Japanese Birds

December 15, 2019

Dark Day Hunters

December can be dark and gloomy in Niigata. There can still be beauty and excitement to find however. I fear my D500 and 5.6 lens capture more noise than I like. That said, it is remarkable what current cameras can do. Hyoko, Niigata, Japan Eurasian Marsh Harrier Northern Goshawk and Carrion Crow Tundra Swans The… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Carrion Crow, Eastern Buzzard, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Teal, Hyoko, Northern Goshawk, Sparrow, Tundra Swan
December 9, 2019

Saturday Morning Briefly

Went birding just for 2 hours on Saturday morning at Fukushimagata and found another young goshawk just when I arrived. It’s a good sign to see so many young ones around. I hope they get by as the winter comes. Lots of mixed geese in the surroundings but didn’t get close. Will have to make… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Bean Goose, Northern Goshawk, Sparrow
December 3, 2019

Photographing Chaos

When a butterfly flaps its wings in Costa Rica, this is what happens in Japan. It was pretty exciting at Hyoko on Saturday. At one stage I saw 4 young and one adult Northern Goshawk on the wing at the same time. I didn’t know where to point my lens. When they are on the… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Baikal Teal, Eurasian Teal, Hyoko, Mallard, Northern Goshawk, Northern Pintail, Swan
December 2, 2019

An Encounter with a Beautiful, Young Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis) Immature female I went to Hyoko twice over the weekend. The first day was 5C when I got there and I think it got colder as time went on. Yesterday, was sunny and 15C. The birds behaved differently each day too. Yesterday’s sunny warmth seemed to allow everyone to be… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Accipiter nisus nisosimilis, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Hyoko, Northern Sparrowhawk
November 23, 2019

Sunny and Warm with Raptors

Usually by this time of the year, it is dark and wet. Although we have had such days, there have been many warm and sunny days too. I haven’t been birding much but I’ve had some nice raptor encounters. Today, after a long stroll around the Shinano River in Nagaoka, I had my first encounter… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Eastern Buzzard, Nagaoka, White-tailed Eagle
November 10, 2019

Eye on the Pea

Spent a few hours at Hyoko in the morning. Pretty quiet most of the time until a number of raptors became active around noon. I was waiting around trying to get shots of an Eastern Marsh Harrier. They just never come close enough. Anyway, I should keep my eyes pealed on everything happening around me… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Eastern Marsh Harrier, Hyoko, Northern Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon
October 29, 2019

Great Spotted Woodpecker and Autumn Friends

I had a nice encounter with a Great Spotted Woodpecker just before the rain set in at Hyoko last Saturday. The tv news said last night that we’d had 19 rainy days out of 28 for the month. of course, the fine days were usually Mondays and Wednesdays. It spat a bit today too. Very… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Eurasian Wigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Hyoko, Tundra Swan
August 21, 2019

Hunting Crow

Don’t be fooled into thinking that raptors are terrible and evil hunters preying on the beautiful and weak. The most carnage I have seen in Japan has been by the common Oriental Crow (Nee, Carrion Crow). I have seen them take swallows, bats and this finch. They destroy Goshawk nests, push around Steller’s Eagles and… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Carrion Crow, Oriental Crow
May 6, 2019

3 Spring Birds

Blue-and-white Flycatcher (male) Golden Week 2019 is soon setting into history. My passerine photo collection still wains behind large easy to photograph raptors and here are my only successes. I tried hard but didn’t find many subjects other than these. These three are still excitement for tired eyes, a sore throat and blocked nose. Red-flanked… Continue reading

Japan, Japanese Birds

Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Narcissus Flycatcher, Red-flanked Bluetail
March 10, 2019

Winter’s End

Here are some recent images from Niigata. It’s seems winter had an early end, yet snow is forecast for Wednesday. A lot of rain today. I visited some different places and suddenly the swans and ducks that made up the bulk of birdlife throughout winter have gone. The weekend was sunny and spring-like, but I… Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Crow, Grosbeak, Hawfinch, Smew, warbler, wren
February 12, 2019

Sparrows in Snow

Some sparrows at Hyoko, Niigata. Hyoko is famous for swans and ducks but there are also some smaller species. All look beautiful in the snow. Continue reading

Japanese Birds

Hyoko, Japan, snow, Sparrow, Winter
January 10, 2019

The Swans, The Mountains and The Ducks

Well, the winter break is far over already. I was hoping to spend lots of time capturing goshawks and falcons chasing ducks around the wetlands, but I could only muster a few rare and distant glimpses. My most successful photos were just of the swans and the mountains, which I took on December 31. Maybe… Continue reading

Japanese Birds, Winter

2018, Ducks, Hyoko, Japan, Mallard, mountains, Niigata, Northern Pintail, Smew, snow, Spot-billed Duck, Swan, Winter

About Me

Spring in February
by Russell Jenkins
February 15, 2026

Daurian Redstart (Female)

We had weeks of freezing, dull weather, but suddenly we had a glorious spring weekend. I went to Fukushimagata on Saturday but barely got any photos. I was surprised to see most of the geese and swans had gone. Then today I was really happy to see Daurian Redstarts. Surely a sign of spring.

