Miyako Islands (Okinawa)
宮古島(沖縄)
Brown Shrike (Philippine) (Lanius cristatus lucionensis)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis taivana/Motacilla flava taivana)
Narcissus Flycatcher/Owston's Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina owstoni/Ficedula owstoni)
Japanese Wood-Pigeon (stejnegeri) (Columba janthina stejnegeri)
Slaty-legged Crake (sepiaria) (Rallina eurizonoides sepiaria)
Common Redshank (Central Asian) (Tringa totanus ussuriensis)
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
& Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres)
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana)
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Amur Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis/Motacilla leucopsis)
Miyako Island, the main island of the chain, is connected by bridges to Ikema Island on its north side, with Kurima Island in the south and with Irabu in the west. Miyako Islands are the only islands not inhabited by the venomous habu snake among the relatively large islands of the Ryukyus.
This visit was earlier than previous visits in April and July.
A small number of winter birds such as ducks, thrushes and Grey-faced Buzzards were still remaining, and a few shorebirds on their migration were seen.
Summer birds such as terns, Ruddy Kingfisher (bangsi) (Halcyon coromanda bangsi) and Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (illex) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata illex) had not yet arrived.
On the afternoon of Day 1, the first site visited was Yonaha Bay at the west of Miyako Island.
At Kawamitsu Fishing Port, we were welcomed by a Brown Shrike (Philippine).
A small flock of Ruddy Turnstone were resting on the shore.
The next site visited was Kurima Island.
On this island, in April, flocks of Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum), Eastern Yellow Wagtail and Eastern Siberian Wagtail (Motacilla ocularis) were seen in the farming areas, so we looked around for these.
A flock of about 20 Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) was found, but no Oriental Pratincole. It might have not yet arrived.
Instead, many Grey-faced Buzzards were around.
The next stop was Sawada Coast on Irabu Island. As it was close to high tide, shorebirds could not be seen.
The last stop of the day was Ikema Marsh on Ikema Island.
There were still a few ducks which were winter birds.
Three Purple Herons, one of the targets in this field, were found. They were beautifully dressed in breeding plumage.
Grey Heron also had beautiful breeding plumage.
On the second day, the rain that had fallen early in the morning had stopped, but a strong northerly wind blew.
We gave up our birding at Ono Forest before dawn and headed for Agarihenna Cape with hopes of seeing migratory birds stopped by the northerly winds.
On the way, we looked for Barred Buttonquail (okinavensis) (Turnix suscitator okinavensis) in farmland in the south-east of Miyako Island, but could not find any, perhaps hiding to avoid the Grey-faced Buzzards that were everywhere.
Several Northern Shovelers and Black-winged Stilts were seen in an irrigation reservoir with water.
At Agarihenna Cape, none of the expected migratory birds were found.
Next, we visited Ikema Marsh. In addition to the Eastern Spot-billed Duck and Eurasian Teal seen the previous day, there were Northern Shoveler and Tufted Duck.
The herons/egrets were the same.
The last site visited that day was Ono Forest.
We waited for a while near a shallow pond "Ryu-no-ike (Pond of Dragon)" in the forest waiting for the birds to come and bathe.
Slaty-legged Crake did not appear, but Brown-eared Bulbuls (pryeri), a Pale Thrush and an Owston's Flycatcher came.
Warbling White-eyes, Oriental Turtle-Doves (stimpsoni) and a Common Emerald Dove came to the branches of trees overhanging the pond.
Japanese Wood-Pigeon and Whistling Green-Pigeon (permagnus) were calling around the pond. A Japanese Wood-Pigeon perching on a pine tree branch was also seen.
Day 3 was cloudy but the wind had stopped and the weather became calm, so we headed to Ono Forest before sunrise.
In the darkness, with no moonlight, Elegant Scops-Owls and Northern Boobooks (Ryu Kyu) were calling.
While searching for Elegant Scops-Owl, a Slaty-legged Crake was accidentally found resting in a small tree by the side of the road.
As it became a little brighter, Warbling White-eyes and Indean Peafowls also began to call.
After the sun rose, we walked on a trail through the forest, and suddenly a large bird flew up from the ground: it was a Malayan Night Heron.
Flocks of Pale Thrush and Ryukyu Minivet were gathered in a fig tree with berries.
Some Japanese Wood-Pigeons were calling on nearby pine trees.
Next stop was Yonaha Bay, where the tide lowered near noon.
Around ten Common Redshanks, several Common Greenshanks and about ten Grey Herons were foraging on the shore where the creek flows in beside the Akanagu Shrine.
We visited Kurima Island, intending to visit again there at the time of the lowest tide after noon.
The Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) seen on the first day was not found, perhaps having migrated.
We returned to Yonaha Bay again, this time to Kawamitsu Fishing Port.
There were only two Western Ospreys in the distance, but nothing else.
Suddenly two large flocks of shorebirds flew close by. One of the flocks landed nearby us.
It was a mixed flock of Lesser Sand-Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and Dunlin.
Two Pacific Golden-Plovers were also found in the flock.
We revisited Ono Forest at sunset that day.
A Slaty-legged Crake was bathing in a puddle on the road in the dim light.
As it got dark, Elegant Scops-Owl and Northern Boobooks started calling again.
The morning of Day 4 was cloudy.
Again, we visited Ono Forest before dawn.
We enjoyed the calls of Elegant Scops-Owl and Northern Boobook echoing in the darkness again.
When it became light, we drove north on the road along the eastern side of the forest and found a flock of Intermediate Egret in a irrigation pond with water by the road. They seemed to roost there.
Two Black-crowned Night Herons were also there.
When we went to the spot where a Malayan Night Heron had been seen the previous day, a White's Thrush was seen this time.
We next headed to Ikema Island.
There were no species newly seen at Ikema Mash.
Then, we then headed to Irrabu Island, and around noon, the weather forecast was cloudy, but it turned out to be far off and the weather was terrible, with strong southerly winds and heavy rain for a few hours.
As the weather turned a little better, with less rain and less wind, we headed for the Sawada Coast.
On the way, a flock of Dusky Thrush were foraging in the grassland of nearby Heisei-no-mori Park.
One Naumann's Thrush was found among them.
More than 100 Pacific Golden-Plover were flocking on the mudflats, which had been greatly widened by the low tide.
Small numbers of Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand-Plover and Common Greenshank were also found among them.
An Oriental Stork was also seen in the distance at the shore.
On Day 5, the last day of the trip, we visited the Ono Forest early in the morning.
The weather recovered.
In the fig tree, where flocks of Pale Thrush and Ryukyu Minivet were gathered two days ago, a Japanese Bush-Warbler (Sakhalinensis), a white-bellied bush-warbler, was busy moving inside like a leaf warbler.
On the lawn of the nearby Miyako Higashi Kindergarten, White Wagtail and Amur Wagtail were found.
At Agarihenna Cape, the next site, we saw a Brown Shrike (Philippine) and a Daurian Redstart.
Later, we checked out Yonaha Bay, but did not find anything particularly new.
Finally, we visited Sawada Coast in Irabu Island.
More Pacific Golden-Plover were feeding on the mudflats than the previous day.
Two Oriental Storks were also seen.
