Oita River

January 2nd saw me catching a train to Oita since early morning. I wanted to take some photos of the tame ducks at the same spot I took last year. Unfortunately, the tide was too low and the ducks were all floating far in the middle of the river. A few Common Teals and Northern Shovelers were swimming around closely in the area though, but they happened to be so much shier than last year, so no photos taken. The weather was great, by the way. A bit windy, about 10km/hr, but not very cold, and the sun was shining brightly for most of the time too. There were lots of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) roosting on the rocks along the river. As the sun slowly rose up, even more of them came flying in from the sea direction.

Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo)

I remember seeing the description for the Great Cormorant in a Japanese Bird Guide, which I borrowed from my birding pal, noting Oita Prefecture as one of the well-known breeding sites of this species in Japan. I think that's the only line where the name Oita is mentioned in the book. Anyway, that's just me trying to feel good about having just a few other birds to photograph on that morning other than the cormorants.

Beppu Ropeway viewing from Oita River

Even more photos of the Great Cormorants

Male Baikal Teals (Anas formosa)

Northern Shoveler in Oita

I was literally dreaming of taking photos of a beautiful male Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) at Oita River few days ago before the dream became true last Sunday. I didn't know why, but the number of shoveler increased a lot since the last time I've been there. Though there were many shovelers flying, swimming around, only 1 of them was a perfect breeding male, the others were mainly female and ugly non-breeding male. However, this beautiful drake wasn't that cooperative plus the water level was too low, which made the bird stayed away from the bank. I think I'll just have to make a revisit.

The surrounding was not beautiful when the bird did come closer for once.

Gadwalls seemed to know how to make a better photograph quite well.

One of the many ugly molting drakes

That purple and yellow plastic trash is truly an eyesore.

Last time I was so keen at taking photos of the Common Teals.
This time I hardly took their pictures.

Other ducks seen beside the shoveler at the river that day include lots of Gadwalls and Eurasian Wigeons. The number of Gadwall increased a lot, while conversely the number of Mallards seemed to be decreased. The Common Teals were abundant and a lot more breeding males were joining the flock. It was a bit strange that there were not so many Spot-billed Ducks as usual. Hope there'll be some more interesting species next time I visit the place.

A male Eurasian Wigeon

Another pic of a Gadwall drake

Some female shots

Ducks in Oita

More photos of ducks from Oita River, mainly Common Teals and Shoveler. I was surprised that there were not so many Wigeons, unlike the same day (Nov 23) last year, which a huge flock of wigeon was seen feeding on the river bank, or may be there was but I didn't see them? The most numerous species was the Common Teal, which were mainly female and eclipse male. The Mallards were also quite numerous along with the Spot-billed Ducks. So here we go, nice lighting has really made it perfect!

I coldn't find any neat breeding male Common Teal. This one was the closest. Still there are some eclipse feathers on its flanks, upperparts, tail coverts and nape. Hopefully all the drakes will finish their molt in January.

The females were much tamer, why? Do they know that they're not as beautiful and attractive as the males, so they just kind of relax and swimming around unaware?

I had to be so patient to get these shots of this only beautiful drake, while the female birds just swimming around and walking all over the place.

Only several Eurasian Wigeons joined the area. Here's a couple.

And another eclipse male I guess...

Apart from the teals, this eclipse male Northern Shoveler was also very tame.

Showing its hidden bluish-grey wing coverts

Most of the male Common Teals were looking like this.

Few more females

And an eclipse male to finish off this entry.
Some of its facial pattern on the head is still visivle if you look closely.

Oh and I almost forget these Coots which were swimming around in one of the canals leading to the main river nearby. Unfortunately, they were too shy for me to get any decent shots.