Lots of juvenile Stonechats in the grass at this time of year…
Some very young ones…
Tag: Stejneger's Stonechat
2022 Summer Road Trip #11
The only species posing nicely in the wildflower ‘park’ was this Stonechat.
2022 Summer Road Trip #4
It was our first visit to the grasslands of North Hokkaido since 2019. We visited one of our favourite wild flower spots. It was a bit quiet to be honest. Don’t know if it was because we were a few days later than previous visits or some other reason…
All the usual species were present but not in such great numbers or posing for photos much. Except for this male Stonechat.
Finally!
Near Tomakomai last weekend I finally got a shot of one of the most difficult to photograph local birds. Sakhalin Grasshopper Warblers are common summer visitors to the grasslands and their song can be heard everywhere in suitable habitat. I’ve been trying for years to get a shot. They are extremely skulking. But then one above popped up and sang atop a bush for a few seconds!
A few minutes earlier I’d been delighted with this lame effort, the first time I’d ever photographed it.
There were several Siberian Rubythroat around but they were also skulking. Other stuff included Masked, Chestnut-eared and Common Reed Buntings, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Japanese Thrush, Black-browed Reed Warbler and lots and lots of Stonechats…
That time of year
The Stonechats are watching their fledglings in the nearby grass and don’t fly off…
This scene is repeated tens of thousands of times in the grasslands of Hokkaido in early summer.
A long day trip #3
‘Tis the Season for Stonechats…………..
More Stoners
An early breeder
A typical sight in early June is when the Stonechats suddenly become very tame and don’t fly away. They must have young in the nest nearby. I fire off a few shots and then leave them to it………..
More car park birds
In addition to the Rubythroats there were many birds……………..
Middendorf’s, Lanceolated and Sakhalin Grasshopper Warblers, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Northern Hobby, White-tailed Eagle, Sand Martin, Northern Hobby, Latham’s Snipe, Wryneck, Long-tailed Rosefinch…………………and these 2 common species.
More stoners
Common they may be but I still enjoy taking photos of them.
About to hatch
Judging by the behaviour of various Stonechat pairs at Yakumo the young must be just about ready to hatch………..
This is an abundant summer visitor and is everywhere in grassland/farmland areas……….
It’s over
Well the spring migration season is over. Just common bird around now.
The common bird are still reasonably interesting: Wryneck, Oriental Honey Buzzard, various brownish warblers………..
And lots of Stonechats of course.
