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| Steller's Sea-eagle Niigata, Niigata, Japan February 1, 2014 |
Mr Honma's now in his late seventies. He doesn't go birding/birdwatching everyday but he keeps mindful of what's about the place.
He picked me up at 8am and our first bird of the day was the Steller's Sea-eagle. I'm not excited about photographing it up on the metal electricity tower but I'm still happy to see it. What bird-minded person in the world would be disappointed starting the day with a Steller's Sea-eagle?
After that, we visited the big, dark, Peregrine Falcon (Which I regard as a "Peale's Falcon"). I am a little concerned about it because it kept closing its right eye. We enjoyed nice views of it.
Then we headed to Hyoko and saw the winter collection of ducks. I took heaps of pics as usual and will post some later. They had posted a wanted ad the day before (in the newspaper), looking for American Wigeon and Smew. I took a pic of the Wigeon and was given a laminated certificate and two tickets for entry into the local museum.
To finish our outing off we visited an area known for a Crested Ibis. ("Toki") Lots of cars and photographers and sightseers.
We headed back home at 1pm and saw another Steller's Sea-eagle circling over the busy motor-bypass running right near the centre of the city.
I thought we'd seen a number of important birds for the morning; just running briefly between one then the next. I told Mr Honma any birder in the world would surely be impressed with such a tour. I told him he should get a bus and do the tour everyday. He looked at me very seriously but didn't say anything.
Thank you, Mr Honma. I really enjoyed the birds and your company!
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| Steller's Sea-eagle with Eurasian Kestrel below |
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| Peregrine Falcon |
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| Whooper Swan |
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| American Wigeon |
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| Notice looking for location and time of sighting of the two pictured birds. |
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| Birders watching "Toki" (Crested Ibis, Japanese Crested Ibis) |
5 comments:
Mr. Honma seems indeed to know exactly where to take you to see bird and photograph birds!
The Peregrine falcon and the Stellar eagle are 2 fantastic spottings!
A great pic footage showing the landscape at the same time!
I enjoyed this post Russell!
Keep well and enjoy your sunday!
This is indeed a very good birding day! It would be an incredible day for a tour, I'm sure. Starting off with a Steller's Sea Eagle and ending with a Crested Ibis is just amazing.
Lots of amazing sightings and great photos. The Whooper Swan and Íbis inflight shots are great.
It must be unusual to see a Peregrine Falcon perched over a doorway!
Sounds like a good birding day wherever you are in the world. Mr Honma should certainly consider a business proposition. How few birders there weem to be at the Crested Ibis - I can imagine the crowds for a similar UK twitch.
Great shots of the peregrine Russell and yes, that eye does look a little dodgy. Perhaps it has been scrapping?
Superb shot of the American Wigeon.
Nice American Wigeon. Is the Ibis a wild bird?
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