2009
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Pectoral Sandpiper in Queensland
Had a wonderful day out yesterday birding with birder sepreme, Michael Atzeni from the Toowoomba Bird Observers. Mick kindly drove me around to significant birding spots in south-east Queensland and I had a ball. Saw some super species but the rarity of the day was this Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, spied by Mick at Jahnke’s… Continue reading
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Christmas in Summer
Above: Peregrine Falcon. I think he’s a male. Enjoying another holiday at home. Got 40cm of snow the day I left Japan. I’m pretty happy it’s not too hot though here in Oz. Getting plenty of showers. Love the summer smells and colourful skies. Got the Peregrine Falcon picture along with the Nankeen/Australian Kestrels in… Continue reading
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A Mountain Cicada and a Bear Hawk
Finally had a rainless Sunday to do a bit of birding this week. The first in almost a month. A friend and I went to an area of the northern outskirts of Niigata in the hope of finding a Crested Kingfisher. We’d seen them in the same area back in summer but failed to get… Continue reading
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Dancer on the wind: Northern Goshawk
Sunday, October 25 was a beautiful, clear morning with changing wind gusts. The wind seemed to make conditions perfect for a few raptors, namely Common Buzzards, Black-eared Kites and an Eastern Marsh Harrier. The highlight however, was this young Northern Goshawk that appeared overhead at a bird observatory. He dipped and dived, zoomed and swirled… Continue reading
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They’ve arrived! Whooper Swans are here for 2009 – 2010
I noticed the first Whooper Swans of the season on the morning of October 8. They flew across the road in front of me on the way to work. Most of these photos were taken at Fukushimagata, Niigata on Monday, October 12. I went there again this morning and read the local community notice board… Continue reading
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A Fleeting Visit to Oz
Enjoyed a fleeting visit to Australia in August 2009. 12 busy days. (Above) Australian or Nankeen Kestrel near Southbrook, Darling Downs, Queensland. Above and below: Black-shouldered Kite near Southbrook, Darling Downs. (Above and below) Galah, also near Souhbrook. Above and below: Two views overlooking the canopy of the Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland. Above and… Continue reading
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Japanese Crested Ibis at Sunset
Photographed at 17:50 local time, August 5, 2009, Niigata. Continue reading
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“Toki”. My rarest bird.
The last of the wild born “Toki”, Nipponia nippon, Japanese Crested Ibis died in 2003. In 2008, 10 birds from a breeding program on Sado Island, Niigata, were released into the wild. On Sunday, August 2 2009, my birding friend Mr Honma, called and asked if I’d like to try and see a Toki. Late… Continue reading
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“Tombo”. Japanese Dragonflies.
1. “Tombo” is the Japanese word for Dragonfly. It is the start of the “Tombo” season now and I’ve managed a few shots over the last week. I didn’t get all that I’ve seen but I hope to get more as the season progresses. Unfortunately, I don’t know their names as yet and will just… Continue reading
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Paradise Riflebird
I was disappointed to have a cold, rainy holiday at the Bunya Mountains National Park in August 2007. One of the highlights however, was during an early morning walk in the misty rain when I encountered this character mumbling to himself, seemingly frustrated by the contents of a rotting branch. He totally ignored me while… Continue reading
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Olive-backed Sunbirds
Found a couple of Olive-backed Sunbirds running the main drag of Kuranda, North Queensland. (Above) The male. August 2007 The female Olive-backed Sunbird checks out her appearance in my camera lens.Kuranda, Queensland, August 2007. If you look carefully, you can see the spider-web she is collecting for her nest.Kuranda, Queensland, August 2007. Continue reading
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Australian Raptors
Grey Goshawk (Toowoomba escarpment, 2008) Grey Goshawk (Toowoomba escarpment 2008) Square-tailed Kite, (Oakey 1995) Square-tailed Kite (Oakey 1995) Wedge-tailed Eagle (Bunya Mountains National Park, 2006) Wedge-tailed Eagle harassed by Australian Magpie (Upper Lockyer Valley, Queensland, 2008) Brown Goshawk (Immature) (Toowoomba cemetery, 1995) -Photographed with a Tamron 500mm mirror lens on Pentax Z-20 film camera (As… Continue reading
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Big Eagles at Shiretoko 2006
A White-tailed Sea-eagle soaring. Coming in. Charging in! Where’s the ball? A battle for fish. A council of wise White-tailed Sea-eagles. A Steller’s Sea-eagle arrives. Touch down! Ice skating… Hmmn……that young White-tail has a fish. I want fish too! Raaaghh!!! Fish for all! Continue reading