The birds observed are;
- at Ono Forest (Onosanrin)
Indean Peafowl (Pavo cristatus),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus melanolophus),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (iwasakii) (Accipiter gularis iwasakii),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Slaty-legged Crake (sepiaria) (Rallina eurizonoides sepiaria),
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus),
Japanese Wood-Pigeon (stejnegeri) (Columba janthina stejnegeri),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Common Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica indica), Whistling Green-Pigeon (permagnus) (Treron formosae permagnus),
Elegant Scops-Owl (Otus elegans elegans), Northern Boobook (Ryu Kyu) (Ninox japonica totogo),
Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (pryeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (sakhalinensis) (Horornis diphone sakhalinensis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (loochooensis) (Zosterops japonicus loochooensis),
White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Narcissus Flycatcher/Owston's Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina owstoni/Ficedula owstoni),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Miyako Higashi Kindergarten
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Amur Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis/Motacilla leucopsis)
- at Yonaha Bay (Yonaha-Wan)
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Purple Heron (Eastern) (Ardea purpurea manilensis),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta), Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (iwasakii) (Accipiter gularis iwasakii),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Lesser Sand-Plover (schaeferi) (Charadrius mongolus schaeferi),
Common Redshank (Central Asian) (Tringa totanus ussuriensis), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Brown Shrike (Philippine) (Lanius cristatus lucionensis),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (pryeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Farm field in South-east area of Miyako Island
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (pryeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta)
- at Agarihenna Cape (Agariihenna-Zaki)
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Brown Shrike (Philippine) (Lanius cristatus lucionensis),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (pryeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Kurima Island (Kurima-jima)
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (iwasakii) (Accipiter gularis iwasakii),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (pryeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (riukiuensis) (Horornis diphone riukiuensis),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis taivana/Motacilla flava taivana),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta)
- at Sawada Coast (Sawada-hama)
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta), Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis),
Lesser Sand-Plover (schaeferi) (Charadrius mongolus schaeferi), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (pryeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Heisei-no-mori Park in Irabu Island
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Naumann's Thrush (Turdus naumanni), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
- at Ikema Marsh
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Purple Heron (Eastern) (Ardea purpurea manilensis),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (pryeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri), ,br> Japanese Bush-Warbler (riukiuensis) (Horornis diphone riukiuensis),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Ikema Fishing Port
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Large-billed Crow (osai) (Corvus macrorhynchos osai),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis)
インドクジャク, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, コウノトリ,
ズグロミゾゴイ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, ムラサキサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, クロサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, リュウキュウツミ, サシバ, ノスリ, オオクイナ, シロハラクイナ, バン, オオバン,
セイタカシギ, ムナグロ, コチドリ, シロチドリ, チベットメダイチドリ, アカアシシギ, アオアシシギ, イソシギ, キョウジョシギ, ハマシギ,
ヨナクニカラスバト, リュウキュウキジバト, キンバト, リュウキュウズアカアオバト,
リュウキュウコノハズク, リュウキュウアオバズク, カワセミ, リュウキュウサンショウクイ, シマアカモズ, オサハシブトガラス,
ツバメ, セッカ, リュウキュウヒヨドリ, カラフトウグイス, リュウキュウウグイス, リュウキュウメジロ, ムクドリ,
トラツグミ, シロハラ, ハチジョウツグミ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, イソヒヨドリ, リュウキュウキビタキ, スズメ,
ツメナガセキレイ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ホオジロハクセキレイ
Fishing ports at Choshi & Hazaki (Chiba, Ibaraki Prefecturei)
銚子・波崎漁港(千葉,茨城)
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
& Black-headed Gulls (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus)
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus)
A Brown-headed Gull, a stray species in Japan, had been reported a few days earlier, so we visited the fishing ports in Choshi to look for it.
On arrival, many birders were waiting at Choshi's second and third fishing ports to see this rare visitor.
We rounded these places, but did not find the target gull.
During our search, we found out a Glaucous Gull for the first time this season. In ordinary years, we would always find some, but this year was unusual.
On the second round, we spotted a slightly larger gull with black wing tips amongst a large flock of Black-headed Gulls that were flocking to the waste water drained out of the fishing boat after the fish had been unloaded.
It flew around in front of us for a while and we were able to observe it well.
At another location, a Little Gull, another stray bird in this winter, was also seen this time again.
Most of the ducks had migrated, with only a few dozen Greater Scaup remaining at Choshi Port and about 200 at Choshi Marina.
At Choshi Marina, we looked for Lesser Scaup that might be among these, but they were too far away to be identified.
A small number of grebes remained, and their breeding plumage were coloured vividly.
The birds observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta), Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens), Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus),
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus), Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini heuglini),
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis),
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus), Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
コジュケイ, オカヨシガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, スズガモ, ウミアイサ, アカエリカイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ,
アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, クロサギ, カワウ, ウミウ, ヒメウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ, オオバン,
カモメ, ワシカモメ, ウミネコ, シロカモメ, セグロカモメ, モンゴルセグロカモメ? オオセグロカモメ,
ホイグリンカモメ, タイミールセグロカモメ, チャガシラカモメ, ユリカモメ, ヒメカモメ, ミツユビカモメ,
ハシブトガラス, ヒバリ, ツグミ, イソヒヨドリ, ハクセキレイ
Ferry route between Tokyo Bay and Hachijo Island, Tokyo
八丈島航路(東京)
Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)
& Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas)
Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume)
Red Phalarope/Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
It is about 10 hours by Tokai Ferry from Takeshiba Pier, Tokyo.
From February to May, we have a lot of chances to watch albatrosses; Short-Tailed Albatross, Black-footed Albatross and Laysan Albatross, and a huge number of shearwater; Short-tailed Shearwater, Streaked Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, etc.
February to March is a particularly good time to see three species of albatross; Laysan Albatross, Short-Tailed Albatross and Black-footed Albatross.
This time I was with members of the Fureai Birdwatching Club.
The weather was sunny and unseasonably warm, with a light southerly breeze and the sea conditions were calm, making watching seabirds from the boat easy.
On the other hand, this calm sea conditions may have worked against the seabirds, as they were not very active.
Black-footed Albatross were seen throughout on the outward passage from Miyake-jima to Hachijo-jima and on the return passage from Hachijo-jima to Miyake-jima. More were seen from Miyakejima to Tokyo Bay. They appeared in unexpectedly some numbers after entering Tokyo Bay.
Short-Tailed Albatross were seen in small numbers from Miyakejima to off Oshima.
Only two Laysan Albatrosses were seen around the entrance to Tokyo Bay, perhaps it had already moved further north water areas.
Lots of Streaked Shearwater were seen throughout the passage. On the way from Miyake-jima to Tokyo, a great number of them crowded around a fishing boat. Several Black-footed Albatrosses were also seen in the flock.
No other species of shearwater were found.
Many Japanese Murrelets were also seen as we passed the western side of Miyake-jima, flying in flocks of two or three.
Other species found were one Bulwer's Petrel, two Brown Bobbies and two Red Phalaropes.
A Jaeger/Skua was found near the entrance to Tokyo Bay, but could not be confirmed.
The birds observed were;
Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes),
Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus),
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas),
Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Brown Booby (Forster's) (Sula leucogaster plotus),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva),
Red Phalarope/Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Pomarine Jaeger/Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus)?
Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
コアホウドリ, クロアシアホウドリ, アホウドリ, オオミズナギドリ, アナドリ, コサギ, カツオドリ, ウミウ,
ミサゴ, トビ, ムナグロ, ハイイロヒレアシシギ, ウミネコ, セグロカモメ, トウゾクカモメ? カンムリウミスズメ,
キジバト, ハシブトガラス, ヒヨドリ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ
Higashi-Takane Forest Park & Midorigaoka Cemetery(Kawasaki, Kanagawa)
東高根森林公園&緑ヶ丘霊園(川崎)
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica)
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
Japanese Waxwing, of which only two were seen on the previous visit on 20 Feb, increased to a flock of more than ten.
There was also an unexpected encounter with an Eurasian Woodcock.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
カルガモ, トビ, ヤマシギ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
ヒレンジャク, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, メジロ, シロハラ, アオジ
Amami-Oshima (Kagoshima Prefecture)
奄美大島 (鹿児島)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
& Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus)
& Common Starling (Siberian) (Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskyi)
Whistling Green-Pigeon (permagnus) (Treron formosae permagnus)
Lidth's Jay (Garrulus lidthi)
White-backed woodpecker (Owston's) (Dendrocopos leucotos owstoni)
Ryukyu Robin (Larvivora komadori komadori)
Naumann's Thrush (Turdus naumanni)
Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi)
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (amamii) (Yungipicus kizuki amamii/Dendrocopos kizuki amamii)
It is located approximately 380 kilometres south of the southern tip of Kyushu and 250 kilometres (130 nmi) north of Okinawa.
The island is of volcanic origin, with Mount Yuwan-dake at 605 metres above sea level at its highest peak.
The coast of the island is surrounded by a coral reef. It is surrounded by the East China Sea on the west and the Pacific Ocean on the east.
This island is located at the east-north edge of the Indomalaya / Oriental ecozone.
The climate of Amami Oshima is classified as a humid subtropical climate with very warm summers and mild winters.
Amami Oshima is home to several rare or endangered endemic animals, including Lidth's Jay, Owston's White-backed Woodpecker, and Amami Thrush which are now found only in Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima.
