Wordless Wednesday: Grey-faced Buzzard

Wordless Wednesday: Launchtime

Portrait of a Grey-faced Buzzard in Okinawa

AKA Butastur indicus

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Sigma 50-500 + 1.4 Converter Focal Length 700 MM

Exposure: f/9.5  1/400  ISO 800

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: NOV 26 2018,  9:45 AM

Wordless Wednesday: Return of the Screaming Eagle

Sashiba (Grey-faced Buzzard) in Kin Town

Bird of the Day: Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle

Called Sashiba (サシバ) in Japan

This is the first time this year I've gotten a halfway decent shot of the Grey-faced Buzzard.

They've been on the island since the beginning of  November but, rarely stop to pose for me.

Several shots were taken with the Pentax K1 and, I may create a GIF later this week.

It's been a busy day and, it's about to get a bit longer so, I'm departing the premises. 

More About Buzzard Eagles

Sashiba (サシバ) The Raptor in Flight

Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle

This bird is known locally as a Sashiba. Scientific name: Butastur indicus.

They migrate from northern territories and winter in Okinawa.

Normally the birds reside here from November to March and, they are nice to have around.

Raptors, are birds of prey with sharp, hooked beaks that shred meat and, sharp talons.

They swoop down and grab snakes, rats, mice, bugs, and other pests.

This is a fairly large one, that hangs around a field, about 15 minutes walk, from my office.

Now, that I know where he hunts, I may be spending the rest of the month, watching.

It would be my pleasure, to capture a photo of this guy, grabbing and eating a mongoose!

Bird Photo: Pair of Grey-faced Buzzard Eagles in Flight

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300MM + 1.4 Converter Focal Length 420MM

Exposure:  f/7.1  1/1600   ISO 400

Location: Kin Town Okinawa Japan

Date and Time  JAN 28  2017  12:03 PM

Sashiba (サシバ) Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle in Flight

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300 with 1.4 Converter Focal Length 420MM

Exposure:  f/7.1  1/2000  ISO 400

Location: Kin Dam Okinawa Japan

Date and Time:  JAN 21  2017   1:40 PM

More about the Buzzard Eagle

Birds of Prey Made the Day

During November Outdoors is Where to Be

 

This morning, I decided it was time to go for a long walk with the camera.

No need to check email or Facebook, with election USA so close.

There's nothing but a bunch of mud-slinging going on, between two candidates.

Disown me if, you want, neither of them is fit to run a country, in my opinion.

It's November 1st and the weather finally got comfortably cool.  No A/C required anymore.

Quietly, I slipped out of the house, before anyone else woke up.

At the office, I didn't bother turning any computers on. Just grab a camera and tripod and, go.

Almost forgot, I packed a lunch in a camera bag and, slung it over my shoulder.

My destination was the Kin Dam but, I took a roundabout way, to get there.

The dam entrance, is only about a 45 minute walk if, you go in a straight line.

Well, I walked sort of in the opposite direction, for awhile, along a backroad.

Buzzard Eagles, returned to the island recently and, I knew where, I might find one.

Five minutes, after starting out, I spotted one and, shot a dozen photos.

It was among telephone and electric wires on a concrete pole but, I shot it anyway.

Good target practice and, I got a golden eye, with sun shining in it.

But, I don't like wildlife photos looking, like they were taken in the city.

Facebook has been a pain lately so, maybe, I'll post the bird in wires, over there.

The bird above, wasn't much larger than a pigeon but, at least it was out in the countryside.

Before I got to the dam, two Grey-faced Buzzard Eagles, were shot. Not a bad day.

This all took place, before 8 o'clock in the morning. Should I quit and, go home?

The thought had crossed my mind. It's been a long time since I hiked the distance to the dam.

Stifling summer heat, kept me away from doing long walks, for the past few months.

But, I had already packed a lunch and, was enjoying the fresh air so, kept on going.

There's something soothing, about taking a long walk out in the wilderness.

