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Rough-legged Buzzard, January 2008 Niigata influx last…til now?
Rough-legged Buzzard. (Fukushimagata, Niigata January 15, 2008) I got a phone call Friday night from a Japanese friend who told me that two raptors of interest were at Fukushimagata. He translated the names from Japanese to English as a “Grey Harrier” and a “Fur-legged Buzzard”. I was a little confused at to which particular harrier Continue reading
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Dinosaurs in the Backyard.
Bell’s Lace Monitor (Photographed December 30, 2009, “Tiddalac”, Upper Lockyer, Queensland). It was 1977 and Australia was playing against England in the Centennial Cricket Test. Although I was keenly following the events on the TV, it was very difficult to remain still for the entire day and I often ventured outside to bowl a tennis Continue reading
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Osprey (Japan) versus Eastern Osprey (Australia).
Eastern Osprey, Pandion haliaetus cristatus (Cairns, August 2007) Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, (Japan – Fukushimagata, Niigata, April 2008). Have had a handful of close encounters with osprey both in Australia and Japan the last couple of years and thought I’d post some photographs for any keen-eyed observers. Australia’s osprey is now classified as “Eastern Osprey” – Continue reading
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Guardians of Niigata – Northern Goshawks.
An adult Northern Goshawk at rest at Junsai-ike, Niigata (summer 2010) August is about the quietest time for Northern Goshawks in Niigata. There are some around but they’re hiding with their young in thick green trees that cover them from the heat. In the second last week of September I saw a clump of ducks Continue reading
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Autumn Flycatchers
Asian Brown Flycatcher A collection of flycatchers are moving through Niigata at the moment. Apparently I missed a Japanese Paradise Flycatcher along with five Blue-and-white Flycatchers at Junsai-ike on Saturday. (was shown a nice pic of the former by a regular birder to Junsai-ike). The best I could do yesterday were these Asian Brown and Continue reading
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A Family of Scholars.
Long-eared Owl A school (on the outskirts of Niigata City) has had its own pair of breeding Long-eared Owls for at least the last few years. There is currently a family of five, with the two adults and the three young of 2010. The school’s principal seems proud of them and takes photos of them almost daily. Continue reading
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Fairy Fixations.
Male Superb Fairy-wren. I can find myself power walking along with world issues on my mind when hear a trilling bird call from shrubs or long grass. Suddenly I realise I’m carrying a large camera and I become transfixed on tiny, little elusive subjects with upright tails hopping about. I find myself fiddling with camera controls and stumbling Continue reading
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The Tragic Nest.
This is a sad story but I’m posting it in the hope I’ll get some replies and learn what to do under similar circumstances in the future. Magpie-larks are very common in Australia and are also known in English by other names such as “Mudlarks” as well as “Pee-wees”, the latter being my favourite Continue reading
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What’s in a Nest?
A retired Wedge-tailed Eagle’s nest. If only nests kept paper records. I wonder how many eaglets had become eagles in the nest pictured above? Can’t believe it’s already more than two weeks ago that Kay and Kevin took me to meet Lloyd and Lynne north of Toowoomba. Many thanks also to Lloyd and Lynne for Continue reading
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More from the Lockyer.
(Above and below) Superb Blue Wren (male) at USQ Gatton Campus on Monday. Unfortunatley photographed into the sun. (Below) Striped Honeyeater at Apex Lake, Gatton also on Monday. (Above) Male Variegated Wren. Tiddelac, Upper Lockyer Valley. (Sunday afternoon) (Above and below) Wedge-tailed Eagle, Tiddelac, (Sunday afternoon) Common Brushtail Possum (Tiddelac, Sunday night) Continue reading
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Greenmount.
Brown Falcon Spent an hour or two at Greenmount, south of Toowoomba this afternoon. Red-rumped Parrot Named Nankeen Kestrel in years past but now also known as an Australian Kestrel. One of a number of Little Corella. Continue reading
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Two Days at the Lockyer Valley.
Brown Falcon Spent two days at the Lockyer Valley, south-east Queensland and saw many wonderful things. Here’s just some photos. Very excited to see my first ever Platypus. (I’ve seen them splash around before but I think you can recognise what it is in this pic). (Above and below) Swift Parrots are a rare visitor Continue reading
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Trip to Durikai State Forest and Coolmunda Dam.
Azure Kingfisher Had another great outing with Kay and Kevin Williams today. We went to Durikai State Forest and Coolmunda Dam in south-east Queensland. Recorded 81 species on the trip which I think is pretty good. Also saw buckets of macropods (kangaroos and wallabies) but I’m out of practice identifying them. Anyway, we had beautiful Continue reading
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Powerful Owl Family.
Newly fledged Powerful Owls. Had a wonderful day with Kay and Kevin Williams of the Toowoomba Bird Observers. The highlight of the day was a family of Powerful Owls north of Toowoomba. We found three of them sitting near each other; one adult and two young. A young Powerful Owl. Adult Powerful Owl. The adult Continue reading
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B&B for Tired English Teachers.
Busy lately but summer holidays now. Photographed this B&B on the outskirts of Niigata city from a moving car on the night of May 1. Continue reading
Russell Jenkins Stoop Files 