Also there are endemic subspecies such as; Amami Woodcock, Whistling Green-Pigeon (permagnus), Ryukyu Robin, Great Tit (amamiensis), Varied Tit (amamii), White-backed woodpecker (Owston's), Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (amamii), Brown-eared Bulbul (ogawae), and Large-billed Crow (connectens).
At the time of this visit, the weather was cold for Amami Oshima and unstable with occasional showers of heavy rain and strong northerly winds. If it were migratory time, such bad weather would be a good opportunity to see many migratory birds on remote islands, but it was still early for this, and we were forced to bird in extra layers of clothing and had to avoid the rain and wind. Also, the activity of resident birds was not very active due to the bad weather.
The first site we visited was Ose beach, just north of the airport and facing the Pacific Ocean.
During a break in the rain, we observed ducks and shorebirds on the rocks on the beach.
Amongst Eurasian Wigeons, Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Teals, we found one remaining Common Shelduck, which had been observed the previous month.
Shorebirds were dominated by Pacific Golden-Plover, with a few other Little Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover found.
Other species seen were Great White Egret, Pacific Reef Heron, Great Cormorants, Western Osprey, Common Coots and White Wagtails.
Then we moved further north in the Kasari area.
A flock of thrushes was found, but they were very nervous and immediately hid in the trees nearby.
After a short wait, Brown-headed Thrushes (orii), Naumann's Thrushes and Dusky Thrushes returned and perched on the power lines.
Besides these, Pale Thrush were found all over the place.
A few Masked Buntings also appeared but soon went into a bush.
A few Red-billed Starlings and one Common Starling (Siberian) were found on a power line a short distance away.
The next morning we headed to Amami Nature Forest (Amami Shizen Kansatsu no Mori) before dawn.
Fortunately, although there was a cold northerly wind blowing, it was not raining.
On the forest roads along the way, as it began to get light, we heard Ryukyu Robin, Lidth's Jay, Japanese Wood-Pigeon, Brown-eared Bulbul (ogawae), Japanese Bush-Warbler, and saw Pale Thrush on the road.
A Grey-faced Buzzard, which had been resting in a tree on the side of the road, flew out being surprised by our car.
At Amami Nature Forest, two Whistling Green-Pigeons (permagnus) were soon found perched on a tree by the roadside.
A Japanese Wood-Pigeon was also heard close by and saw flying.
Ryukyu Robins were spotted many times throughout the park, singing here and there. This bird is usually difficult to see in other seasons as it hides in the bushes, but this time it was very easy to spot.
White-backed woodpecker (Owston's), Japanese Tit (amamiensis) and Varied Tit (amamii) were also readily spotted.
Finally, an Amami Thrush made a brief appearance, so we were able to see most of our target birds in a few hours at this one site.
There was a birder looking for Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops saturata), which had been seen recently, but seemed unable to find it.
Next, we moved on to the Akina area to the west. This is a good spot for observing freshwater fowl in a relatively large area of rice paddies.
Unfortunately, when we arrived at the site, the weather worsened and strong winds began to blow. Perhaps because of this, only one Green Sandpiper and Grey and White wagtails were seen.
However, only many Grey-faced Buzzards were seen.
Next, we drove to the Amami Forest Police in the southern part of the island. Amami Forest Police is a vast forest park in the Fukumoto Basin at the foot of Mt Yuwan, the highest peak in the Amami Archipelago, in Yamato Village in the central part of Amami Oshima. The mountains are covered with subtropical vegetation and there is also a large lawn area.
It was the afternoon and light rain was falling occasionally, so not many birds appeared, but several Naumann's Thrushes, Dusky Thrushes, Pale Thrush and Olive-backed Pipits were foraging in the lawn area.
While observing, they suddenly flew away, followed by the Peregrine Falcon, the cause of that, appeared in the sky above.
After sunset, we went night-watching on the Santaro Forest Road with a local guide.
The Santaro Forest Road is located in the centre of the island and is a popular spot for watching nocturnal animals, including the Amami rabbit, at night. Due to concerns about the increase in roadkill of wildlife and increased stress on wildlife due to the recent increase in vehicles, rules for night-time use have been set and entry vehicles are controlled.
It was not raining, but a cold northerly wind blew, and two Amami Woodcocks and several Elegant Scops-Owls were seen and heard, but no Amami Thrush were seen.
The next morning, while it was still dark, we headed for Kinsakubaru with a local guide.
We hoped to see Elegant Scops-Owl and Amami Woodcock on the forest road on the way, but we only heard Elegant Scops-Owl and saw only one Amami Woodcock.
This may have been due to another vehicle driving on the same road just before us.
As sunrise approached and it was getting light, an Amami Thrush was singing nearby, just before the entrance to Kinsakubaru Forest Road (Kinsakubaru Rindo), but we could not find it.
We parked at the entrance to Kinsakubaru Rindo and walked along the forest road.
Kinsakubaru Rindo is a forest road where primitive forest remains, and is a restricted area where you cannot enter unless accompanied by a local guide.
After 9am, tourists come and it is not suitable for birding, but early in the morning there were few people and it was quiet.
We hoped to see Amami Thrush, but only heard its voice.
Instead, White-backed woodpecker (Owston's) and Japanese Wood-Pigeon appeared.
Next, we drove south along the west coast and visited the Forest Police again.
The members there were almost the same as the day before, but a White-cheeked Starling was newly found on the lawn.
Next, we headed north again to Akina.
At Akina, the wind was weaker and conditions more favourable than last time.
Thanks to this, we saw more birds than last time, such as a flock of Common Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper.
The next morning, as on the previous day, we drove on the same forest road to Kinsakubaru before dawn and on another forest road leading from Kinsakubaru to Naze.
Sadly again, Elegant Scops-Owl and Amami Thrush were only heard and only one Amami Woodcock appeared.
Next, we revisited Amami Nature Forest (Amami Shizen Kansatsu no Mori).
Many Ryukyu Robin were seen there again.
Japanese Wood-Pigeon were also seen several times.
Then we drove towards the Ose coast.
On the way we found two Intermediate Egrets and a number of Grey-faced Buzzards.
In the Kasari area, there was still a flock of thrushes.
On the Ose coast, more shorebirds were found than last time, with Northern Lapwing, Lesser Sand-Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-necked Stint and Dunlin in addition to the previous members.
The birds found are;
Common Pheasant (Korean) (Phasianus colchicus karpowi),
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis), Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis),
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Japanese Wood-Pigeon (nominate) (Columba janthina janthina),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni),
Whistling Green-Pigeon (permagnus) (Treron formosae permagnus),
Elegant Scops-Owl (Otus elegans elegans),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (amamii) (Yungipicus kizuki amamii/Dendrocopos kizuki amamii),
White-backed woodpecker (Owston's) (Dendrocopos leucotos owstoni),
Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae),
Lidth's Jay (Garrulus lidthi), Large-billed Crow (connectens) (Corvus macrorhynchos connectens),
Japanese Tit (amamiensis) (Parus minor amamiensis), Varied Tit (amamii) (Sittiparus varius amamii),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (ogawae) (Hypsipetes amaurotis ogawae),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (loochooensis) (Zosterops japonicus loochooensis),
Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus), White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Common Starling (Siberian) (Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskyi),
Amami Thrush (Zoothera major), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Brown-headed Thrush (orii) (Turdus chrysolaus orii),
Naumann's Thrush (Turdus naumanni), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Ryukyu Robin (Larvivora komadori komadori),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コウライキジ, ツクシガモ, ヒドリガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, バリケン,
アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, クロサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ,
ミサゴ, トビ, ツミ, サシバ, バン, オオバン, タゲリ, ムナグロ, コチドリ, シロチドリ, メダイチドリ,
アマミヤマシギ, タシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, イソシギ, キョウジョシギ, トウネン, ハマシギ,
カラスバト, リュウキュウキジバト, リュウキュウズアカアオバト, リュウキュウコノハズク,
カワセミ, アマミコゲラ, オーストンオオアカゲラ, リュウキュウサンショウクイ,
ルリカケス, リュウキュウハシブトガラス, アマミシジュウカラ, アマミヤマガラ, ツバメ, セッカ,
アマミヒヨドリ, ウグイス, リュウキュウメジロ, ギンムクドリ, ムクドリ, ホシムクドリ,
オオトラツグミ, シロハラ, オオアカハラ, ハチジョウツグミ, ツグミ, アカヒゲ, ジョウビタキ,
イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ビンズイ, アオジ
Higashi-Takane Forest Park & Midorigaoka Cemetery(Kawasaki, Kanagawa)
東高根森林公園&緑ヶ丘霊園(川崎)
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica)
Frustratingly, however, the number of this bird varies greatly from year to year, and sometimes it doesn't appear at all.
