Hen harrier, Northern harrier

Yesterday, December 4th, I took photos of Northern Harrier in a neighboring prefecture for the first time in two years. (male only)

I arrived at the site around noon and waited until 4:22 p.m.

They appeared two times, apparently as different individuals.

But the distance to the target was far. 

Their breeding area is northern Eurasia, and during the winter they migrate to northern Africa and central Eurasia. They inhabit Europe all year round.

It flies to Japan as a winter bird to overwinter, but it is localized and the number of individuals is small.（Cited from Wikipedia, described in Japanese.）

 

 

Around Mt.Fuji

 This location is a popular place to visit in the vicinity of Mt. Fuji, and is particularly popular with photographers because it is depicted on the back of the Japanese 1,000 yen bill.

In the morning, the sun rises over the top of Mt. Fuji and can be seen.

Mt.Fuji view from Motosuko senensatsu(本栖湖千円札)

　　　　At 07:59 a.m.Sarturday.December 02.2023

             　Fujigoko TV live camera

Oshino Hakkai is located approximately 15 km east of Mt. Fuji, and one of popularity tourist spots around Mt. Fuji, attracting many foreign tourists.

　　　Mt.Fuji view from Oshino Hakkai(忍野八海)

　　　　　　　At 08:27 a.m. Sarturday.December 02.2023

             　Fujigoko TV live camera

Osprey

Are you actually attacking or just having fun?

Ospreys frequently perch on this walnut tree that is growing in the riverbed.

It seems to be a habitual practice to catch a fish, such as a mullet.

Even though there was a strong west wind blowing this morning, I saw an osprey perched on the usual tree. I immediately set up my camera and was focusing on the osprey when suddenly a bird of prey attacked it.

It happened in a moment and finished.

The distance to the target is 146 meters.

 

Japan Bird Festival 2023

 JBF was held from November 4th to 5th this year.

You can access the English home page of this festival at http://www.birdfesta.net/.

According to Abiko city publication, where I live in HP, this event, the Japan Bird Festival (JBF), is one of the largest festivals in Japan related to birds. The host city, Abiko City, is located 48 km northeast of central Tokyo, has a quiet environment with a population of 130,000, and is blessed with a birdlife environment overlooking Lake Teganuma to the south and the Tone River to the north. 

JBF offers a wide range of events.

Everyone, from young to old, birdwatchers to non-birdwatchers, and others, can enjoy every bird event!

Number of exhibits

     Opti JBF offers a wide range of events.

     Everyone, from young to old, birdwatchers to non-birdwatchers, and others, can enjoy every bird event!

     Number of exhibits

    Opticalcal equipment/photography/recording equipment 15

    Eco-tourism related 2

    Books 5

 Goods 12

 Administration related 8

 NPO 28

Bird watching(oversea) 　

Welfare related 1

Food court 7

All Japan Bird Photo Contest Lecture, Ornithology course, JBF Environmental Society, Music live, Seminar 8

 

                                 NPO 28

                                

All Japan Bird Photo Contest;Minister of the Environment Award ⇅

All Japan Bird Photo Contest:Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award

                                Bird carving

Optical equipment/photography/recording equipment 

                                 Tamron display 

　　　　　　　　　　　Nikon display　　　

                              Tower overlooking venue

Siberian rubythroat

 The Siberian rubythroat breeds in the People's Republic of China, Russia, and Hokkaido in Japan during the summer. (Cited from Wikipedia.)

And in the winter, it migrates south to Southeast Asia to overwinter.During the migration of birds, they fly south of Honshu in Japan. 

The lifespan of both wild birds was eight years from the time they were released to the time they were recovered, as per research materials from the Yamashina Ornithological Research Institute in Abiko City.（List of survival periods by species obtained from bird banding surveys: Top two records from 1961 to 2017.） 

I couldn't take their photo last year because they left before I could, but this year I was able to capture a male and female on my camera.It's a real struggle to find this wild bird.