The Happy Duck
Luke's DuckHyoko, Niigata, JapanFebruary 11, 2018I usually overlook hybrids but have been trying to have a closer look because my friend Luke seems intrigued. I took these pics last Saturday.When I...
View ArticleKeep Our Villages Safe
Blakiston's Fish Owl(Bubo blakistoni)Japanese: Shima-fukuroAinu: Kotankorokamui - ("God who protects villages")Rausu, Shiretoko, Hokkaido, JapanFebruary 24, 2018Time flies. Already a week ago I enjoyed...
View ArticleTANCHO Tsuru
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View ArticleReturn to the Kingdom of the Great Ice Eagles
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View ArticleRobin in the Shadows
Japanese RobinJunsai-ike, Niigata, JapanApril 21, 2018Just a brief post to keep this blog alive. Enjoyed two days at Junsai-ike over the weekend but didn't get many pics. Best were of this robin in the...
View ArticleTulips in Niigata
TulipsNagaike Park, Shibata, Niigata, JapanApril 28, 2018I haven't been a very good birder recently. Here are some tulip photos taken last Saturday.Niigata takes great pride in their tulips this time...
View ArticleOur Green has Come
Fukushimagata, Niigata, JapanMay, 2018It's really nice to see green after the colder months.Here are some sights from the last month or so around Niigata.DragonflyGrey HeronOspreyOriental CuckooBarn...
View ArticleSome Summer Birds
Yellow BitternNiigata, JapanMay, 2018Here are some summer birds around Niigata from the past week.Black-browed Reed WarblerOriental Reed WarblerBull-headed ShrikeI renamed this as Bull-head Shrike from...
View ArticleTwo Shots for the Weekend
Barn SwallowsShirone, Niigata, JapanJune 9, 2018Here are just two shots from this weekend, which I thought were worth showing. Thanks to Luke and Jonah for showing me the Tiger Shrike. I was also...
View ArticleSpoonies
Yellow-billed SpoonbillMurphys Creek, Queensland, Australia2014It seems a long while since I was home. I took these spoonbill shots back in 2014 when birding with Mick Atzeni and Rich Seaton. We...
View ArticleDigi-scoped Kestrels
Eurasian KestrelsShinano River, Niigata, JapanJune 19, 2018Another year and again the kestrels at the cement factory have successfully fledged 3 young. The first year I recorded them was 2005. They are...
View ArticleA Crooked Paw
OspreyFukushimagata, Niigata, JapanJune 17, 2018It's almost a year since I broke my arm. I can empathise with this Osprey. I think I have photographed the same individual before. He has a crooked paw...
View ArticleEagles on Ice - The Greatest Show on Earth!
Here is a little slide-show I made with video clips taken by my 1st Assistant/support. She doesn't claim to be a photographer but I think the clips she recorded are priceless and I wanted to share...
View ArticleSummer Lovin'
Tiger ShrikefemaleNiigata, JapanJuly, 2018I've been enjoying summer this year. I feel for those suffering from the floods though.I have been trying to get out despite of my feebleness in the hot...
View ArticleLuke's Butterfly
Indian FritillaryArgyreus hyperbiusNiigata, JapanJuly, 2018Luke sent me these pics of a butterfly he found. I found it is an Indian Fritillary and Niigata City is the most northern point it is commonly...
View ArticleFrenzy
Goosander(European)orCommon Merganser(American)(Mergus merganser)femaleShinano River, Niigata, JapanJuly 21, 2018Thank you to the members of Kantori, Japan for help with identification.You give social...
View ArticleMars and the Bloody Clouds
Mars andNiigata City, Niigata, Japan2 to 5am, July 28, 2018I stood on top of a building for three hours in the middle of the night for these photos. I heard a typhoon was coming but I didn't expect the...
View ArticleHirosaki Neputa Festival
Hirosaki Neputa MatsuriHirosaki, Aomori, JapanAugust 1, 2018Got off to a flying start for the summer vacation on August 1st. We rocketed up to Aomori Prefecture for the opening night of their Neputa...
View ArticleIn Search of Angels, Trolls and Dragons
Common Yellow SwallowtailPapilio machaon hippocrates(male)Fukushimagata, Niigata, JapanAugust 2018Well, away from festivals and birds I have been searching for a new quarry for summer. I have been...
View ArticleOn the Move
Eastern Buzzardlooks youngSakata, Niigata, JapanSeptember 19, 2018I was lucky enough to have a few days off mid-week this week and the weather was much better than the previous weekend. Sunny and warm,...
View ArticleMt Yamamoto Raptor Migration 2018
Eastern BuzzardMt Yamamoto, Ojiya, Niigata, JapanSeptember 24, 2018We made it to Mt Yamamoto briefly this weekend and we saw a number of thermals carrying some raptors. There were a heap only briefly...
View ArticleSwarming Ducks
Northern PintailFukushimagata, Niigata, JapanSeptember 30, 2018Well. It's that time of the year again. It's exciting to see so many ducks arrive at Fukushimagata. Many Pintail went overhead without...
View ArticleArrivals and Departures
Bewick's Swan(Tundra Swan)Hyoko, Agano City, Niigata, JapanOctober 6, 2018Last night's local news was pretty exciting. They announced that the first swans arrived at Hyoko just before sunrise on...
View ArticleA Boomerang for a Drone
Tundra Swans being chased by a drone.Hyoko, Niigata, JapanOctober 21, 2018I guess a good stick and a rock were once smart devices in human history. Now everyday I can side step walkers looking...
View ArticleA Transition
Tundra SwanHyoko, Niigata, JapanNovember 10, 2018Well, I went to Hyoko a couple of times in the last month. Nothing new to report, but it's nice to see the same things in each season. After I watched a...
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