Last year, there were almost no arrivals.
I was worried about this year's arrival, but I got news of its arrival and visited to see it.
However, I went round Higashi-Takane Forest Park (Higashi-Takane Shinrin-Koen), but there were no such birds, and even other birds were very scarce.
At that time, I was told by a visitor that the target bird had been seen at the neighbouring cemetery, so I went there and found a Japanese Waxwing on a mistletoe there.
The photographer there said there were two of them, but only one appeared during my observation.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
カルガモ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ヒレンジャク, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ,
メジロ, ツグミ, オオカワラヒワ, イカル, アオジ
Go-no-ike Pond,Fishing ports at Hazaki & Choshi (Chiba, Ibaraki Prefecturei)
神之池、波崎・銚子漁港(千葉,茨城)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii)
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis)
On the way, we checked Go-no-ike Pond in the Kamisu City.
Go-no-ike Pond was a well-known spot to see Smew in winter. This time, no Smew could be seen. However, the weather, which had been warm and mild in the morning, suddenly changed and a strong southerly wind began to blow, and the sky looked as if it would rain at any moment, so we stopped observing quickly, so it is possible that we may have missed it.
In the fishing ports of Hasaki and Choshi, the number of large gulls such as Vega Gull seemed to had increased since the previous visit.
However, Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus) was not found this time either.
A beautiful Glaucous-winged Gull whose plumage had finished changing was seen.
Little Gull seemed to be moving around the area and was not encountered.
Some Red-necked Grebes and Black-necked Grebes were changing to summer plumage and were darker in plumage.
The birds observed are;
at Go-no-ike Pond:
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis)
at Hazaki & Choshi Ports:
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens), Iceland Gull/Thayer's Gull (Larus glaucoides thayeri),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)?
Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ,
ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, ウミアイサ, アカエリカイツブリ,
カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ,
カワウ, ウミウ, ヒメウ, トビ, オオバン, ウミネコ, カモメ, ワシカモメ, カナダカモメ,
セグロカモメ, アメリカセグロカモメ? モンゴルセグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ,
タイミールセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ハシブトガラス
Kashima Coast (Ibaraki Prefecturei)
鹿島灘(茨城)
Red-throated Loon/Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata stellata)
The Kashima Coast is a sandy beach stretching from Oarai Town to Kamisu City, where the Japan Current (Kuro-shio) flowing in from the Pacific Ocean and the Chishima Current (Oya-shio) flowing in from off Sanriku Coast collide, creating a seaward convergence rich in marine resources, where many seabirds can be observed.
Usually small numbers of loons (divers) and Ancient Murrelets had been seen in the fishing ports of Choshi and Hasaki, but as there were no such encounters this winter, we came to Kashima Coast, where they are more chance to be seen.
Although we visited several beaches, we met only a lot of surfers and only saw a few loons at a distance offshore.
The last beach we visited, Shimizu Beach, had only a few surfers, probably due to the lack of parking space, and here we were finally able to see Red-throated Loons/Red-throated Divers closely.
The birds observed were;
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Black Scoter (Melanitta americana),
Red-throated Loon/Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata stellata),
Horned Grebe/Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus auritus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis)
スズガモ, クロガモ, アビ, ミミカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ,ウミウ, トビ,
ウミネコ, セグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, ハシボソガラス, イソヒヨドリ
Lake Kasumigaura (Ibaraki Prefecturei)
霞ケ浦(茨城)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus)
Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis)
It was the first visit in about a year, since December 2021. Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and various freshwater shorebirds were seen at this location last time.
We expected to see something again this time.
Not as many as last time, but there were many Common Snipes (over 30) in one watered paddy, a flock of Dunlin and one Common Ringed Plover and three Little Stints in another paddy, two Black-winged Stilts in a lake, were found.
A variety of ducks were also seen on the lake.
At a small fishing port, there was a flock of gulls, mostly Black-headed Gull, but mixed in with them were Black-tailed Gulls, Mew Gull, Vega Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
The birds observed were;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Common Ringed Plover (Eastern) (Charadrius hiaticula tundrae),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Little Stint (Calidris minuta), Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ホオジロガモ,
ミコアイサ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, ノスリ, バン, オオバン,
セイタカシギ, タゲリ, ハジロコチドリ, タシギ, ヨーロッパトウネン, ハマシギ, ウミネコ, カモメ, セグロカモメ,
タイミールセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
セッカ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ,
タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, オオジュリン
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Kanagawa)
多摩川中流(川崎, 神奈川)
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus)
Since February 4, the first day of spring on the calendar (Risshun), about two weeks had passed. Reports of song of Japanese Bush-Warbler, a sign of the coming of spring, began to be heard around Tokyo.
I expected to hear the song in this field as well.
The sun was shining brightly and the sky was blue, but the temperature was still low.
Unfortunately, I did not hear the song of Japanese Bush-Warbler, but the buntings, which had been hidden in the bushes and hard to see, appeared in easy-to-see places.
Feathers of Grey-capped Greenfinch turned darker yellow and pretty.
A Brown-cheeked Rail also made a good appearance.
As for raptors, two Eastern Buzzards perched on the same willow tree, and a Common Kestrel soared overhead.
As for waterfowl, the ducks seemed to be unchanged in species and numbers, but no gulls were seen this time.
Common Kingfishers were active and I saw several of them.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ, ノスリ, クイナ, オオバン, イカルチドリ,
ドバト, キジバト, ヒメアマツバメ, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, ムクドリ,
ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Tone River & Fishing ports at Hazaki & Choshi (Chiba, Ibaraki Prefecturei)
利根川&波崎・銚子漁港(千葉,茨城)
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)
& Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
& Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris)
On the way, we checked the riverbanks and rice fields spread in the river island of Tone River in the Kamisu area.
Several Eastern Marsh-Harriers were soaring over the reed fields on the riverbed.
Occasionally a small bird flew, but soon hid in the reeds. The only species that could be identified was Meadow Bunting.
In the rice field, a flock of about 20 Northern Lapwings were resting there to avoid the wind.
Eurasian Skylarks, Buff-bellied Pipits, Grey-capped Greenfinches, Meadow Buntings, Common Reed Buntings, etc. were appeared be surprised by our car.
Various raptors such as Western Osprey, Black Kites, Eastern Marsh-Harriers, Hen Harrier, and Eastern Buzzards were also seen.
No ducks were seen in the pond this time. There was one Common Snipe in the canal.
Vega Gulls, Black-headed Gulls flew over the river, and Common Coot were seen in the river.
In the old port of Hasaki, Canvasback still attracted many birders.
At the left breakwater at the mouth of the Tone River at the Hazaki side, Glaucous-winged Gull was seen at last on the third visit.
While observing this gull, a very small gull suddenly appeared. This was an unexpected encounter with the Little Gull, which we had not been able to find on our previous visit and thought might have already left the site.
At Hasaki's New Port, only a few Greater Scaup were seen, and only a few Red-breasted Merganser and Grebes (Great Crested, Black-necked) were seen, with few gulls.
Many Black-headed Gulls and Black-tailed Gulls were seen at Choshi Fishing Port as well.
Large gulls were also seen at several places. Most were Vega Gulls and Slaty-backed Gulls, but a few Glaucous-winged Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also seen.
A >Black-legged Kittiwake was seen this time, too.
No Thayer's Gulls (Larus glaucoides thayeri) were found, and no Glaucous Gulls (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus) were seen this time either.
The birds observed are;
at Tone River:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
at Hazaki & Choshi Ports:
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Canvasback (Aythya valisineria), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Black Scoter (Melanitta americana),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta), Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)?
Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus), Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
マガモ, オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オオホシハジロ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, クロガモ,
ウミアイサ, カイツブリ, アカエリカイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, クロサギ, カワウ, ウミウ, ヒメウ,
ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ノスリ, オオバン, タゲリ, タシギ, ウミネコ, カモメ, ワシカモメ,
セグロカモメ, アメリカセグロカモメ? モンゴルセグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, タイミールセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ヒメカモメ, ミツユビカモメ,
キジバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ヒバリ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, オオジュリン
Two days in search of rare birds around Tokyo (Chiba, Ibaraki, Tokyo)
東京周辺の珍鳥探しの2日間(千葉,茨城,東京)
Gulls at Choshi Port
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
& Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
At first we looked for the Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) at the fishing ports in Choshi.
The north wind was strong and there seemed to be no boats out fishing.
As in the previous visit, there were small number and few species of large gulls, but there were a huge number of Black-headed Gulls.
We searched hard for the one gull among them, but were unable to find it.
Next, we moved to the Hazaki side to look for the Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) at the old Hazaki fishing port.
When we arrived, the ducks were resting with their faces in their feathers, and it was difficult to find the target bird among the similar Common Pochards because we could not see its distinctive large bill.
After a while, the ducks began to raise their heads and we were able to recognize it.
In the next morning, we visited Tama River in the Tama areas to search for the Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola).
At the site, where more than a hundred observers had gathered at one time to watch the popular bird, there were only a maximum of ten birders this time.
When we arrived, a new riverbed construction was starting nearby, and we did not immediately find the target bird, we worried that it had left the site.
But we did find it diving with Tufted Ducks and Common Coots.
Although the northwest wind was cold, the clear skies made the bird beautiful in the sunshine.
The last site we visited was Wadabori Park to look for Yellow-bellied Tit.
We arrived before noon, and there were nearly 10 birders and photographers waiting for the encounter with the bird. We were told that the bird appeared for a moment around 20 minutes before our arrival.
About an hour later, it appeared again for a brief moment, but quickly flew away, and only a few people saw or took pictures, and we did not get a good look either.
We waited until the evening, but it did not appear again.
The birds observed are;
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria),
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola),
Yellow-bellied Tit (Pardaliparus venustulus/Periparus venustulus),
etc.
オオホシハジロ, ヒメハジロ, キバラガラ, 他
Swans and Geese in rice field and winter birds in mountain area around Suzaka City (Nagano Prefecture)
小布施町延徳田んぼと須坂市里山の野鳥(長野)
Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus)
Greater white-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons)jpg
Been Geese (Anser fabalis)
Rooks (Corvus frugilegus)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibiricus)
White's Thrush (Zoothera aurea)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
: All photos by T.Endo
I visited Entoku-Tanbo, one of the largest rice fields in Northern Nagano prefecture to watch swans.
Visits of swans in this spot may be dependent on climates of both here and the regular wintering spot of this species, Asahi-Ike pond in Jyoetu of Niigata prefecture. Only when rice field of Joetu is covered with snow, some of the swan flocks move south to this spot.
I watched about 50 Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus), 2 Greater white-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons), and 7 Been Geese (Anser fabalis).
I also watched large flocks of Carrion Crows (Corvus corone) and Rooks (Corvus frugilegus).
Although one of my friends spotted Daurian Jackdaw on Febuurary 01, I could not find any this day.
I also visited Sakata-Yama Natural Trail near the city center of Suzaka to look for winter birds.
I found regular winter birds, such as Yellow-throated Buntings (Emberiza elegans), Long-tailed Rosefinches (Uragus sibiricus), Red-flanked bluetails (Tarsiger cyanurus), White's Thrush (Zoothera aurea) and Japanese Accentors (Prunella rubida).
An invading species, Chinese Hwameis (Garrulax canorus) seemed to stay whole year in this area in these years.
A pair of Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) was soaring up in the sky. They might be wintering around the mountain.
List of species;
Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus), Greater white-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons), Been Geese (Anser fabalis),
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea),
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus),
Rooks (Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corvus corone), Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Jay (Garrulus glandarius),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor), Varied Tit (Poecile varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Grey Starling (Sturnus cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart（Phoenicurus auroreus), Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus),
White's Thrush (Zoothera aurea), Pale Thurush (Turdus obcurus), Naumann's Thrush (Turdus naumanni),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Oriental Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica), Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata), Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibiricus),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), WhiteWagtail (Motacilla alba), Gray Wagtail (Mitacilla cinerea),
Siberian Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides)，Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans), Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala)
コハクチョウ，マガン，ヒシクイ，アオサギ，キジバト，ハイタカ，ノスリ，コゲラ，モズ，ミヤマガラス，ハシボソガラス，ハシブトガラス，カケス，
シジュウカラ，ヤマガラ，ヒヨドリ，エナガ，ガビチョウ，ムクドリ，ジョウビタキ，ルリビタキ，トラツグミ，シロハラ，ツグミ，
スズメ，カヤクグリ，カワラヒワ，アトリ，イカル，ベニマシコ，セグロセキレイ，ハクセキレイ，キセキレイ,ホオジロ，ミヤマホオジロ，アオジ
Nobeyama Highland (Yamanashi,Nagano)
野辺山高原(山梨,長野)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
On the way, we stopped at Tobisawa Reservoir (Tobisawa-Ike) in Oizumi Town, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
In last December, the bank of the pond was under construction and the forest had been extensively cut down, so there were no birds at all.
This time there were still few birds and not a single duck in the pond, but we did see a beautiful Red-flanked Bluetail with a deep blue back and a few Rustic Buntings.
We also saw just one Eurasian Siskin, which arrived in very low numbers this year.
The farming areas in Nobeyama Highlands were entirely covered with snow when we visited in last December, but this time there was no snow at all. This is due to the unusually low precipitation on the Pacific side of Japan since the beginning of the year.
Usually it is difficult to drive around the field, but this time there was no problem at all.
Furthermore, the warm like March temperatures made birding easy in what is usually a harsh field with cold strong breezes.
Because of the lack of wind, there were more buntings than usual this time, but I did not see any waxwings or siskings, which we had expected. These seem to be scarce this year.
In the evening, photographers were waiting to take photos of Ural Owl (hondoensis) (Strix uralensis hondoensis) or Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus), but they did not appear during our observation.
The birds we observed are;
- at Tobisawa Reservoir:
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
- at Nobeyama:
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
トビ, ノスリ, キジバト, コゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ゴジュウカラ,
ツグミ, ルリビタキ, オオカワラヒワ, マヒワ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Around Tateshina Highland (Nagano)
蓼科高原周辺(長野)
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
Asian Rosy-Finch (brunneonucha) (Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)
A view from Yatsugatake Nature & Culture Par
Surprisingly, there was almost no snow on the road to the cottage (Adagio) where we stayed this time, which was unusual for this time of year. And finally when we reached the altitude (1,500 meters) where the lodge was located, we could see a lot of snow.
As soon as we arrived at the lodge, we heard tits and Eurasian Bullfinches from the bird feeder on the balcony.
Willow Tits, Japanese Tits, Varied Tits and Wood Nuthatches were coming on the bird feeder with seeds of sunflower.
The next morning, we started observing from the warmth of the room as the sun was rising.
First came the tits (Willow, Japanese, Varied), followed by a large flock of Japanese Grosbeak.
Grey-capped Greenfinch, Wood Nuthatch, Brambling and Eurasian Bullfinch were also there feeding while the Japanese Grosbeak were in absence.
Japanese Squirrels also came, but they kept eating paying no attention to the birds.
After 8:00, two Asian Rosy-Finches finally came, but they were startled by something and flew away with the other birds and did not return again.
After check-out, we checked points nearby where a Copper Pheasant (Scintillating) (Syrmaticus soemmerringii scintillans) had recently been seen, but there was no lucky encounter again.
Then, we stopped by Togariishi historical Site in Chino City and Yatsugatake Nature & Culture Park in Hara Village.
At Togariishi historical Site, a Solitary Snipe (japonica) (Gallinago solitaria japonica) visits here every winter, and we expected to observe this bird. However, we could not find it this time, too.
But instead we saw a Eurasian Woodcock that flew out in surprise at us.
Then we moved to the area of Ryujin Pond.
