仙台 えいごの教室

 The short summer vacation for birders here in Sendai is over – and has been for several weeks. This means the migrants¹ are moving through now and the winter visitors have started to arrive. I haven’t been out much lately, but I pulled myself together² and headed to Onuma, Akanuma and Gamou this Monday.

 

  Teal, Pintail, Shovelor, Mallard and Wigeon were all on the ponds in small numbers – welcome back! A few have come to the river in front of our house, but not many yet.

   I did get a look at this Kestrel on the top of a power pole³ – and he looked at me, too.


  On to⁴ Gamou and hoping for some waders – those shorebirds⁵ that stop on their way to⁶ their homes farther south, which are now getting warmer.

 

  Unfortunately, on this day, it was pretty quiet and I forgot my hat! To my surprise⁷ the sun came out and roasted⁸ me. "(+ +;)

 

  Among the Great and small Egrets, the grey Herons and the Osprey I did find 3 Green Shanks searching for the crabs and things that will give them enough energy to fly on to the next spot⁹.





Here’s another migrant that we see every year, the Stonechat.

  With a sunburned¹⁰ face I drove home and had a look at the river in front of the house. I caught this guy¹¹ looking over his KINGdom! He is a KINGfisher!

  ※I couldn’t get a good shot this time. This photo was taken before at the river in front of our house.