A Transition

Tundra Swan

Hyoko, Niigata, Japan

November 10, 2018

Well, I went to Hyoko a couple of times in the last month. Nothing new to report, but it's nice to see the same things in each season. After I watched a drone attacking the swans last month I have now photographed a number with cardboard structures around their necks but decided to leave them off the blog. 

I have found it hard to make new exciting finds to post frequently enough and heard that Google may restructure their free social services and I feared this blog may one day vanish. 

I'm grateful that I was able to start this blog and keep it going for 9 years, but it is a little hard to keep it interesting. I have also tried to start websites to show off some kind of portfolio but found it difficult to link the two. I have decided to buy a domain and see if I can manage a place where I can blog and display photos. It's not too posh and I haven't done much with it yet but I think I will post on it in the future. I will allow this site to be dormant for a while. Maybe I will come back in the future.

I've really enjoyed seeing other blogs from around the world and I hope they keep on going but it is also hard for me to keep up with my visits. Thank you to Google and my Followers who have supported me all this time. I'm especially grateful for the time you took to comment. I got a new magazine from Birdlife International yesterday and understand our birds need our continued support. I will do my best.

My new address is russelljenkinsstoopfiles.com

I will try to do some blog posts on it from time to time but maybe not so often. Please visit if you ever have the urge to see some birds from Niigata and surrounds.

Thank you again for your visits and may you find the birds you are looking for!

A Boomerang for a Drone

Tundra Swans being chased by a drone.

Hyoko, Niigata, Japan

October 21, 2018

I guess a good stick and a rock were once smart devices in human history. Now everyday I can side step walkers looking intensely into something in their palms. 

Today we stopped off at Hyoko just for half an hour but it was enough time to see a drone menacing swans on the rice-fields at the back. We also spotted a remote control zero fighter diving at them.

Could anybody tell me if this would be some kind of intended management by some kind of administrators, please? I have other photographs showing that the swans were startled.

A few times the drone came near and I was wishing I had a nice hardwood boomerang in my holster. The year before last we had a close encounter with a Steller's Eagle and our quiet attempted approach was drowned out by one of these buzzing above us. The eagle soon departed.

Arrivals and Departures

Bewick's Swan
(Tundra Swan)

Hyoko, Agano City, Niigata, Japan

October 6, 2018

Last night's local news was pretty exciting. They announced that the first swans arrived at Hyoko just before sunrise on Thursday. There were birders with tripods, scopes and cameras there to greet them. I wasn't there but, welcome back!

I went there today. There weren't so many and I saw some that looked pretty tired and hungry. I hope they will find food soon and fatten up before winter. It was a beautiful day with another typhoon approaching and I believe it got up to 30C. Strange to look at winter birds under brilliant warm sunshine.

I found a cross of winter birds and summer birds. A young cuckoo baffles me as well as some ducks. There are many brown ducks with different shaped heads and facial expressions. I fear, I'm a failed birder. I am often disconfident with my choice of words. Please help me, Stu.

Intermediate Egret

Grey Heron

Common Cuckoo

Juvenile

Perplexing Gadwell or Square-headed Pintails?

Mallard

(female)

Pintail?

Swarming Ducks

Northern Pintail

Fukushimagata, Niigata, Japan

September 30, 2018

Well. It's that time of the year again. It's exciting to see so many ducks arrive at Fukushimagata. Many Pintail went overhead without landing but in front of me were thousands of Common or Eurasian Teal. I visited last Sunday too, but there was only one single teal then. How a week has changed things. Raptors were on the go, but I failed to get any decent shots. Two peregrines, three goshawks. I could see a spectacular adult goshawk sitting out in the middle of the water but it was way out of reach of my lens. When it moved, so did the ducks and I totally lost sight of the raptor in the crowd. Hopefully some exciting months ahead.

I only stayed a short while as a felt the wind building its power behind my back. I decided to get home before the typhoon got here. I feel sorry for all those birds that have travelled far only to arrive in time for a typhoon.