東よか干潟(大授搦)のシギチ
佐賀県にあるラムサール条約湿地の「東よか干潟」に行ってきました。鳥屋の間では、「大授搦(だいじゅがらみ)」と呼ぶそうです。シチメンソウの紅葉には少し早かったですが、午前の大潮満潮に当たり、狭くなった干潟に飛来、密集するヘラシギ、ホウロクシギ、ダイシャクシギ、ダイゼン、ハマシギ、メダイチドリなどシギチの姿が観察できました。
すばらしい干潟でしたので、春の渡りの時期にもう一度足を運んでみたいですね。^^
There was a single Spoon-billed Sandpiper among a large roosting flock of shorebirds. I had to scan for ages with binoculars before finally finding it. ^^ When I checked at home later, I found that this Spoon-billed Sandpiper had been first recorded three days earlier on September 12th. Good timing. ^^
It was very distant, so heavy cropping. ^^ ;
Only small flocks come to Ishigaki Island, but at Higashiyoka tidal flat there were thousands of Dunlins flocking together.
Whimbrels were also resting in a group of a dozen or so.
Eurasian Curlews were there too, in a group of a few birds. On the right is a Whimbrel.
There was just one Bar-tailed Godwit, standing there alone.
Dunlins were the most numerous.
It was an impressive sight — Great Knots, Dunlins, Grey Plovers and others all taking off at once with a thunderous rush of wings.
A flock of Grey Plovers. The faint shapes visible behind them are a flock of Whimbrels.
Because it was high tide, small birds like Dunlins and Lesser Sand Plovers would touch down and then take off again, the water too deep for them.
A small group of Whimbrels.
Whimbrel landing. Large waders in flight are hard to photograph on Ishigaki Island, but with so many birds here it was easy. ^^
There were plenty of Eurasian Magpies within Saga city, but I had a hard time finding one that wasn't perched on a power line. ^^;