Yesterday didn't dawn until 10:40 when it finally became possible to see the far side of the field only 100m away. I hadn't seen either the two Lesser White-fronted Geese or the Black Stork yesterday and had hoped to have another crack in the morning before heading off to the next location but the weather had other plans and by the time I was ready to leave I realised I couldn't get to the next place with any meaningful daylight left so rather than squander what there was driving I decided to stay till evening and leave after dark. Giving me another crack at the Lesser White-fronts in the evening.
There's no way to know how a change of plan might affect birding fortune, no way to know what might have been seen if things proceeded as originally intended. Probably just as well.
Even with the additional time I saw neither Geese nor Stork even though I must have covered every inch of those fields. Fortunately I don't need them for my Japan list otherwise I have been pulling my hair out. As only one Stork returned this winter time must be running out for anyone still needing this for their Japan list; who knows when there'll be another.
Was it worth staying? I have to say yes as without the change in schedule I wouldn't have had a Japan tick today. More of that in the next post. Certainly I got a slightly better shot of an Eastern Marsh Harrier than in the last post, at least this one is recognisable.
Immature Eastern Marsh Harrier.
As well as very good numbers of harriers, Kestrels are quite often seen with at least six birds dotted around the area.
Once the fog began to thin around midday I went to check out the local cranes as I heard there was a Common with them.
In the early afternoon things really did brighten up and for a couple of hours there was beautiful sunshine and totally unexpected was a Short-eared Owl beside the track. Not nearly such good views as of the Long-eared yesterday but Short-eared have become very scare nowadays so any view is welcome.
It seemed it wasn't just me enjoying the burst of sunshine, this Chestnut-eared Bunting sat up nicely. And the Northern Lapwings which were being very skittish on the fields seemed transformed coming to the river to bathe.
Green Sandpipers can be difficult to approach too as they love long, straight drainage ditches and always like to stay well ahead of anyone coming along. This bird was on a wider channel and therefore less nervous.
All too soon mist rolled in again from Isahaya Bay. The light faded quickly in the afternoon and this Buff-bellied Pipit was one of the last things I got to see before settling down to wait for the Lesser White-fronted Geese that never arrived.
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