International Birds

This collection is about bird photographs I have taken during my international travels. It seems Rock Pigeons are everywhere.

As it is one of my favorite places to visit (and where I have visited internationally the most), birds from Japan will be first.

Japanese Wagtail standing on a post with a green field in the background.
Japanese Wagtail; Kiyosato Environmental Education Project, Kiyosato, Japan; June 26, 2013
Sony DSC-H3; 63 mm; ISO-125; f/4.4; 1/400 sec.

I was outside the Seisen-Ryo at the Kiyosato Environmental Education Project in Kiyosato, Japan. I was enjoying the afternoon sitting on a bench looking at the mountains in the distance during my free time between my tour of the facilities and dinner. I happened to see this beautiful bird on the post and was able to take the picture.

Gray Heron standing on a brick platform next to the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima, Japan.
Gray Heron, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan, May 27, 2014
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon 18-135 lens; 135 mm; ISO-100; f/7.1; 1/400 sec.

I saw this Gray Heron walking along the edge of the Motoyasu River at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park during my first visit to Hiroshima, Japan.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow resting on a rock ledge above the moat at Hiroshima Castle, Japan.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima, Japan, May 28, 2014
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon 18-135 lens; 120 mm; ISO-100; f/7.1; 1/250 sec.

This cute little Eurasian Tree Sparrow was sitting peacefully on the wall of Hiroshima Castle, looking down at the moat.

Reed Bunting on the ground near some stones cut to make a wall.
Reed Bunting, Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima, Japan, May 28, 2014
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon 18-135 mm lens; 135 mm; ISO-250; f/5.6; 1/250 sec.

This Reed Bunting was also inside Hiroshima Castle in Japan.

Varied Tit perched on a person's hand.
Varied Tit, Meiji Gardens, Tokyo Japan, May 19, 2014
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon 18-135 lens; 92 mm; ISO-3200; f/5.6; 1/125 sec.

This Varied Tit was at the Meiji Gardens in the middle of Tokyo, Japan. This cute little bird was sitting on a colleague’s hand. While these are wild birds, they are familiar enough with people that they will interact if you are still. 

Garganey female swimming in the moat of Matsumoto Castle with about eight ducklings
Garganey, Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto, Japan, August 19, 2019
Google Pixel 3, 4 mm, ISO-63, f/1.8, 1/2132 sec.
Two Rock Pigeons sitting on the roof top of a Japanese temple. The edge of the roof has some sort of demon-like face on it.
Rock Pigeon, Asakusa District, Tokyo, Japan, June 28, 2013
Sony DSC-H3; 20 mm; ISO-125; f/9; 1/160 sec.

And now the Rock Pigeons. I have photos of them from Tokyo (above), Nara and Toyoma (bel0w).

Rock Pigeon walking among some deer.
Rock Pigeon, Nara, Japan, May 24, 2014
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon 18-135 mm lens; 31 mm; ISO-100; f/8; 1/125 sec.
Six Rock Pigeons walking around a path.
Rock Pigeon, Toyoma, Japan, August 12, 2015
Nikon Coolpix L28; 5 mm; ISO-80; f/3.2; 1/60 sec.

The next picture will be from Germany.

Rock Pigeon sitting on the head of a sea monster as part of a fountain.
Rock Pigeon, Munich, Germany, July 17, 2013
Sony DSC-H3; 63 mm; ISO-125; f/10; 1/250 sec.

To carry on with the theme, here is my bird picture from Germany, a Rock Pigeon of course. I do like it sitting on the head of some fountain creature.

The next picture will be from Austria.

Three Mute Swans swimming.
Mute Swan, Bregenz, Austria, July 8, 2013
Sony DSC-H3; 63 mm; ISO-125; f/10; 1/125 sec.

I saw these guys swimming near the marina on Lake Constance in Bregenz, Austria.