The pond was almost frozen. There was one open spot where water was springing up, and ducks (Eastern Spot-billed, Mallard, Eurasian Teal) were gathering there.
There were few birds again, with only a few tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Paled Thrush in the forest.
At Yatsugatake Nature & Culture Park, we expected to see Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica), but were told that they had not been confirmed yet this season.
We looked for Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus), which is supposed to be a winter bird but is resident here, however, we could not find it, perhaps at the wrong time of the day.
The view of Mt. Tateshina, Mt. Kirigamine, and the Japanese Northern Alps from the restaurant here was stunning.
The birds we observed are;
at Tateshina Highland:
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
, Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba), Asian Rosy-Finch (brunneonucha) (Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris), Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
at Togariishi Historic Site:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
at Yatsugatake Bunka-mura:
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, トビ, オオタカ, ヤマシギ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ミソサザイ, ゴジュウカラ, シロハラ, スズメ,
アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, ハギマシコ, ウソ, イカル, ホオジロ
Around Lake Suwa (Okaya & Chino, Nagano)
諏訪湖周辺(長野)
Red Crossbill (Japanese) (Loxia curvirostra japonica)
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)
Smew (Mergellus albellus), Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
At first, we visited Enrei, which is located at in the corner of the Yatsugatake center Plateau National Park.
This is our second visit this winter, following our last visit in mid-December. We expected to see Pallas's Rosefinch (portenkoi) (Carpodacus roseus portenkoi) and Red Crossbill, which we did not see last time.
However, it wa said that Pallas's Rosefinch was not seen this season, and we could not see it this time either.
But we saw Red Crossbill, though in small numbers and only for a short time.
Other species such as Red-flanked Bluetail, woodpeckers (Japanese Pygmy, Great Spotted, Japanese Green), and Yellow-throated Bunting also appeared.
Then we visited the north side of Lake Suwa.
As same as the last visit, a flock of about 30 Smew and a few Common Goldeneyes were seen near the Kamaguchi Water Gate, the source of the Tenryu River.
We saw ducks, Common Mergansers (Goosanders) and Great Crested Grebes as well, but their number had decreased.
No swans were seen this time, too.
The birds we observed are;
at Enrei
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Red Crossbill (Japanese) (Loxia curvirostra japonica)?
at Lake Suwa
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus), Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ホオジロガモ,
ミコアイサ, カワアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, カワウ, トビ, オオバン,
コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ,
ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ゴジュウカラ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, イスカ, ミヤマホオジロ
Mine Park (Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture)
嶺公園(群馬)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus)
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus)
There are ponds and forest, and nature is rich. We can meet various birds.
In the pond, there were Mallards, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Eurasian Teal and Mandarin Ducks.
This time we saw Smew too.
It was just noon and perhaps the timing was not good, so it was hard to find any birds other than friendly Japanese Tits and Varied Tits in the hills and valleys.
There was only one spot, the grassy area in the swamp, where a variety of species were gathered.
Among them, a Long-tailed Rosefinch and a Red-flanked Bluetail showed us their beautiful appearance.
Also seen this time were a flock of five Eurasian Jays.
The two introduced species; Chinese Hwamei and White-browed Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus sannio sannio/Garrulax sannio sannio), which we had seen every time we visited there, only Chinese Hwamei appeared this time.
The birds observed are;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オシドリ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ミコアイサ, トビ, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, アカゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, オオカワラヒワ,
ベニマシコ, シメ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Tone River, Shimo-nitsute area (Honjo, Saitama Prefecture)
利根川 下仁手地区(本庄市)
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
Rough-legged Buzzard/Rough-legged Hawk (Siberian) (Buteo lagopus menzbieri)
Since the Rough-legged Buzzard appeared around 10:20 a.m. when we visited three days ago, we were a little later, arriving at the field at 9:30 a.m. this time.
A friendly Eastern Buzzard greeted us at the entrance to the riverbank.
While we waited for the target bird, we enjoyed watching Meadow Buntings, Rustic Buntings, Common Reed Buntings, and Eurasian Skylarks in the grasses on the riverbank, and Japanese Wagtails, Long-billed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, and a Green Sandpiper on the sandbar.
A Hen Harrier flew over the river grass in front of us, too.
The bird we waited appeared suddenly in front of us again around 11:15. This time it flew and hovered close to us for a while.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus), Rough-legged Buzzard/Rough-legged Hawk (Siberian) (Buteo lagopus menzbieri),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
マガモ, オナガガモ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ハイタカ, ノスリ, ケアシノスリ,
イカルチドリ, クサシギ, イソシギ, キジバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ,
ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Area around Watarase Retarding Basin (Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki)
渡良瀬遊水地周辺(群馬,栃木,茨城)
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus)
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
Brown-headed Thrush (orii) (Turdus chrysolaus orii), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis)
This time, priority was focused on spots that we could not visit last time due to time constraints.
In the rice paddies of Itakura, we looked for flocks of Russet Sparrow again, but this time we found only one Russet Sparrow in a flock of Eurasian Tree Sparrow.
Next, we visited the irrigation pond in Itakura, where we skipped the previous visit.
There were nearly 100 swans and many ducks. Most of the swans were Bewick's Swans, with a few Whooper Swans and a Whistling Swan among them.
The next spot was the historic zone of "former Yanaka Village" in Watarase Retarding Basin.
Perhaps it was not the right time of day for birding, but there were not many birds in this zone.
However, along the road between here and Lake Yanaka, we saw many birds such as; Eastern Buzzard, Brambling, Daurian Redstart, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Brown-headed Thrush, Dusky Thrush, White-cheeked Starling, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Meadow Bunting, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Bull-headed Shrike, Japanese Tit, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Grey-capped Greenfinch, Hawfinch, etc. ,, which appeared one after another.
Lake Yanaka has been drained and dried every year from late January to February to improve water quality, but this year there was still plenty of water, and smew and other waterfowl could be seen in the distance.
Next, we visited the so-called "Hawk viewing platform" overlooking the No. 2 Retarding Basin.
This used to be a famous observation spot for harriers and merlins that used to roost in the reed fields, but after the construction work to collect sand and soil to reinforce the banks of the rivers to prevent flood damage in Tokyo which had continued for many years.
Now the construction work had finally been ended, and we visited the site to check on the situation, but did not see any harriers flying in the reed fields.
An Oriental Stork was on an artificial nest tower in the distance. It seemed to have already started preparing for nesting.
The birds observed are;
At Itakura:
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Daurian Jackdaw (Coloeus dauuricus/Corvus dauuricus), Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
At Watarase Retarding Basin:
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Brown-headed Thrush (orii) (Turdus chrysolaus orii), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ, アメリカコハクチョウ, オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ,
オナガガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, コウノトリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ,
コチョウゲンボウ, トビ, チュウヒ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ハイタカ, ノスリ, オオバン, タゲリ, セグロカモメ, キジバト, コゲラ,
モズ, コクマルガラス, ミヤマガラス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ムクドリ,
オオアカハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, ニュウナイスズメ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ,
アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Tone River, Shimo-nitsute area (Honjo, Saitama Prefecture)
利根川 下仁手地区(本庄市)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
Rough-legged Buzzard/Rough-legged Hawk (Siberian) (Buteo lagopus menzbieri)
The Tone River is the second longest rive with the first widest basin in Japan, flowing through the area near Tokyo. The site of our visit has a wide riverbed covered with grasses, and wide sandbanks with trees.
In the grasses, large flocks of Eurasian Tree Sparrow and Grey-capped Greenfinch, and a few Meadow Buntings and Long-tailed Rosefinches were seen.
In the river at the distance, ducks (Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Common Goldeneye) and herons (Grey Heron, Great White Egret) were seen.
Several Rough-legged Buzzards had been observed in this area for sometime ago.
Although a Northern Goshawk, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and several Black Kites appeared, the Rough-legged Buzzard, the target of this visit, did not appear.
When we were about to give up, it suddenly soared over a sandbank a short distance away, repeated hovering and circling, and then hid in a large tree in the sandbank.
