Sunday, 21 October 2018

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.











Saturday, 6 October 2018

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?