Tag: woodpecker

Birds at Toyanogata, Niigata in Winter

by Russell Jenkins, posted in Japanese Birds

Again, I have been visiting the same place at Toyanogata and recognise the same winter birds in the same place. I have found a female Great Spotted Woodpecker who doesn’t care about me following and watching her. She just ignores me and gets on with her business of pecking.

Last week, I had a super encounter with an adult Northern Goshawk. I had all my camera settings for chasing the woodpecker, and I had no time to change them when I saw the goshawk coming overhead. I just had to hold the lens steady and get some photos as it passed overhead like a torpedo. (As if I were standing on the seabed looking up)

Goshawks often fly with shallow, but fast wingbeats followed by short glides. It is really rare to see an adult fly over me like this. A few seconds, and it was gone.

Yesterday, I returned and saw the woodpecker. I saw another younger goshawk, but failed to get any pics while it flew behind tress. I also saw lots of waterfowl and the most osprey I have ver seen in the one place. I saw one osprey stoop, but the glide harrier-like over the top of the water, but again I was obscured by trees to see what it took. I have suspicions that the osprey in this place may also take waterfowl. I remember many years ago cycling on the other side of the Toyano lake and crossed paths with an osprey struggling in flight with something large, and heavy, and the moment we crossed, I believe I saw the green head and yellow bill of a male mallard in its clutches. I guess, I should return to do further research. Below, is a collection of some pics from yesterday.

Woodpeckers of Winter

by Russell Jenkins, posted in Japan, Japanese Birds, Winter

Usually this time of year, I head to the wetlands searching for raptors, but to be honest, I just keep taking the same photographs year after year. Don’t get me wrong, I love fleeting encounters with raptors, but my image folders become stale looking at the same birds with similar poses. This year, my biggest resolution is to attempt to photograph difficult and elusive birds such as woodpeckers. I have seen three species this year, and as aways they appear briefly, then flick away to another tree, or they stay on the back of the tree, and we play stupid hide-and-seek games. One thing is for sure though – They are pretty lovely. Even just a brief glimpse is a joy. Thus, I will make an effort to improve on my woodpecker photo collection. Here are some images taken at Toyanogata, Niigata, last Friday. Maybe I was just there for ten minutes so I’m sure I can do better with greater effort. These photos are of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, but I discovered Niigata can have two versions, the “Eurasian” and/or the “Japanese”. I still think this a a “Japanese Great Spotted Woodpecker.

I did have a nice encounter with a young White-tailed Eagle on December 28. My photos are pedestrian but it’s always thrilling to have the breeze cross over your shoulder.