Whooper Swan
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The Winter Winds
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,… Continue reading
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The Wild Geese
After some wet weather, it fined up quickly and I took a couple of hours off to visit Fukushimagata. Lots of swans, and geese. Mainly Greater White-fronted Goose and Bean Goose, and the swan photos here are Whooper Swans. But the outdoor air and mountains really woke me up. It’s a slide-show so it may… Continue reading
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From Winter to Spring
I have been out actively trying to get wildlife pics around Niigata. At the end of March I took a day off and had some good views of an eagle and I found another older individual a week later. Since then we’ve already had the cherry blossoms come out and go away, followed by some… Continue reading
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Osprey and the Eagle
I wasn’t needed anywhere today and took the day off. I headed to Fukushimagata and found lots of birds merging between winter and spring. I heard skylarks overhead, but Whooper Swans paddled in the ponds reserved in the summer for lotus plants. Lots of waterfowl including ducks, egrets, herons, coots and cormorants. A large flock… Continue reading
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The Frozen Lake 2

A few years ago, I remember visiting Hyoko, Niigata and finding it frozen. It seems a while ago now, but I returned today to find it frozen again. We’ve had heaps of snow recently and although a lot of it has melted away, there are still big piles around the city and it was chest… Continue reading
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Instagram Posts from Yesterday – to do
It was a beautiful day yesterday and I went to Hyoko and took thousands of photos. I prepared some for Instagram as it seems to get more views than this website. That said, I still like keeping this webpage and I think it still gets some views. Bewick’s Swan Northern Goshawk Continue reading
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Mallards in the Rain
Today was very cold and wet in Niigata. I wish I could use the force to send it all to Australia. Hyoko, Niigata, Japan. January 2, 2020. Continue reading
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The Frozen Lake
Hyoko, Niigata, Japan February 11, 2018 After a long cold week with heavy snow, it was sunny yesterday morning so I went to Hyoko. It was treacherous walking between thick walls of ice. A kind lady showed her concern for me while I was standing on the slippery ice and she cleared a space for… Continue reading
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A Hybrid
Hybrid Ferruginous Duck + Common Pochard Hyoko, Niigata, Japan January, 2018 It’s been very cold the last few weeks and I haven’t birded much. I get so tired of falling down. I’ve heard people have had frozen toilets and showers and taps for days and days. Really different to following the Australian Open Tennis. These pics… Continue reading
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BiFs for the New Year
Northern Pintail Hyoko, Niigata, Japan January 5, 2018 After two years thinking about it, I finally got a Nikon D500. The pictures are noisier than the D800 but the AF is pretty amazing, and I can take millions of pictures in half a second. It seems. Thankfully I’m not paying $36 for a roll of… Continue reading
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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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Return of the Great Ice Eagle 2017
Fukushimagata Niigata, Japan January 29, 2017 I really love Mr Honma’s enthusiasm. Every winter we look for the Steller’s Sea-eagle and he is always so bright and hopeful. We set out at 6:30 in the dark and freezing cold and he is never bored with finding the same bird perched up high above us. I… Continue reading
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Autumn Swans
Whooper Swan Hyoko, Niigata, Japan November 13, 2016 Here are some swans from Hyoko last Sunday. It was a beautiful autumn day but just in a week the colours have changed to winter. Whooper Swans Tundra Swans Whooper Swan Continue reading
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The iWants
Northern Goshawk Adult Hyoko, Niigata, Japan February 21, 2016 Sony RX100iii held up to a Nikon ED50 field scope I didn’t bring an adaptor! I want a big new spotting scope. Either Zeiss, Swarovski, or Leica will do. The above goshawk looked fantastic through my little scope but I imagined a nice, intimate portrait with… Continue reading
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Ducks and Hunters
Mostly Eurasian Teal Eastern Marsh Harrier A Northern Pintail in there A lone Swan. I guess a Whooper Swan Continue reading