More Birds from Japan

Here are the rest of the photos my Japanese birder contact, Isao Saitou, took and sent to me. The first bird, Long-eared Owl, is the only one also present in Oregon. However, the Orange-flanked Bush-robin has been popping up all over the world lately, including western Alaska. http://www.theguardian.com/science/grrlscientist/2012/mar/10/2   Who knows where it will appear next?

Asio otus, Long-eared Owl

Asio otus, Long-eared Owl

Aegithalos caudatus, Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Buteo buteo, Common Buzzard

Haliacetus pelagicus, Steller's Sea Eagle

Cyanoptila cyanomelana, Blue-and-white Flycatcher

Cettia diphone, Japanese Bush Warbler

Erithacus akahige, Japanese Robin or Komadori

Tarsiger cyanurus, Orange-flanked Bush-robin

Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Eurasian Bullfinch

Ruddy Kingfisher, Halcyon coromanda

Crested Serpent Eagle, Spilornis cheela

Haliaeetus albicilla, White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

Japanese Crested Ibis

No, I haven't been to Japan. Rather, my Japanese sister, Yoko, along with her daughter Maki and family, visited us last week. Yoko has a friend in Japan, Isao Saitou, who is an ardent birder. He sent along a little thingie to plug into the computer (I have no clue what those thingies are called) with photos he has taken of Japanese birds and asked that I put photos of Great Egrets on it for him. Fortunately, Steve and family were here at the same time and Steve did the honors for me. I uploaded all the decent bird photos I've taken that I could find. But I had nothing to compare to his Toki, or Japanese Crested Ibis.

Here is what Wikipedia says about this extremely rare bird:

At one time, the Crested Ibis was widespread in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Russia. It has now disappeared from most of its former range. The last wild Crested Ibis in Japan died in October 2003, with the remaining wild population found only in Shaanxi province of China until reintroduction of captive bred birds back into Japan in 2008. They were previously thought to be extinct in China too, until 1981 when only seven ibises were seen in Shaanxi, China.

On September 25, 2008, the Sado Japanese Crested Ibis Preservation Center released 10 of the birds as part of its Crested Ibis restoration program, which aims to introduce 60 ibises into the wild by 2015. This marks the first time the rare bird has returned to the Japanese wild since 1981.^[3]

On April 23, 2012, it was confirmed that three crested ibis chicks had hatched on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, the first time chicks had hatched in the wild in Japan in 36 years.^[4] One of the chicks briefly left its nest on 25 May.^[5]
  


These photos were all taken in Niigata Prefecture by Isao Saitou. Many thanks to him for these amazing photos of an extremely rare bird.

Baskett Slough revisited

Attending a horse workshop in Dallas last Saturday, I naturally came home via Baskett Slough NWR. To my amazement, a flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds were gleaning gravel (or something in the gravel) on the road just before The Narrows. They flew up when I went by but quickly returned... and did so for every passing vehicle. In fact, when I came back an hour later, after a hike around the woods loop on Baskett Butte, the colorful birds were still in the road! My photos are not the best as I was shooting into the afternoon sun, but I've never before had an opportunity to photograph a whole mob of Yellow-headed Blackbirds (plus a few friends).

Parking at The Narrows I spotted a sleeping Cinnamon Teal. I love Cinnamon Teal, so I tried to get a photo... and noticed the Teal had company.

Greater Yellowlegs and Cinnamon Teal

The Yellowlegs apparently wandered too close to a blackbird nest as the disgruntled blackbird attacked the Yellowlegs... not just chasing it away but landing on its back and grabbing it by the neck. The Yellowlegs screamed pitifully, but, being considerably larger than its attacker, broke free and flew away. The blackbird disappeared back into the reeds, having successfully defended its nest (which the Yellowlegs didn't know existed, I'm sure.)

I drove on a bit farther and came upon a California Ground Squirrel having a dust bath in the middle of Coville Road. It looked to be having a wonderful, relaxing time.

This seemed to be the day for dust baths, as I came upon a Bewick's Wren having one on the loop trail up Baskett Butte. I took a few blurry photos,

then a couple videos...

 http://youtu.be/K6nWgtzmcNE

 http://youtu.be/2PgnKPJFR4s

and waited and waited for the wren to be done so I could continue on my way. Fifteen minutes of watching a wren squirm in the dirt, funny as it was, was enough. I was now late for picking up take-out Chinese food for Johnny's Father's Day eve supper, so I disturbed the happy wren and hurried by.

Although this is a Birds blog, I've already added a squirrel... why not a horse? The one with muscles painted on at the workshop at Old Mill Feed store is just too colorful to leave out of this day's photos. I'll bet this horse can't wait to roll in the dirt.

Baskett Slough Birds, Right Side Up

At my usual stop at the Narrows on Coville Rd. at Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge, on my way home from picking up horse feed in Dallas, I saw birds that stayed upright this time.  I love Cinnamon Teal.

Johnny was along, so we hiked down the dike road to find the reported Yellow-headed Blackbirds. One kindly popped up for a photograph. Such amazingly handsome birds. With such raucous voices.

I hope the lady we met walking as we were leaving the dike road was able to spot the yellow-headed blackbirds. She had never seen them before.

There is always something wonderful to see at Baskett Slough. And it's especially wonderful when it poses.

Bird Butts at Baskett Slough

On my way home from Salem a week ago, I stopped at The Narrows at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Waterfowl were thick and close to shore. But they seemed to be camera shy. Every time I clicked the shutter, they stuck their heads in the water. Like these Green-winged Teal...

And Cinnamon Teal...

 When a head came up, it was usually facing away from me.

I did get one head shot of a Cinnamon Teal before it disappeared.

The Northern Shovelers were worse. Bottoms up!

Even their companion American Coot was headless.

 But finally they came up for air when my camera was quick enough. Real bird photographers have enormous patience.

Some Cackling Geese were right next to the road and right outside my window. Surely I could get a photo of  them! Nope. My camera caught the goose with head buried in wing, preening.

Eventually the head reappeared and the goose shook its wings... and walked off. It was a good day anyway to see all those birds... and gain renewed respect for wildlife photographers who must shoot a zillion photos to get the one great one.