near my place as well as Brown Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Hawfinch. Lots of common ducks around as well.

And the winter gulls are here…

Another walk on the river…

October 10, 2022October 10, 2022 by Stuart Price, posted in Gulls, Hakodate, Wildfowl

Some more low-key birding around town…

There were 7 species of duck including a small flock of Pintail and a couple of Shoveler…and the long-staying Whooper Swan too.

And 3 species of heron…

This Slaty-backed Gull had found a salmon-like fish to try and eat. I think its’ a salmon but not sure. I think there are 2 or 3 kinds in Hokkaido.

Back home

March 24, 2022October 31, 2022 by Stuart Price, posted in Esan, Geese, Hakodate, Raptors, Wildfowl

I just can’t escape geese: this lone straggling White-front was in parkland atop a cape!

The Ospreys have returned…not great pics it has to be said.

And near my apartment all the snow has gone…

Other birds around on Monday in the Esan area were Glaucous-winged Gull, Harlequin Duck, lots of Brent Goose and a lone White-tailed Eagle.

Harsh

March 11, 2022March 11, 2022 by Stuart Price, posted in Hakodate

Very bright and sunny yesterday…not so good for white birds on ice/water then.

The light was too harsh for decent photos of this Great Egret in the local park.

It was catching tiddlers…

A long sunny walk

March 9, 2022 by Stuart Price, posted in Hakodate

A very springlike day, I took a long walk down the river to the ocean. Still deathly quiet birdwise: a few Dusky Thrush, a surprise male Pheasant, an injured Whooper Swan, 5 species of duck including Goldeneye and Goosander.

And the male Daurian Redstart was in the same place as yesterday.

And the Great Egret was back on the river too.

A quiet grey mild Monday in December

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021 by Stuart Price, posted in Oshamambe, Raptors, Yakumo

Not many eagles at Yakumo now sadly…

And not much else around to be honest. Some interesting ducks on the sea were too far off for photos. I also missed a couple of great photo opps (a bathing Peregrine, a feeding roadside Steller’s). Just one of those days.

A sunny walk in October

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 by Stuart Price, posted in Hakodate, Wildfowl

I took a walk down the river this morning. A very mild sunny autumnal day with a few birds around. 7 (!) Great Egret were the most interesting and there was also this lone injured Whooper Swan. It’s probably been there all summer: I saw it in the spring.