Category: ピックアップ

Around 5:42 AM, an adult female arrived from the left.
She passed straight through and headed to the autumn-colored trees to the far right.
From there she began diving and hunting.
On her very first dive she caught a small fish and flew straight to perch No. 1.

The male then arrived from the right.
Almost immediately, calls from another individual were heard from the right,
and the male chased it off with alarm calls.

Around 8:00, the pair returned together and perched on No. 2.
After that they flew back and forth, left and right,
occasionally diving, keeping us entertained until 8:30.

Rain and wind had been forecast for the day, so we wrapped up after the peak activity window — an efficient and satisfying morning with the Kingfishers.

Autumn is arriving fast at the base.
With the trees beginning to turn, we plan to fine-tune the hide position to frame the birds against the autumn foliage and their diving spots.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have taken on a distinctly autumnal feel. Please dress warmly.
· Due to current conditions, the distance from the car to the hide tent is just a few meters.
　This significantly reduces the burden of carrying equipment and physical exertion.
　We do not know how long this situation will last.
　Parking the car closer does require extra consideration toward the Kingfisher,
　but please take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts.
· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day.
　Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature
On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

Around 5:52 AM, an adult female arrived from the left.
She went straight to perch No. 2 right at the start of the morning.

From there she began diving and hunting.
After several attempts, she finally made a successful catch.
At times she dived right in front of the hide.

Try switching your camera to silent shutter mode.
You can actually hear the sound of the Crested Kingfisher’s wingbeats.
It is a truly rare and remarkable experience.

After that, she perched and flew between various trees from No. 1 through No. 5, giving us a wide variety of shots.
The trees to the far right are already beginning to turn, making autumn-color shots possible.

The highlight of the day, however, was this —
a Crested Kingfisher and a Common Kingfisher side by side in the same frame.
A truly rare opportunity.

To everyone who joined us that day and captured that shot — our warmest congratulations.
This is exactly why we can’t stop.

Why not come and meet the Crested Kingfisher this autumn?
Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have taken on a distinctly autumnal feel. Please dress warmly.
· Due to current conditions, the distance from the car to the hide tent is just a few meters.
　This significantly reduces the burden of carrying equipment and physical exertion.
　We do not know how long this situation will last.
　Parking the car closer does require extra consideration toward the Kingfisher,
　but please take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts.
· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day.
　Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

Around 5:45 AM, an adult female arrived from the left.
She went straight to perch No. 2.

From there she flew back and forth to various spots, making several hunting attempts, and eventually the male joined her too.
In total, there were 3 arrivals up until around 9:30 AM.

Active shooting was possible from around 5:45 to 8:30 AM.
For a Crested Kingfisher session, that is a remarkably long and generous morning.

The Kingfisher Festival continues.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have taken on a distinctly autumnal feel. Please dress warmly.
· Due to current conditions, the distance from the car to the hide tent is just a few meters.
　This significantly reduces the burden of carrying equipment and physical exertion.
　We do not know how long this situation will last.
　Parking the car closer does require extra consideration toward the Kingfisher,
　but please take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts.
· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day.
　Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature
On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

Around 6:00 AM, an adult female arrived from the right.
Right from the start of the morning, she treated us to two hunting dives.

She then flew left to begin territory patrol.
The male quickly followed from the right, but made only a brief touch-and-go before heading left as well.
With both birds now patrolling together, the morning had a settled, stable feel.

Around 7:07, the male returned after completing his patrol.
The female joined him around 7:37.

After that, the two birds chased each other around in the air,
and perched in trees just beginning to show their autumn colors —
a thoroughly enjoyable morning with a variety of scenes and plenty of shooting opportunities.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have taken on a distinctly autumnal feel. Please dress warmly.
· Due to current conditions, the distance from the car to the hide tent is just a few meters.
　This significantly reduces the burden of carrying equipment and physical exertion.
　We do not know how long this situation will last.
　Parking the car closer does require extra consideration toward the Kingfisher,
　but please take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts.
· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day.
　Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

Around 6:10 AM, an adult male arrived from the right.
The arrival was a little later than usual, which had us a touch anxious — but it turned out to be a fine start to the morning.

