2017
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Another Year Over
Cygnus Hyoko, Niigata, Japan December, 2017 My mum passed away on the first day of this year so today is the eve of her first anniversary. I still have metal things in the arm I broke. The largest looks like a utensil for serving spaghetti. There have been some challenges but I have wonderful family… Continue reading
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Duck for Christmas
Hyoko, Niigata, Japan December 27, 2017 It’s nice to get some time off for winter. It seems to have been a long year. Being in Japan, Christmas Day was a work day but I took it off and headed to Hyoko. I found an adult Northern Goshawk hunting there then. Today I headed back with… Continue reading
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Cormorants in the Rain
Great Cormorant Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan December 20, 2017 I’ve learned living in Niigata, that if you don’t go out in the rain, you just don’t go out. I think there are three possible cormorants to see in Niigata, but I just call them all “Great Cormorants”. I must study the ones by the sea more… Continue reading
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Sunny at Sakata
Sakata Niigata, Japan December 3, 2017 Yesterday Keiko, Jonah, and Luke kindly took me to Sakata. It was sunny but very cool when we got there. It was nice to see plenty of waterfowl out on the water including Smew, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shovelers and maybe more. I mostly enjoyed seeing long legged birds… Continue reading
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Don’t Egret It
Great White Egret Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan November 28, 2017 After impatiently waiting for rain to go away, Monday and Tuesday were fine. I decided to take some time off and go to Fukushimagata. Many geese and swans but few raptors. I mostly enjoyed breathing air and seeing the mountains. Maybe it will be the last… Continue reading
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Sekiya Beach
Blue Rock Thrush Female Sekiya Beach, Niigata, Sea of Japan, Japan November 12, 2017 I rarely visit the seaside, but decided to try something new. It was dull in the morning with strong winds but it was refreshing and dramatic. I had an exciting encounter with a young peregrine that shot over my shoulder to… Continue reading
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Yahiko Chrysanthemum Festival 2017
Chrysanthemum Yahiko Shrine, Niigata, Japan November 3, 2017 Today was Culture Day, a national holiday, and we went to Yahiko Shrine with 10 million other people to enjoy the autumn colours and the Chrysanthemum Festival. There were happy, smiling people everywhere. It was a beautiful, fine day. A nice way to spend a Friday. Continue reading
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Dogfight
Northern Goshawk Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan October, 2017 Almost every October I have found young goshawks around Fukushimagata with their eyes on the freshly arrived teal. This year a more mature bird has been on patrol. There is usually one or two Eastern Marsh Harriers about the place as well and this one time I managed… Continue reading
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October Arrivals
Common Coot Hyoko, Niigata, Japan October 21, 2017 Not so cold yet, but pretty dull. I’m happy to see all the new arrivals at Hyoko. Some Tundra Swans, but no Whoopers yet. The usual assortment of common ducks have made their way from the continent in the north. There’ll be many more to come in… Continue reading
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Zen and
Spot-billed Duck Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan I saw a book advertised in a Birdlife magazine this past summer and I ordered it. It is called “The Art of Mindful Birdwatching – Reflection on Freedom & Being”. It was written by Claire Thompson and published by Leaping Hare Press, UK. It has some nice ideas and I… Continue reading
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Raptor Migration, Mt Yamamoto, 2017
Raptor Migration Mt Yamamoto, Ojiya, Niigata, Japan September 24, 2017 We enjoyed watching the raptor migration at Mt Yamamotto, Ojiya this morning. We just stayed for 2 hours but we saw hundreds. My photos don’t really show the splendid spirals of hundreds rising vertically in a big corkscrew above us. We didn’t get close to… Continue reading
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Kyoto
Kyoto Japan May, 2015 Here’s some pics from a visit to Kyoto in 2015. I lived there many years ago and took slides of birds along the Kamo River. I like urban birding. Now I’m interested in the scenery. Continue reading
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A Sticky Around Town
Laurel Bank Park Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia January, 2017 My uncle and I went for bit of a look around Toowoomba back in January. Continue reading
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Sunset Over the Sea of Japan
Sun going down over Sado Island in the Sea of Japan Niigata, Japan August 27, 2017 I think it would have been better with a bit more cloud. Continue reading