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Three Hours Off.
Japanese Green Pheasant (Toyanogata, Niigata, April 6 2011) Took three hours off this afternoon. So glad I did. The light was really beautiful. Went for a walk around Toyanogata, Niigata. Japanese Green Pheasant Varied Tit Varied Tit Varied Tit Black-eared Kite Common Teal Daurian Redstart (male) Daurian Redstart Daurian Redstart Daurian Redstart (female) Daurian Redstart Continue reading
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Birds of Toowoomba – Galah
Galah (Toowoomba, January 2011) Imagine a large pink bird like this flying right by where you live. Imagine if it wasn’t just one bird, but a whole family group. Imagine if it didn’t happen just once but that it happened every day; several groups in the morning and again in the afternoon. The Whittleseas were Continue reading
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Birds of Toowoomba – Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike.
Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike (Toowoomba, December 2009) Thank you to everyone who has shown an interest in this blog and those who have sent e-mails and messages after the March disasters in Japan. Niigata is fairly safe although we remain concerned about the nuclear drama in neighbouring Fukushima and we are still feeling tremors from time Continue reading
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Quiet Skies
Black-eared Kite Out of harms way but we’re still swaying from time to time. I watched the news all last night and again this morning and finally had to go out. I went to Toyanogata at about 2pm but it was so quiet for birds. I couldn’t even find a crow. Eventually by 4pm I Continue reading
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Two Common Ducks
Pacific Black Duck (Toowoomba, March, 2008) One of the first birds I ever saw in Japan was a Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha (below). I immediately thought of the Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa (above) of Australia. Both ducks are common year round in both countries. Both are about the same in size but their colours are slightly different Continue reading
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Northern Lapwing.
Northern Lapwings (Fukushimagata, November 27, 2010) Just wanted to post these photos before I forgot about them. I know they’re not great but they’re the best I have of this species. They are fairly abundant around Fukushimagata in the cooler months but I rarely get close enough for photo opportunities. I usually watch for them Continue reading
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Brambling and Hawfinch
Brambling (Fukushimagata, February 27, 2011) Sounds like a law firm. No such birds as “Brambling” or “Hawfinch” in Australia. We came across these birds at Fukushimagata on Sunday. A Japanese friend said what they were in Japanese but he was only a little interested in looking at them. For me however, I was happy to Continue reading
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Birds of Toowoomba – Crested Pigeon.
Crested Pigeon (Toowoomba cemetery, December 29, 2010) I was going to do a single post about the common birds of Toowoomba but realised it would end up being huge. So anyway, I’ll occasionally post one species at a time. I thought Crested Pigeon is a good place to start. I like these pictures and think Continue reading
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Steller’s Sea-eagle in Niigata.
Steller’s Sea-eagle. -Power line tower # 18, a couple of k’s north of Fukushimagata, Niigata. Some photos of an adult Steller’s Sea-eagle as seen near Fukushimagata, Niigata. The photos are mixed-up but were taken on February 6 and today, the 19th. They aren’t great photos but it’s my first encounter with this species here since Continue reading
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Early Adventures for 2011.
Breeding Cattle Egret. (Gatton, Queensland) Had a couple of nice outings with some interesting naturalists to start the year off. Rod, Rob, Mick and I scanned around a vast area of the Lockyer Valley on Sunday and then down and around Murphys Creek with Olive and Mick for Monday morning. On and off sunshine was a little Continue reading
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End of Year Birds 2010
Peregrine Falcon Had a nice outing with Michael Atzeni this morning. The highlight was the above Peregrine attacking a kestrel at Gowrie Junction. It happened very quickly as they appeared and scooted up and down and around before disappearing. I only got one shot. It would have been good to get both birds in the Continue reading
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Swans and an Eagle.
The Whooper Swans are spread over the Sakata wetlands but move out to the ricefields by mid-morning. The main viewing platform of the reserve is a good place to watch them fly towards you and head over to the rice fields. White-tailed Sea-Eagle. I got the above photo on December 11th. It was a lucky shot Continue reading
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In the Hearts of the Bean Geese.
Fukushimagata, (Niigata) is a wetland reserve about half an hour’s drive north-east of central Niigata city. I learned a bit about its history when I arrived in Niigata some years ago but unfortunately I’ve forgotten a lot of details. I have Japanese brochures from the visitor’s centre but the best information I can currently find Continue reading
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Two Classic Aussies on the Wing.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. (Pittsworth, Queensland, January 6 2009) Little Corella. (Greenmount, Queensland, January 11 2009) Continue reading
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Woodpecker Pecking.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Sakata, Niigata, April 3 2010). I was excited about this encounter when it happened but as with busi-ness and all it all but left my mind. I haven’t had too many encounters with woodpeckers in my life. I love watching them squinting and closing their eyes when they’re pecking. They’re delightful and Continue reading
Russell Jenkins Stoop Files 