Daurian Redstart (Male)
Fun, Sun, and Snow!
by Russell Jenkins
January 11, 2026
Great White Egret stalking at Fukushimagata.

After a very cold week, Saturday brought sunshine to Niigata City. I woke up early but didn’t want to go out on black ice when it was 1 degree celsius and waited till after 8. By then, the centre of the roads had begun to thaw and I felt safer going out and about. I was in different minds where to go, but I’m glad I chose my old friend, Fukushimagata.

At first, I stayed along a canal in hope of finding Falcated Ducks, and a possible raptor using it as a corridor, but the Falcated Ducks were no longer where I knew them to be and there seemed to be more going on in the distance around me.

As I started to move up the canal towards the wetlands I encountered a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Japanese Tits, and Brambling at the trees to the side. The woodpeckers flew off quickly so I continued to step through the snow towards the wetland. Once I got to the next bridge, something stirred up the geese around me and there was noise and movement all about. I first came to Fukushimagata, Niigata, in 2004, and was amazed by the thousands of geese that autumn. As the years passed, I felt there has been fewer, but yesterday, I felt the same as I did when I first visited. It was lovely to see so many large, wild birds with the snow covered mountains in the background and the sun reflected off the melting white ground.

Greater White-fronted Goose

Bean Goose

Small family groups of humans and lone birders trudged to the observatory within the wetlands, but I chose to sit on an old bench and wait for the birds to come to me. Which they did. Lots of close encounters with swans, and geese, Great Cormorants, and coot. The Great Egret had no fear of me, and arrived right in front of me and stalked calmly at the water’s edge. At times the geese stirred up, and I was thrilled to see a distant White-tailed Eagle mixing up the place before it decided to land in a a tree out in the middle of the wetlands. I sat there waiting for it to get back into action, but it out-waited me, and I left to walk my dog before the fine day came to an end. I sat long enough to watch the eagle being mobbed by passing crows, harriers, buzzards, Black-eared Kites and anyone else bothered by its presence. Not me. I felt very calm sitting there with all the wild birds about me with the light reflecting upwards. I got sunburnt, but it was time to myself, and I did manage to walk an appreciative dog for 90 minutes in the sun afterwards. Guilt free happiness for one day.
A Japanese Buzzard prepares to swoop down at a White-tailed Eagle sitting in the tree below. The other raptor coming front-on is a Black-eared Kite.
The Winter Winds
by Russell Jenkins
January 7, 2026
I was standing alone with a cold wind gust up against my back and snow flakes sparsely twirling about when a pigeon hurried right past my face. I barely had time to begin to inhale when this Peregrine appeared in front of me from the same direction. I managed to fire off just four frames; the first two – blank sky, the third this image, and the fourth, blank sky again.

I arrived back to Japan after my September adventure in Australia and it was still hot. I walked around in a dream with the images of Fairy-wrens, Galahs, and kangaroos in my mind and the the days turned to nights and the bright summer light eventually faded and the winds came. Always in late October, there is a time when I find myself laying awake in the midst of night listening to the faint calls of swans arriving from the far north and the howls of the wind open a new door in my outlook and my wardrobe. A change of clothes and excitement that the winter birds have arrived to comfort me in the coming cold.