The sights, sounds and smells of nature, must wake up something in the brain.

Don't listen to creaking bones or aching muscles. Just keep on walking to the damn dam.

That was the original plan so, that's what we were going to do, dammit. Keep walking.

Before long, I was halfway around the dam and, got thinking.

Take ten steps, in any direction and, you'll be ten steps closer, to your ultimate destination.

It may not be where you initially planned on going. Know what I mean?

It don't matter, what your plans might be. Ten steps, gets you closer.

Whether you're planning on going to heaven or hell, it's ten less steps, you'll need, to get there.

Back to the Birds

Before 10 AM this Osprey image was captured. There will be many more this season.

None of the bird photos, I shot today, would be considered trophies.

But, it was the first time, this autumn, I had a camera handy, to get some shooting done.

Wild critter photography, like hiking, takes practice and patience.

Just as, you're body gets out of shape, from not exercising, camera skills, can get rusty, too.

Being satisfied with the photographic capture of two different birds, it was time for a break.

A bit past 10 o'clock, I decided to sit down and, have a little brunch.

Ritz Crackers and tuna, are what I pack away for excursions like this.  Coffee, too.

My tripod and camera bag are in the grass, behind the curb.

Wouldn't you know it?  Take your eyes off the sky for just a moment and, birds show up.

Two mechanical military Ospreys and three Osprey birds, flew overhead.

But, I was on my break so, shot this dinner picture, for you, with the cellphone !

Meandering, back towards the office, I stopped to buy a bento.

It was just about noon, when I arrived there, sweaty and tuckered out.

That does it. Tomorrow, I'll leave home at five and, pack a larger lunch, to stay out longer.

Today, there was 420MM worth of lens on the camera. Maybe, tomorrow, we'll try 700MM !


Related Posts:

Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle in Flight

Osprey, Fish and Lickiddy Split


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TYPES of RAPTORS

Sashiba (サシバ) Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle - A Mirgatory Visitor

These Birds Leave Our Island Soon

 

 

Normally, our feathered friends visit from November through March.

Then, they head back up to northern climates in China, Japan and Russia.

Luckily, we spotted this guy perched in a tree, while it was raining.

The farthest, I could reach, with the lens being used, was 250MM.

The bird probably, didn't feel like flying and, getting its wings all wet.

So, I snapped a few good shots before he got riled and flew away.

Any bird that eats mice, snakes and rats, as well as bugs, has to be a favorite of mine.

It's too bad, they migrate away from here during the warmer months. 

Another thing, I hear these birds eat, is frogs and, that upsets some folks.

Well, people eat frogs, too.  Don't they ?  They shouldn't complain about birds, doing it then.

Try this sometime, when you go to a French restaurant.

Ask the waiter if, he has frog legs.  Then if, he says,  "Yes, of course," have some fun with him.

Say something like, "Great.  Hop in to the kitchen and get me a plate of French Fries."

More About the Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle (Butastur indicus) in previous posts.

Entertained by a Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle

A good cure for a St. Patrick's Day hangover was discovered today.

This bird of prey used a fence at the dam as a perch and lookout.

It kept launching from the fence to catch meals of insects.

After it munched on a meal, the bird would return to the fence.

On a nice day, a person could sit and watch this activity for hours.

It all took place at the Kin Dam.

So, if anybody is wondering where to find me, for the rest of this week look for this fence.

The plan is, to go back and get some more dam therapy !

Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle Takes Off in Flight

Spring Will Be Here Soon

 

 

With the warming weather, these migratory birds leave the island.

Northern China, Japan or Russia would be their normal breeding grounds.

Some things, I like about this month: Spring and St. Patrick's Day

These raptors departing, until November, always bothers me.

They are some of the coolest birds to be found in Okinawa and, I'll miss them.

Every day the sun shines, this month, I'll be out there, shooting them.

There's no way, I'd leave flip-flop friendly country, to migrate along with them !

Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle Flying in Attack Mode

Sashiba (サシバ) in Japanese

 

 These birds were being driven to extinction at one point in history.

Some people figured a powerful raptor must be good for your health so, eat them.

Others, collected the feathers and hides for good luck charms.

And, some folks even trained and used the birds for falconry.

Thousands of these birds were being shipped to Japan until the 1980's.

Environmentalists from Taiwan and Japan put an end to trading this species.

An excellent reference -- Birding in Taiwan

When the Legs Come Forward

 

 

 The raptor is zeroing-in on a meal.

The victim could have been a lizard, frog, snake or, furry critter.

Let's hope it was a Mongoose.

 

  

 More About the Butastur indicus

 

 

 

Bird Research News  

Birds of the World 

Wildlife Photos: Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle

Migratory Visitor to Okinawa

 

 

This bird spends the winter months on island and leaves around March.

They come from northern areas like Russia, China or, mainland Japan.

Also called Frog Hawks or, Buzzard Hawks, Butastur indicus, is their Latin name.

They will eat snakes, frogs, lizards, bugs and, small animals.

This bird was kind enough to put on a little skit for the camera.

So, plenty of extra shots were take to create this GIF.

Today, I discovered a site called, Global Raptors Org and, it's a great reference.

Working to conserve birds of prey in nature, is what they are all about.  

Checkout their Global Raptor Information Network

Angry Eagle Shot with Pentax K3

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 220mm

f/8  1/500 ISO 100

HAPPY 2014 !

Wildlife Photo:Juvenile Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle

This bird was spotted in Kin Village, Okinawa, Japan today.

Learn more about the Buzzard Eagle (Butastur indicus) on this excellent site:

Birding in Taiwan

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

Editor's Picks for Month of November 2012

The Honors All Went to the Birds

Grey Face in Flight

On the Prowl

Raptor in Flight

Rock Thrush on the Rocks

To view these photos at higher resolution and see camera specs click on the titles.

All my Editor's Picks, this month were taken with a Sigma 50-500mm Lens

Location: Okinawa, Japan.

Wildlife Photo: Buzzard Eagle in Flight

The Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle at Nature Mirai, Kin Village Okinawa, Japan.

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Wildlife Photo: Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle

This is what a Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle looks like in the launch mode.

He was spotted in the northern areas of Okinawa, Japan.

After a whole day and shooting hundreds of photos up there, it's time to get on outta here.

The weekend is here and we discovered a few more festivals to go to.  Hah !

There must be a couple thousand festival photos on my back burner, waiting development.

But, like that critter above must have been thinking when he launched.

I'm outta here !

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

Wildlife Photo: Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle in Late Afternoon Light

This photo of a Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle was taken at 3:44PM March 6, 2012.

The shot was made with a Pentax K5 using a Pentax 18-250 lens at 250mm.

It was a little bit windy so, the details in the wood-grain stand out a lot better than the bird's feathers do.  I like the pose the eagle was making but, won't enter this in any photo contests.

Photo Contest Judges have to be tough on details.

Like, the subject is supposed to be the bird, not the tree.

So, if you want to enter a tree photo in a contest.

Shoot a tree, without a bird in it.

If the bird is your subject.

Get the details in the feathers.

And, what's that mini marshmallow-lookin' thingy in the picture ?

American Wildlife Photo Judges don 't like stuff like that.

Over in Europe, they aren't so fussy.  They know birds in the wild do those sorts of things.

So, I was wondering.

Do you think I should enter my Eagle in late afternoon light photo in a European Photo Contest ?


NOTE TO MY READERS:

During RyukyuMike's endless online searches for the best links to share with you, I frequently come across crazy stuff, like:

PEOPLE WHO BUILD MINI MARSHMALLOW BLOWGUNS, OR WANT TO KNOW IF THEY CAN MAKE CAMPFIRE-TOASTED MINI MARSHMALLOWS WITH A TOOTHPICK AND A CANDLE !

Do an online search, yourself while, I rush on down to the candy store.