He then flew left to begin his territory patrol.
Around 6:40, he returned from the left and perched on a branch.
Autumn colors are beginning to show up in the background.
No hunting this time — he flew off upstream.

Then, glancing over at perch No. 1, we noticed another bird had been quietly hiding there all along.
A juvenile female — making her first appearance in quite a while.

This was the start of the “Chick Festival.”
The juvenile female stayed near the base almost the entire time, repeatedly flying and bathing in the water.
There was even a moment where she was chased by a crow and had to take evasive action.
It turned into a morning full of shooting opportunities.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have taken on a distinctly autumnal feel. Please dress warmly.
· Due to current conditions, the distance from the car to the hide tent is just a few meters.
　This significantly reduces the burden of carrying equipment and physical exertion.
　We do not know how long this situation will last.
　Parking the car closer does require extra consideration toward the Kingfisher,
　but please take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts.
· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day.
　Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

5:51 AM — the male arrived and immediately made a successful hunt.

Moments later, the female arrived too.
She seemed to ask for the fish,
but the male must have valued it highly — he flew off with it still in his bill.

Both then headed left. Territory patrol had begun.

At 7:16, the male returned and attempted a hunt — unsuccessful this time.
The female quickly joined him.

Pair activity has increased dramatically in recent days.
It looks like the autumn pattern is now firmly established.

The two birds flew and interacted together,
and both — male and female — each caught a large Ayu sweetfish.

It was the finest morning we could have asked for.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have dropped considerably — please dress for autumn.

· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates every day. Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

It has been quite a few weeks, but we are finally able to resume Crested Kingfisher guide sessions.

Yesterday morning — the female arrived from the right at 5:30, followed by the male at 5:47.
Both then flew left. Territory patrol had begun.

Just before 8:00, the male returned first from the left and made several hunting dives.

Around 8:15, the female joined him.
Near perches No. 2 and No. 3, we were able to capture the two birds interacting in flight, diving,
and hunting.

This is the scene we had been waiting for.
Both birds back together. There could be no better way to restart.

On the way home, we stopped at some farmland and spent a little time photographing Siberian Stonechats — rice paddies just before harvest, paired with buckwheat in the fields.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have dropped considerably — please dress for autumn.

· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates every day. Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

5:42 AM — arrived from the right. Right on schedule as usual, landing on perch No. 2.

After scanning the surroundings for a while, she moved left. Territory patrol had begun.
All we could do was wait for her return.

After a long wait, she returned to perch No. 2 at 8:18.
Shortly after — a hunt. A Pale Chub in full breeding colors.
This was likely the last chance of the season.

She carried it toward perch No. 3, but then returned to No. 1 with the fish still in her bill —
giving us a beautiful flight shot with the Pale Chub in her beak.

After swallowing the fish, she returned to perch No. 2.
Dozing for a while, occasionally looking as if she might dive again.
Close-up shooting and observation in good light — it was a fine morning.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have dropped noticeably. Please bring an extra layer.

· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates every day. Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 — Lead Gravure Feature

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

BIRDER Magazine December 2025 — Cover Photo

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

5:38 AM — A juvenile male arrived from the right.
He first perched at the base of perch No. 1, then moved to perch No. 2.
He stayed there for a while, taking in his surroundings.

He stayed for about 5 minutes. No hunting today.

But this morning’s reward lies elsewhere.

Perch No. 2 is an exposed spot.
A wary bird will not land there.
And yet — he came down.
That is proof that his wariness is beginning to ease.

The regular adult female has not yet returned.
But the distance is closing, steadily.
Where a juvenile visits, the parent will always follow.

No rush. We wait.
That is how we do things here.

Autumn colors have begun to appear in the background.
Judging from the Ayu sweetfish hunting last time, autumn has already begun beneath the surface of the river. There is much to look forward to ahead.

Autumn Crested Kingfisher season — now open for bookings.
Please book early.

【Latest Field Update】
· Temperatures have dropped noticeably. Please bring an extra layer to throw on over your clothing.

· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day. Guests with upcoming bookings are welcome to use these reports as a reference leading up to your session.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights