Hokkaido 27 Feb 2018 (Day 5)

Here came to Day 5, nearly half of this trip, and a big day too - 27 Feb is Wing Tung's birthday. I may forget many important things or memories because of my sickness, but I will never allow myself to forget this day, and the other big day in July.

This was the final morning in Furen Lodge in this trip, after 3 warm nights, it was time to say goodbye to Take-couple and head to Rausu.

before leaving, we had the final breakfast with nuthatch in Furen Lodge

also the Willow Tit

and a Carrion Crow, note the head shape can be similar to Rook

the crane pair

Vega Gull, first for this trip, with Goosander and Glaucous Gull

Vega Gull, you can see the wing pattern is different

Thank you Take-san couple !

On the way to Rausu, we checked the harbor and Notsuke Peninsula, for gulls and some passerines.

Glaucous-winged Gull, dark iris

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull, why not a snowy owl..

Whooper Swan, they are very common in Hokkaido

Common Goldeneye, male

Common Goldeneye, immature? this one got a full black bill

Goosander

human and fox print

broken shell.. should be done by the Gulls

and many swan out there

Glaucous Gull, a second year, note the pale iris

2nd year Glaucous Gull

this one is a adult winter Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull: don't take my food

Glaucous Gull x4, 2nd year in front

adult Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

a winter adult Glaucous Gull with a Slaty-backed and Glaucous

more Glaucous Gull

and more

more 2nd year Glaucous Gull

and a first winter one, note the dark iris

  

Glaucous Gull is one of my favorite gull

Glaucous Gull, give me five

and final photo of Glaucous Gull of today

the commonest one - Slaty-backed Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Slaty-backed Gull

Slaty-backed Gull with some Glaucous and immautre Slaty-backed

Slaty-backed Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull, they have a darker iris

adult Glaucous-winged Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

and a first winter Vega Gull, very dark primary and smaller size

Carrion Crow, this species is quite rare in Hong Kong

we saw two Hawfinch in a fuel station

After arriving Notsuke Peninsula, we saw more mammals than birds...

Notsuke Peninsula

Deer

and Deer

and more Deer

oh my deer...

male deer is rarer

deer on icy lake

White-winged Scoter, super far

Steller's Sea Eagle

Snow Bunting, my lifer, but very hard to take a decent shot

Snow Bunting, beautiful upperwing pattern

Carrion Crow

Red Fox - fox here is very tame

Red Fox

hunting fox

running fox

searching fox

a cute fox

more fox

Red Fox

a dog-like fox

you can see how tame is the fox

you can know the latest bird and wildlife news in the tourist center

like here, on this Big Day, 27 Feb

Tufted Puffin will be my summer target in Hokkaido

In Raushu, we were staying in Washino-yado for two nights, the well-known Inn for the Blakiston's Fish Owl. Even though we were not worried about the owl as this species was ticked, we met heavy snow when we left the peninsula.... and there was a twitch waiting for us...

thanks to Guillermo, our target, my lifer, was soon entered our list

a male Bufflehead, a rare visitor from America

but the snow was heavy, we only managed to get some record shots

we finally arrived the Inn, and here is the feeding spot for the owl

and you can wait and photo here, in the dining room

dinner first

a nice dinner

you can also check the owl's identity, as some were ringed

as we were told the owl came late in this period, after waited 2 hours, we chose to sleep first and come back in very early morning later.This photo marked the end of the big day

Wish you happy birthday every 27 Feb

Love,

Fai