Pochard

Spot-billed Ducks

Swans

Eurasian Wigeon

Eurasian Teal

Swans

Niigata has two days when the sky is blue and the winds are gentle, then five when it sleets and gusts. As I get older, I wish to rest when I should be “making hay”, then I have an urge to go out when the wind will hurt my bones. Birds can be funny here too. I can go out and search and search to find crows and sparrows when it’s fine, but I have learned I can find something special when I should be playing guitar in a warm room with a cup of hot green tea. It is the brief outing in poor conditions when I seem to get unexpected thrills right in front of my face, such a Peregrine Falcon or Falcated Duck. I did, however venture out to find a Durian Redstart on a sunny afternoon the week before my winter vacation. To me it was a sign it was unlikely to snow as I usually see these superb little birds after the heavy snow season has come to an end, sometimes late February but I think mostly March. We did have some brief snow events so far this winter but my weather apps mostly describe days of “Freezing Rain”. I am still amazed to see people jogging in such conditions, when my mind is searching for cricket updates from home where the days are hot.
- Durian Redstart
- Bull-headed Shrike
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Eastern Buzzrd
- Also now known as
- Japanese Buzzard
I did have one other nice experience at Toyanogata on one of the two sunny days in my winter vacation watching, filming, and photographing, a Great Spotted Woodpecker pecking away undeterred by my presence stumbling below trying to find position with good light and angle. Woodpeckers are always a thrill for an Australian. Maybe I will go out looking again.

Another encounter with a peregrine in the snow.

A Japanese Tree Sparrow

Japanese Buzzard

Bull-headed Shrike
Runaway Trains
by Russell Jenkins
October 21, 2025
Rainbow Bee-eater diving into a dam on the Darling Downs, Queensland, September 2025.

Runaway Trains

Not long ago, I finished only my second real holiday since before the pandemic. It was my second visit to Australia since 2019. The days went by so fast. I barely started each day and my mind and body were overtaken by the atoms buzzing around me. I thought I had plans, but I had no chance to do everything with few days and the distractions all about me. All better than my plans. Each day was like riding in an old wooden buffet car of a runaway train.
- Brown Goshawk
- Australian Pelican
- Black Swan
I had barely stepped both feet out of the customs and security exits at Brisbane Airport and I was amazed to see the large soaring figure of an adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle in front of the passenger pick-up. Rob and Rod then grabbed me by the collar and we were whisked around giant warehouses where bouncing monster trucks were surrounded by Australian Pelicans, Black Swans, Mangrove Gerygones, Superb Fairy-wrens, Brown Goshawks, Brahminy Kites and other distant sea eagles. So much was going on before the minute-hand completed a single circuit. And as far as a buffet car goes, in Japan, we can enjoy many exotic delicacies like miso ramen, sashimi from the Sea of Japan, koshihikari rice, sasadangos, and even Murakami beef, but nothing is anything like one of Sid’s pies.

Tawny Frogmouth

Cutlery bounced and rattled on the saucer in front of me with all the windows wide down as the carriage slid and clattered and rattled on rusted, weathered rails. I stuck my head out into the sunshine and hooed and cooed with the wind blasting up my nostrils. It only seemed a moment before we faded into the dark quiet of a tunnel, and I awoke back, bouncing around in my booth with the roar of the wind, and persistent calls of Butcherbirds, Magpies, Currawongs, Lorikeets, and even a distant Kookaburra, announcing the start another journey on the new Bakelite speakers.

Rainbow Bee-eater with a wasp.

It was the middle of the week in September when we trekked to the doorstep of the west. Far away from working days in the city. Thank you to Martin and Karen for your generosity. Milly, Lincoln, Blackie, and the Bottle Trees, all greeted me kindly and I listened intently to the absence of motors and devices. The depth of the night sky is truly incredible from here. The sky is so bright, and the ground so dark; until your headlamp catches thousands of eyes of Wolf Spiders gazing back at you. Like a reflection of the night sky.

On the second night, as I went to unzip the entrance to my tent, a large Huntsman ran down along the path of the zipper and departed to the right. I entered the tent, organised my things, and as I lay down I realised I hadn’t closed the outer flaps. Not to worry. The night breeze was clean and fresh and I could watch satellites pass through the stars. Then it started to rain. A city boy in the bush, I unzipped the inner layer to reach out and zip up the outer. All done, I rested flat on my back and watched the return of the Huntsman. He was inside the outer layer but outside the inner layer. His shape was beautiful directly above my face and I fell deeply asleep.

Double-barred Finch late in the morning

I woke in the same position. Like I came out of the tunnel unmoved. It was just before six, and the spider had gone. I thought about how clear my mind felt and I had no pain in my back. Then I noticed the wisps and trills of Fairy-wrens just metres to the back of my tent. The train carriage was sharply bouncing about and I had no time to relax. It was the third and final chance to chase Purple-backed Fairy-wrens. They had been there from the start. They hopped and chatted right in front of me but were always obscured by sticks and stalks, and leaves. When I crept closer they would go to the back of the shrub they were in, then flutter to a farther bush. I followed them blindly and I treaded steadfully onward, but they out-paced me as they dispersed outback. I finally gave up the chase realising each time their voices had become more distant and spread out. It was unlikely I could catch up with them. I stood alone. Only in view of the Bottle Trees. The tea in my cup was stale and cold and the carriage was empty. I would head back to the camp. Then I noticed. Every time I headed back to the camp, the fairies would follow me. They’d get close behind just before I could get back to my seat. I thought they were tormenting me.

I don’t remember when it happened. The fairy-wrens were around the camp and I begrudgingly got off my seat to have another go at capturing their image. I felt somewhat cynical, and doubtful. It was still nice being beside the trees and the grasses, but I was less ambitious about my photography and stopped and browsed my camera menu. I totally removed my attention from the birds. Without any warning, five of them popped their faces out barely 2 metres away. As if they were wondering why I was no longer playing with them. In just a moment I grabbed some pictures to be happy with. Then I knew they weren’t tormenting me at all. Maybe they enjoyed the attention and were playing with me. It felt like a Dreamtime story. I’m sure it is. I miss them now. Not for their pictures, but for their companionship.
I would understand if Ludwig Leichhardt followed Fairy-wrens far, far through the lands and into the stars.

Rob and I attempted to photograph Rainbow Bee-eaters as they splashed into a dam for insects, and the sun slowly went down. It was amazing and frustrating, and we didn’t know if we were getting any useful photographs, yet we could have continued that for eternity too, if the day hadn’t ended.
(Images Below: Spiny-checked Honey-eater in flight, Brown Honey-eater drinking, and Black-striped Wallabies.)
Grey Kangaroos on the Darling Downs

I visited the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers Parade for the first time in more than twenty years. They announced it was only the second time it had ever rained. Niigata City celebrated their dance festival during the same period, and it was reported to me when I returned, that it was sunny. It rained there my last few visits. One must not be superstitious.

South-eastern Queensland is vivid and beautiful in September. I was freezing at night during my first week, but the forecast was for 36 Celsius in Brisbane just days after I left. It is an old, wooden carriage that rattles and bounces, and bumps. But the light bounces like metal wheels in all directions and the breezes bring aromas of pollen, bat poo, oxygen and stories.

Lace Monitor on the Darling Downs
- Welcome Swallow
- Leaden Flycatcher
- Yellow-rumped Thornbill
- Orchid
Bearded Dragon in the Lockyer Valley

Superb Fairy-wren at Duggan Park

I gate-crashed one event of the inaugural Toowoomba Bird Fair. It is now part of the Carnival of Flowers, which is forever blooming brighter and wider. My friend Mick, picked me up this time as well as helping a birding tour of Duggan Park, where we found Superb Fairy-wrens, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Welcome Swallows, Galahs, Little Corellas, White Ibis, Wedge-tailed Eagles, et, al; and even a Dollarbird. Furthermore, I was reminded there are other people in the world who love birds and even photograph them. Mick and I then witnessed the beginning of a whole new era of naturalists and Astro travellers taking up the art at the Toowoomba Bird Habitat with bird focussed activities for children. I hope they’ll join up to celebrate the 50th reunion in 2075, and laugh about the days when they started.

Galah

Little Corella

I cannot complete a complete diary of my holiday for there is limited space on the internet. I can only recall my tour along the north shore of Brisbane, where we ate fish and chips, and prawns from the hand-script of Herman Melville. I bought a freshly made Cappuccino and sipped it as I photographed a beautiful Brahminy Kite. I’ve decided now to always sip cappuccinos while photographing raptors. That was on a Friday. On Monday morning I was asked to teach the alphabet to Grade Threes. Fortunately, the students were patient and kind to me as I fumbled through it. Just as everyone else.
- Dogfight between Australian Hobby and a Whistling Kite
- Magpie Geese at Gatton Uni
- Yellow-rumped Thornbill
- Magpie Goose in flight
I didn’t see who placed a new cup of tea in front of me, but I see the cup is now sitting still and quiet on the saucer, and the tea is hot and fresh. Thank you. It would be nice though, to have just one more chocolate brownie.

Osprey House
- Crested Tern
- Brahminy Kite
The End
Dark, Quiet,
by Russell Jenkins
January 2, 2025

Apart from my visit to Australia, my 2024 was fairly uneventful birding wise. I’m on holidays at the moment but rain, rain, rain, wind, wind, wind, has been the schedule since December started. Snow is on the menu for tomorrow. The max will be 3, but it has been steadily going between 3 and 5 Celsius for a while now. It is dark. The middle of the day is too dark for bird photography. I’ve had my eye on the Nikkor 600mm f6.3 for a while, but it’d be too dark at that aperture. Even f4 struggles in the middle of winter here.

The photos I’m adding today are from a stroll through Toyanogata on the first day of 2025. It was a better day than last year. I ended up huddled on a rooftop with the threat of tsunami after the earthquake, and the year before I was sick in bed. Yesterday was dark, but I could go for a walk. I saw a Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Northern Goshawk and a Japanese Green Pheasant, but I was too slow to get clear shots. I did see lots of shrikes however. I don’t have many photos of shrikes, so I might try and get some if I have a chance in the days ahead. Birds were the usual suspects, and I was focussing on a Brown-eared Bulbul when it narrowly escaped a charging shrike. The shrike was much smaller, but very fast and aggressive. I always see these things and forget to take the photo!

Bull-headed Shrike

I’m an Australian interested in nature, photography, culture, and art based in Japan.

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Dark Day Hunters

November 22, 2025

December can be dark and gloomy in Niigata. There can still be beauty and excitement to find however. I fear my D500 and 5.6 lens capture more noise than I like. That said, it is remarkable what current cameras can do. Hyoko, Niigata, Japan Eurasian Marsh Harrier Northern Goshawk and Carrion Crow Tundra Swans The…
Saturday Morning Briefly

November 22, 2025

Went birding just for 2 hours on Saturday morning at Fukushimagata and found another young goshawk just when I arrived. It’s a good sign to see so many young ones around. I hope they get by as the winter comes. Lots of mixed geese in the surroundings but didn’t get close. Will have to make…
Photographing Chaos

November 22, 2025

When a butterfly flaps its wings in Costa Rica, this is what happens in Japan. It was pretty exciting at Hyoko on Saturday. At one stage I saw 4 young and one adult Northern Goshawk on the wing at the same time. I didn’t know where to point my lens. When they are on the…
An Encounter with a Beautiful, Young Eurasian Sparrowhawk

November 22, 2025

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis) Immature female I went to Hyoko twice over the weekend. The first day was 5C when I got there and I think it got colder as time went on. Yesterday, was sunny and 15C. The birds behaved differently each day too. Yesterday’s sunny warmth seemed to allow everyone to be…
Sunny and Warm with Raptors

November 22, 2025

Usually by this time of the year, it is dark and wet. Although we have had such days, there have been many warm and sunny days too. I haven’t been birding much but I’ve had some nice raptor encounters. Today, after a long stroll around the Shinano River in Nagaoka, I had my first encounter…
Eye on the Pea

November 22, 2025

Spent a few hours at Hyoko in the morning. Pretty quiet most of the time until a number of raptors became active around noon. I was waiting around trying to get shots of an Eastern Marsh Harrier. They just never come close enough. Anyway, I should keep my eyes pealed on everything happening around me…
Great Spotted Woodpecker and Autumn Friends

November 22, 2025

I had a nice encounter with a Great Spotted Woodpecker just before the rain set in at Hyoko last Saturday. The tv news said last night that we’d had 19 rainy days out of 28 for the month. of course, the fine days were usually Mondays and Wednesdays. It spat a bit today too. Very…
Hunting Crow

November 22, 2025

Don’t be fooled into thinking that raptors are terrible and evil hunters preying on the beautiful and weak. The most carnage I have seen in Japan has been by the common Oriental Crow (Nee, Carrion Crow). I have seen them take swallows, bats and this finch. They destroy Goshawk nests, push around Steller’s Eagles and…
3 Spring Birds

November 22, 2025

Blue-and-white Flycatcher (male) Golden Week 2019 is soon setting into history. My passerine photo collection still wains behind large easy to photograph raptors and here are my only successes. I tried hard but didn’t find many subjects other than these. These three are still excitement for tired eyes, a sore throat and blocked nose. Red-flanked…
Winter’s End

November 22, 2025

Here are some recent images from Niigata. It’s seems winter had an early end, yet snow is forecast for Wednesday. A lot of rain today. I visited some different places and suddenly the swans and ducks that made up the bulk of birdlife throughout winter have gone. The weekend was sunny and spring-like, but I…
Sparrows in Snow

November 22, 2025

Some sparrows at Hyoko, Niigata. Hyoko is famous for swans and ducks but there are also some smaller species. All look beautiful in the snow.
The Swans, The Mountains and The Ducks

November 22, 2025

Well, the winter break is far over already. I was hoping to spend lots of time capturing goshawks and falcons chasing ducks around the wetlands, but I could only muster a few rare and distant glimpses. My most successful photos were just of the swans and the mountains, which I took on December 31. Maybe…