It was about 10 minutes of show time.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus), Rough-legged Buzzard/Rough-legged Hawk (Siberian) (Buteo lagopus menzbieri),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
マガモ, カルガモ, ホオジロガモ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハイタカ, オオタカ, ノスリ, ケアシノスリ,
オオバン, キジバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, ホオジロ
Fishing ports at Choshi & Hazaki (Chiba, Ibaraki Prefecturei)
銚子・波崎漁港(千葉,茨城)
Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis)
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)
& Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
& Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
& Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)
This was the first visit in this winter, later than usual, due to information that there were fewer gulls this season.
There were few gulls at Choshi No. 1 Fishing Port, with only a few ducks and grebes in the port.
A certain number of gulls were seen at Choshi No. 2 Fishing Port.
Black-headed Gulls, Black-tailed Gulls, Vega Gulls, and Slaty-backed Gulls were resting on the breakwater.
A small number of Mew Gulls, a Vega Gull (Mongolian), and a Lesser Black-backed Gull were found among them.
Black-headed Gulls were especially numerous this time, flying around the port as well as resting on the bank.
Among them, one Little Gull, which is extremely rare in Japan, was seen flying together.
At Choshi No. 3 Fishing Port, ducks (Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Scaup), grebes (Red-necked, Great Crested, Black-necked Grebe) and two Pacific Reef Herons were seen in the port, as well as Black-headed Gulls and a few Black-tailed Gulls and Vega Gulls on the tidal flat.
Next, we moved to the Hazaki side to see the Canvasback that has been seen this winter at the old Hazaki fishing port. The target bird was soon spotted among a flock of ducks.
Next, we headed to check out the seabirds in Hasaki New Port. Here, in addition to Greater Scaup, we saw a small flock of Black Scoter and a small flock of Red-breasted Merganser.
This season was unusual as reported, neither Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) nor Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus), which can always be seen in ordinary years, could be seen.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Canvasback (Aythya valisineria), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Black Scoter (Melanitta americana),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus), Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オオホシハジロ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, クロガモ,
ウミアイサ, アカエリカイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, クロサギ, カワウ, ウミウ, ヒメウ,
トビ, オオバン, ウミネコ, カモメ, セグロカモメ, モンゴルセグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, タイミールセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ヒメカモメ,
ハシブトガラス, ハクセキレイ
Natsume-no-Seki Pond (Chiba Prefecturei)
夏目の堰(千葉)
Cackling Goose (Aleutian) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia)
Snow Goose (Lesser) (Anser caerulescens caerulescens)
Ducks & Swans in Natsume-no-Seki Pond
On the way to the pond, several flocks of swans were foraging in the rice paddies. Most were Bewick's Swans with a few Whooper Swans.
A Cackling Goose was found in one of the flocks and four Snow Geese in another flock. These were confirmed to be wintering in this pond this winter.
Natsume-no-Seki is an agricultural reservoir with a circumference of about one kilometer. It was known for the wintering ducks and swans. There are around 10,000 ducks at the most.
The dominant species were Northern Pintails, Mallards and Baikal Teals.
Eurasian Wigeons, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Eurasian Teals, Common Pochards and Tufted Ducks were also seen among them. A small number of Bewick's Swan were still remaining.
The birds observed were;
Snow Goose (Lesser) (Anser caerulescens caerulescens), Cackling Goose (Aleutian) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus), ,br> White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
ハクガン, シジュウカラガン, オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, トモエガモ, コガモ,
ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハイタカ, ノスリ,
オオバン, タゲリ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ムクドリ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオジュリン
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Kanagawa)
多摩川中流(川崎, 神奈川)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps)
It was cold but calm with no wind.
There were a few sprinkles of rain, but after a while the sky cleared up.
Dusky Thrush and Grey-capped Greenfinch were forming large flocks. They seemed to be preparing for their migration.
Buntings were not very active, but occasionally perched on the grasses or small trees. A Common Reed Bunting was seen here for the first time this season. Their numbers were low this season.
A Zitting Cisticola appeared, perhaps sensing the spring and became active.
I heard a Eurasian Skylark singing for the first time this year, too.
Waterfowl at the weir were so far away on the other side of the river that it was not easy to identify them, but many Great Crested Grebes could be identified.
Raptors seen were Western Ospreys and Eastern Buzzards this time.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), N0orthern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ノスリ, バン, オオバン, イカルチドリ, セグロカモメ, ユリカモメ,
ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, ムクドリ,
ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ,
ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Sapporo & Ishikarri, Hokkaido
札幌&石狩(北海道)
Long-tailed Tit (Japan) (Aegithalos caudatus caudatus/Aegithalos caudatus japonicus)
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (seebohmi) (Yungipicus kizuki seebohmi/Dendrocopos kizuki seebohmi)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (japonicus) (Dendrocopos major japonicus)
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica)
Black Woodpecker (Common) (Dryocopus martius martius)
Seagulls
Harlequin Duck (Pacific) (Histrionicus histrionicus pacificus)
Sapporo is the Hokkaido's largest city. There are many excellent birding spots.
Sapporo area in late January is the coldest month of the year, with maximum temperatures below 0°C, and a lot of snowfall.
The coldest wave of the season hit during our visit this time as well.
However, on the first day, the cold wave was still not so strong in Noporo Forest Park, located east of Sapporo, and the weather was sunny and unexpectedly warm.
In the natural forest inside Nopporo Forest Park, there is a comparatively large amount of forest remaining that is situated in a transition zone between temperate forest and subarctic forest. It is a mixed conifer and broadleaf forest. Its broadleaf forest contains Mongolian oak, Japanese Judas tree and Japanese linden, and its subarctic conifer forest consists mostly of Sakhalin fir. Approximately 140 kinds of birds can be seen in year, including the black woodpecker, a protected species; owls; the blue-and-white flycatcher; the narcissus flycatcher; the long-tailed tit; the Japanese tit; and the great spotted woodpecker.
On the day of our visit, the forest was covered with deep snow, but the trails we chose were well traversed by walkers and easy to walk.
We entered the forest from the Osawa entrance and immediately saw a small group of Japanese Waxwing congregating on mistletoe near the entrance, followed soon after by a mixed group of tits (Marsh, Coal, Japanese, Varied), a small group of Long-tailed Tit (Japan), Asian Wood Nuthatch, Eurasian Tree-Creeper (daurica), Wood Nuthatch, Eurasian Tree-Creeper (daurica), Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) and Pygmy Woodpecker (seebohmi).
Further into the forest, we saw Great Spotted Woodpecker (japonicus) and White-backed Woodpecker (subcirris).
We did not see any Black Woodpecker, although many conifers along the trail were deeply marked with Black Woodpecker's bite marks.
Gray-faced Woodpecker was seen at the end of the walk.
We visited Maruyama Park on the evening of the first day.
This park is located just 3 kilometers west of the heart of Sapporo, measuring about 70 hectares, stretches out at the foot of the Maruyama mountain, next to the Hokkaido Jingu shrine. With amenities including a zoo, a recreational canal, a public square, and sports facilities such as a baseball diamond and a multi-purpose field, the park is a place where locals come for rest and recreation. It is also much-loved as a destination for cherry blossom viewing. The old-growth forest of Maruyama has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary. Alongside other small animals such as squirrels, over 100 species of bird live here, making this a convenient destination for birdwatching.
When we visited the park, the entire area was covered with snow and it was difficult to climb Mt. Maruyama. And the ponds were frozen and covered with snow.
Perhaps the time of day was not good, but we only saw a few tits in the canopy of the trees.
On the second day, we visited Makomanai Park.
This park is a famous site for watching waxwings (Japanese, Bohemian), and is recommended to visit especially during the snowy season.
Crested Kingfisher (pallida) (Megaceryle lugubris pallida) and Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii) can also be seen on the Makomanai River.
This park is a famous site for watching waxwings (Japanese, Bohemian), and is recommended to visit especially during the snowy season. Crested Kingfisher (pallida) (Megaceryle lugubris pallida) and Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii) can also be seen on the Makomanai River. On the day of our visit, the forecasted strong cold wave covered the area, resulting in heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, in contrast to the previous day.
This made conditions difficult for birding, but we did see the regular species; flocks of Japanese Waxwings and Dusky Thrushes.
Unfortunately, we did not see any Crested Kingfishers or Brown Dippers.
Hearing from several local birders that Black Woodpecker could be easily seen in the early morning and evening, we changed our plan to visit Nishioka Park in the afternoon but stayed this park and waited for Black Woodpecker to return to its nest in the evening. It was hard to wait in the cold for several hours, but we could see the Black Woodpecker returned to the nest as we had heard.
