In winter I have been delighted to see several grey wagtails (キセキレイ). Here in Shiga Prefecture these beautiful birds are much less common and much more colorful than two other wagtail species, Japanese wagtails (セグロセキレイ) and white wagtails (ハクセキレイ).
Grey wagtail (キセキレイ, Motacilla cinerea cinerea) above Yasugawa dam in Moriyama
In winter I’ve seen grey wagtails most often at Hatonomori Park in Moriyama City (滋賀県 守山市 鳩の森公園). The small stream along the park is an ideal location that I discovered in 2016.
Grey wagtail (キセキレイ) in Hatonomori Park, Moriyama City.Grey wagtail (キセキレイ) in Hatonomori Park, Moriyama City.
In 2017 the same stream remains a good spot.
Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) at Hatonomori Park (鳩の森公園) in Moriyama CityGrey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) at Hatonomori Park (鳩の森公園) in Moriyama CityGrey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) at Hatonomori Park in Moriyama City (滋賀県 守山市 鳩の森公園)Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) at Hatonomori Park in Moriyama City (滋賀県 守山市 鳩の森公園)Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) at Hatonomori Park in Moriyama City (滋賀県 守山市 鳩の森公園)
Sometimes I encounter grey wagtails along other streams. In December I was able to photograph one as I was cycling along a canal near Hiyoshi Shrine (日吉神社) in Kamitoyama, Ritto City.
Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) along a field near Hiyoshi Shrine (日吉神社) in Kamitoyama, Ritto City
Now and then we can see grey wagtails in open areas. After it snowed here in January, 2017, one appeared for several days in Takano Park (滋賀県 栗東市 高野公園).
Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) in Takano Park, Ritto CityGrey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) in Takano Park, Ritto CityGrey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) in Takano Park, Ritto City
I am hoping to see more of these beautiful, shy birds before they fly away.
Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea, キセキレイ) in Takano Park, Ritto City. Shot at 1/640sec @ f8 ISO 400.
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto Notre Dame University. I have retired from full-time service (1977-2014) and now offer weekly lectures in interpersonal and intercultural communication. Since 1980 I have lived in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, where I enjoy outdoor activities, especially photography, hiking, and cycling.
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いつもいつも「素晴らしい写真！」楽しませて頂いています！
チョット、寒さがやや緩みましたから・・・撮影も若干ご苦労がないですかね？
寒さの中の”忍耐”が伺えて、”どのようにカメラを構えておられるのか？・・
想像しながら！より写真に見入っています！