Even more buntings

I've been super busy throughout the month, so there was no chance for me to go birding at all after the short trip to Tadewara marsh on June 8th. The weather has also become worse. I think it didn't stop raining for almost 2 weeks. Anyway, so here's some more photos of the tame Chestnut-eared Buntings from my last visit to Tadewara. Most of the male birds were still quite actively singing unlike the Meadow Buntings which seemed to be already busy finding food for the chicks.

Male Chestnut-eared Bunting

This one was really close

This was one of male birds outside the board walk area. They were much shyer.

Still actively singing

With a group of hikers in the background

Male Chestnut-eared Bunting with male Meadow Bunting

Male Chestnut-eared Bunting

Another curious male

Looking better when perching on fresh green reed

Meadow Bunting

On the same day that I photographed the Eurasian Cuckoos in the earlier post, I had a nice time taking photos of some very showy Meadow Bunting parents. Both the male and female always came perching right by the board walk waiting for people to pass by before flying further to the nest, which seemed to be hidden somewhere low in the bush some 20m away from the board walk area. The parents were very active and the preys were relatively large, so I assumed that the chicks were pretty much ready to fledge soon.

Male Meadow Bunting

And here's the female

Another female from a different area

I later found another pair of Meadow Bunting in a different area. The parents seemed to be less busy and their feathers still didn't look as worn as in the first pair. I guess they were still in the incubating period or the chicks were still very young.

More from Tadewara

So here's some more photos from Tadewara Marsh that I haven't posted. It's a pretty nice place for enjoying holidays. The marsh is filled with Chestnut-eared Bunting's songs as well as Zitting Cisticola's, Eurasian Skylark's and Green Pheasant's. The forest around the marsh is normally slightly less lively but some nice birds can still be found, especially the Japanese Thrush which is actually quite numerous but extremely difficult to photograph.

Japanese Primrose

Japanese Primrose

Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold

Grey Wagtail parent with a mouthful of food

Tiny spiderhunter

Singing male Meadow Bunting

Displaying Green Pheasant

Too bad it was extremely far away

The Green Pheasant was especially common around the marsh and their loud calls could be heard all day long. Too bad none of them came close to the board walk area, so I could only get some very distant shots showing their funny displays.

The abundant Red-billed Leiothrix

I just love the tail!

Common but extremely shy Japanese Thrush

Eurasian Nuthatch race S. e. amurensis

Unknown damselfly

Eurasian Jay race G. g. hiugaensis of Kyushu

Willow Tit

It has a slightly different impression from the Hokkaido's Marsh Tit, but I still can't quite figure out how.

Zitting Cisticola in breeding plumage

Monotropastrum humile

Singing Eurasian Skylark

View of the marsh towards Mt. Kuju