A Flying Squirrel

I went to Tomakomai to discuss my study data with my collaborator.

After discussion, I had free time at evening, so I was forward to the cavity nest of Flying Squirrel which I saw sometimes in this season but I couldn't take photo.

After standing by the tree, an individual was out of nest.
As soon as I recognized it, I looked into viewfinder but it was not in hole.
To check the exposure, I took a photo and previewed...

Wow!

I heard its voice "jeeeech jeeeeech".

It flew away after several minutes later.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 23/Feb/2011.

Spotted seal in Bakkai

Bakkai fishery port is famous for staying hundreds of Spotted Seals in winter.

Wakkanai, Hokkaido. 5/Feb/2011.

Souya

I heard female Steller's Eider which was very rare species in Japan was at fishery port in Wakkanai city, I had time to go to Northern Hokkaido.

As soon as I arrived port, I found the target at long distance with Long-tailed Duck and female Velvet Scotter. I observed it through scope, it was near shore. I tried to approach and success to take photo at short range. It was not so shy I expected because it didn't dive into water or flew away for escaping.

A Common Guillemot was also in this port.

Wakkanai, Hokkaido. 5/Feb/2011.

Eagle and wind electricity

Many eagles are wintering in Hokkaido.

Young White-tailed Eagle.

There are many wind electricity in Hokkaido especially northern Hokkaido.

Several young White-tailed Eagles had hit the propeller recently but no Steller's Sea Eagle had hit it. It said that the both species fly different manner, the context are under studying.

Tomamae, Hokkaido. Jan/2011.

Chinese Merganser and Goledn-crowned Sparrow

On my way going back to Sapporo via Tokyo, I had enough time of birding in Kanto (around Tokyo), I tried to seek three stray birds I got information.

At first I went to Sagami river, Kanagawa prefecture for Chinese Merganser which lived in north east Russia and Chinese.

A young male Chinese Marganser was in flock of Common Merganser.
I heard it is difficult to see because it flew away to up or downstream constantly, so I was lucky.
After observation its floating water they flew away to downstream.

Soon I moved to Edo river, Chiba prefecture to see Red-breasted Frycatcher and Goledn-crowned Sparrow.

I could see Red-breasted Frycatcher easily but Goledn-crowned Sparrow didn't appear easily.

Pygmy Woodpecker.

Common Coot.

"no-tail"Long-tailed Tit caught a bug.

I beared until appearing of it. It was seen before my deadline...

26/Jan/2011.

Three lifers per a day

During in Shimane, I counted three lifers in one day.

Upland Buzzard which breeds in Mongolia and wintering around there comes rarely to Japan.
This individual was disscused juvenile or adult, my power birder friends argued about that but conclusion was not decided yet. It was so shy to approach.

Shore Lark was in flock of Skylark.

Flock of Pallas's Reed Bunting consisting ca. 15 individuals feeding on grass land.
I recognized that it was different activity and habitat selection between Reed Bunting and Pallas's Reed Bunting.
Pallas's likes grass land and on ground feeding, the other likes reed habitat feeding on stem of it.

Common bird in Shimane

Grey Heron.
I stayed in Shimane between 24th to 25th January.

Chestnut-eared Bunting is a winter visitor around here that is interesting because there are no this species in Kanto where I lived, of course, it is summer visitor in Hokkaido.

  

Great Cormorant.

Merlin was near the flock of Brambling. Did it aim them?

 Yasugi-city becomes famous place for wintering site of Tundra Swan recently. But bird-ful appeared around here in this winter...

 

Flock of Rook stayed in Swan site.

Large flock of Brambling

I went to Shimane prefecture at 24-25 January and saw many birds.

I found a large flock of Brambling containing thousands individuals.

They perched on electric wire and fed on farm yard.

It was first time to see the large flock, I was so exicited.

Matue, Shimane prefecture. 25/Jan/2011.

Sea lion in winter

I went to Ishikari to see Sea Lion with my friends at 30th Jan.

Last day, I watched football until 2:30, Japan won the prize of Asian cup!, I got up 6:00, so a little sleepy.

It was fallen snow last day, we wade through deep snow to open up a trail to the point of sea lion without snowshows .

It cost much time I expected, I hoped to obserb and to take photo of landing from sea, because they were nocturnal  and rest on rocky habitat of sea shore. But they already landed.