Tag: Hyoko

Hyoko with Billy

by Russell Jenkins, posted in Uncategorized
Bewick’s Swan

Hyoko, Niigata, Japan

October 17, 2015

Post Edit: Stu from Hakodate Birding correctly corrected me as identifying the swans in this post as Bewick’s Swans. I had incorrectly labelled them as Whoopers. There are usually two species of swans at Hyoko in the winter; Whooper Swan and Bewick’s Swan. As Whoopers seem to outnumber the Bewick’s most years I usually assume that everything is a Whooper. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, Stu.

Billy and I enjoyed a few hours at Hyoko this morning. I’m keen to brainwash him about birds. The weather was beautiful and clear. I usually wait and visit Hyoko when it is grey and dull in the midst of winter. We found a few arrivals for winter and I enjoyed getting some portraits in nice light. We also saw one peregrine and a young goshawk which stirred up the ducks at the back of the lake.

Bewick’s Swan

Tufted Duck

I took a number of similar portraits but I like looking at them. They are all different.

Spot-billed Duck

Northern Pintail

Female

The Amazing Flying Pintails

by Russell Jenkins, posted in Uncategorized
Northern Pintails

Hyoko, Niigata, Japan

January 24, 2015
Here are some flight shots I took last weekend trying out the Nikon D7100 and AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm VR. I don’t know if the af is as good as the D800 but I’m getting old and these pics made me sentimental. I remember visiting the Birds Australia Library back in the early 90s, and a kind and patient man named David Eades kindly showed me articles written by the great American photographer, Brian Wheeler on how to photograph birds in flight. I still only had a manual film camera and only seemed to get a keeper once every three months but was desperate to take better pictures. I still remember David’s and Brian’s advice and I’m grateful. I think it is not so difficult for everybody to get such pics these days. Then, we never imagined today’s amazing cameras.

uncropped

Rockets

by Russell Jenkins, posted in Uncategorized
Hyoko, Niigata, Japan

January 24, 2015

Saturday was supposed to have poor weather but a sunny morning saw me grab my gear and head to Hyoko for the afternoon. I was only there for 80 minutes but I took about a thousand pics. 
It was very exciting for a raptor nut such as myself with peregrines stirring up the ducks farther over behind the trees you can see in the above landscape. 
It was so exciting I went back again yesterday and saw what I believe to be the same two Peregrines  from the day before, an adult and the below young one.
Lots of families take their children there to buy rice husks and feed the ducks and swans, hence there are many birds attracted to the place and it is a wonderful place for photographers.
Sunday was pretty dull but I’m pretty happy with the action shots for dim conditions with my new Nikon D7100. The landscape at the top was with my D800 and 25mm lens.
A young Peregrine Falcon

as it flew over on Saturday

At the back of Hyoko many wild ducks mostly Eurasian Teal and Mallard were stirred up by an adult Peregrine on Sunday, January 25.

Where’s the falcon?

-If you look just above-right of the centre you can see the out-of-focus adult Peregrine moving left.

I could only see the falcon when it rose above the landscape!

If you go down from the “J” in Jenkins you can see a male Baikal Teal heading left.

Christmas Mixed Ducks

by Russell Jenkins, posted in Uncategorized
Thank you for visiting this blog for another year. I’m very grateful for your visits and comments. I know it’s a busy time of the year but I hope you can have a bit of time to sit down with a quiet beer and enjoy these mixed ducks…..
Some hints: All photos taken at Hyoko, Niigata, Japan.
Eurasian Wigeon, Common Pochard, Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Northern Pintail, ?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Visitors from the North Pacific?

by Russell Jenkins, posted in Uncategorized
Peregrine Falcon

Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan

November 24, 2014

Today was a national holiday and I enjoyed a walk around Fukushimagata. (It was a dull day as you can see in the photos, but no rain!) More and more, I’m not surprised when finding birds that I think are from the North Pacific region. The above peregrine is a return visitor, the locals call, “O-hayabusa”. (Great Peregrine) I’m sure it is the same one in the same location seen the last few winters. I think it is a Peale’s Falcon as in this past post.

Not long after I photographed the “Northern Pacific Peregrine”, some “Lesser Canada Geese” flew over. I’ve reported them before as well as seen here.

I’ve also included an American Wigeon, which I photographed at Hyoko back on November 8, 2014.

According to my field guides, all these guys are supposed to be rare visitors to Japan. I’m lucky to meet up with them again!

Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan

American Wigeon 

Hyoko, Niigata, Japan

November 8, 2014

Fukushimagata

Lesser Canada Goose

Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan

November 24, 2014

Lesser Canada Goose (top) with Bean Goose (below)