関東弾丸バードウオッチング
1泊2日で関東地方へバードウオッチングに行ってきました。探鳥地もほとんど分からないままでしたが、Twitterの方々に助けられてライファー3種(ハクガン、コクガン、オオホシハジロ)を見ることができました。そのほかに、トラフズクやハイイロチュウヒ、チュウヒ、ミコアイサなどなど沖縄ではなかなか見ることのできない種を沢山観察できました。あらためてありがとうございます。
To think a Snow Goose could be seen in Tokyo!!
The Snow Goose seemed to favour wood sorrel, picking it out to eat.
I was also able to watch it in flight.
Three Snow Geese were moving around together. Apparently their plumage has become whiter since they first arrived. The individual in the back still looks fairly grey.
Interestingly, the 1D X recognised the Snow Geese's faces and focused automatically.
When I arrived, they were out on the exposed tidal flat, but after a while they came up onto the grass.
I also went to see the Brant Geese at Yatsu Tidal Flat. They were quite far off, but their imposing bulk was unmistakeable — no need to search with binoculars. To think I'd finally get to see Brant in Chiba Prefecture after always being let down in Hokkaido…
The Brant Goose is noticeably larger than the Northern Pintail.
A Baer's Pochard at the park pond. The difference from Common Pochard was immediately obvious. First-winter female plumage.
The Baer's Pochard has a long bill. There were plenty of Common Pochards around too, but the presence is different. ^^
At this hour the Baer's Pochard seemed to be resting for the most part, and I couldn't observe any foraging behaviour.