Birds from a nearby park and tidal flats. Even among the commonly seen species, there are still many I haven’t observed up close. Since this is my first winter observing birds in the U.S., I occasionally encounter new species. So far, I’ve confirmed just over 70 species.
A Yellow-rumped Warbler appeared quite close. This species is relatively common and can often be heard calling in front of my house.
This bird is quite common here, similar to how White Wagtails are frequently seen in Japan. However, photographing it can be challenging due to its stark black-and-white coloring (just like the White Wagtail).
Thanks to the soft light, the details came out clearly in this shot. The contrast between the bright construction cone and the park’s greenery really makes the bird’s monochrome plumage stand out.It’s a bird I’m quite fond of.A Black-crowned Night Heron with an unusually long-looking neck, longer than usual today.A Willet on the tidal flats, as usual.I heard the distinctive sound of a hummingbird and turned around to see a male Anna’s Hummingbird in a nice spot. This is my most vivid shot so far. The metallic colors are hard to capture unless the light hits the face just right, so these opportunities are rarer than expected.A Killdeer. Compared to other similar-looking plovers, it’s noticeably larger.In the distance on the tidal flats, American Avocets, American Wigeons, and Green-winged Teals were resting. In Japan, hybridization between American Wigeons and Eurasian Wigeons is known.At first, I thought this was a Caspian Tern, but upon closer inspection, I noticed the lower mandible had a staircase-like step, giving it an unusual shape.This bird is called a Black Skimmer, and its beak is specialized for skimming the water’s surface while flying to catch prey. I wish I had taken more time to observe it.There are several small airstrips around the area.I’ve been observing how the tidal flats change between summer and winter, but they don’t seem to change drastically. Perhaps due to the stable climate, many species can be seen year-round. Although I haven’t been able to monitor the area regularly, I’d like to continue observing it over time.