The next day we visited Ishikari City, located north of Sapporo. When we started from the northern part of Sapporo by car, the weather was fine, but as we entered Ishikari City, it started snowing and it sometimes turned into a blizzard.
At Ishikari East Pier, our first stop, it was dangerous to get out of the car because of the snowstorm, and we could not see the seabird in the fishing port, which we had expected.
However, when we were beginning to think that we would have to give up our observation, the snowstorm began to occasionally subside and we were able to see seagulls flying in the distance and seaducks in the bay. The gulls were hard to identify because they were so far away, but most of them were Glaucous Gulls, followed by Slaty-backed Gulls and Vega Gulls.
The ducks seen were flocks of Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, and Common Goldeneye, as well as Red-breasted Merganser and Japanese Cormorant.
Later, we visited the mouth of the Ishikari River, but it was blizzarding hard there, so birding was not possible.
In the afternoon, we visited Yamanote-dori Avenue.
Although this is a busy road in the western urban area of Sapporo, but in the winter waxwings, thrushes, and pigeons, and occasionally Pine Grosbeak (Sakhalinensis) (Pinicola enucleator (Pinicola enucleator) (Sakhalinensis) gather to the fruits of roadside trees of Japanese rowan.
Unfortunately, we did not see any birds we expected to see this time.
The birds observed were;
- Nopporo Forest Park:
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla albicilla),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (seebohmi) (Yungipicus kizuki seebohmi/Dendrocopos kizuki seebohmi),
White-backed Woodpecker (subcirris) (Dendrocopos leucotos subcirris), Great Spotted Woodpecker (japonicus) (Dendrocopos major japonicus),
Grey-faced Woodpecker (jessoensis) (Picus canus jessoensis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Marsh Tit (hensoni) (Poecile palustris hensoni),
Long-tailed Tit (Japan) (Aegithalos caudatus caudatus/Aegithalos caudatus japonicus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Wood Nuthatch/Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea asiatica),
Eurasian Tree-Creeper (daurica) (Certhia familiaris daurica),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
- Maruyama Park:
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Marsh Tit (hensoni) (Poecile palustris hensoni),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Wood Nuthatch/Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea asiatica),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
- Makomanai Park:
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla albicilla),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (seebohmi) (Yungipicus kizuki seebohmi/Dendrocopos kizuki seebohmi),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (japonicus) (Dendrocopos major japonicus), Black Woodpecker (Common) (Dryocopus martius martius),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Marsh Tit (hensoni) (Poecile palustris hensoni),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Wood Nuthatch/Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea asiatica),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
- Ishikari East Pier:
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Harlequin Duck (Pacific) (Histrionicus histrionicus pacificus),
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus), Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis)
スズガモ, シノリガモ, ホオジロガモ, ウミアイサ, ダイサギ, ウミウ, オジロワシ, ハイタカ,
シロカモメ, セグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, ミツユビカモメ,
エゾコゲラ, エゾオオアカゲラ, エゾアカゲラ, クマゲラ, ヤマゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
ヒレンジャク, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, ハシブトガラ, シマエナガ, ヒヨドリ,
シロハラゴジュウカラ, キタキバシリ, ツグミ, スズメ, オオカワラヒワ, ウソ, シメ
Area around Watarase Retarding Basin (Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki)
渡良瀬遊水地周辺(群馬,栃木,茨城)
Daurian Jackdaw (Coloeus dauuricus/Corvus dauuricus)
& Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator)
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus otus)
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca)
The purpose of the visit was to look for species that we could not see during our last visit two weeks ago.
Around noon, we arrived at our first site, a farming area in Itakura.
This time we were able to find a flock of wintering crows (Rook and Daurian Jackdaw), which we could not see last time.
Until recently, large flocks used to visit this field in winter and it was not difficult to find them because they looked like a black cloud when they were flying. However, their numbers have recently decreased in this field
But, Rook used to be dominant and Daurian Jackdaw were scarce, but this time many Daurian Jackdaw were found in the flock.
Russet Sparrow, which also could not be seen last time, were found in small numbers among the flocks of Eurasian Tree Sparrow. In the past, this species used to form large flocks on its own, but it seems to have decreased considerably recently.
Next, we visited the Watarase Retarding Basin.
This time, we searched carefully for the Long-eared Owl, which we could not find last time, and managed to find it.
Many Eastern Marsh-Harriers, which were not seen last time, could be seen in another area of the reed field in the basin.
Also this time, we were able to see Short-eared Owl, which just started to fly in the evening, at a different place from last time.
In addition to the duck such as Falcated Duck and Northern Shoveler that we saw last time, there was a rare Ferruginous Pochard in a marsh in the reed field.
The birds found were;
At Itakura paddy field:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Daurian Jackdaw (Coloeus dauuricus/Corvus dauuricus), Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
At Watarase Retarding Basin:
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis), Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Sandhill Crane (Lesser) (Antigone canadensis canadensis),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus otus), Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
キジ, オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, メジロガモ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ,
コチョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ノスリ, オオバン, カナダヅル, キジバト, トラフズク, コミミズク, モズ,
コクマルガラス, ミヤマガラス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ニュウナイスズメ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, オオジュリン
Oku-Nikko (Tochigi)
奥日光(栃木)
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii)
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
There was information that a Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus), one of the few winter birds in Japan, had been seen at Lake Chuzenji since early January, so we were hoping to see it, as well as a Steller's Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus pelagicus) and a White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla albicilla) wintering here.
On the lake, ducks (Tufted Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Mallards, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Common Pochard, Greater Scaup), Common Mergansers and Common Coots were seen, but the birds we were waiting for did not appear.
After some time, we left the lake and headed for Senjogahara Moor.
We tried to go to the downstream part of Yudaki Fall, but the trail to there was too deep with snow, so we gave up to visit.
Around Kotoku Ranch, we found a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Wood Nuthatch, but there were few birds.
Near the entrance of the Akanuma trail, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tits, Long-tailed Tit, Grey-capped Greenfinches and a small flock of Eurasian Bullfinch were seen. The red birds in the snowfield were beautiful.
We went back to the lake again, but the target birds did not appear.
But we enjoyed to watch a Brown Dipper foraging nearby without worrying us.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
マガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, ホオジロガモ, カワアイサ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, カワウ,
トビ, オオバン, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ,
ゴジュウカラ, シロハラ, カワガラス, セグロセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ウソ
Tokyo Bay (Chiba)
東京湾(千葉)
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis)
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans)
& Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)
Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula)
The first site was Sanbanze Seaside Park (Sanbanze Kaihin-Koen).
The Tokyo area had been sunny from 1st of January, but on this day it was cloudy and seemed like it was going to rain at any moment. However, the temperature was relatively high and the wind was weak, so it was easy to bird.
There were no birder or photographer on the shore at dawn.
In the still dim light, I heard birds calling from a grass on slope near the shore. Looking carefully, there were many Kentish Plovers resting. They seemed to be roosting in this grass.
As it became brighter, a small flock of Grey Plover and Dunlin came to the mud flat. Since the time of the highest tide was at 9:21 on this day, the mudflats were gradually flooded, and the flock of Dunlin flew around the shore for a while and then flew away.
A few Red-breasted Mergansers and flocks of Greater Scaup were seen offshore.
As the mud flats were disappearing, I moved towards the breakwater.
There were many Eurasian Oystercatchers, Vega Gulls, Dunlins, Grey Plovers, and Kentish Plovers resting on the breakwater.
Among them were Slaty-backed Gulls and a plover likely to be a Common Ringed Plover.
A small flock of Northern Pintail, a small flock of Greater Scaup, a Red-breasted Merganser, a Great Crested Grebe, and a Black-necked Grebe were seen on the water near the breakwater.
Then I moved to Yatsu Tidal Flat (Yatsu Higata).
This tidal flat is located near Sanbanze.
Sanbanze is facing to Tokyo Bay, and Yatsu-Higata is jointed to Tokyo Bay with two small channels.
Both of these two spots are very important stopover points for the migrating birds flying to/from the North (Siberia) from/to the South (Australia and Southeast Asia).
From middle of August until end of September is the season of the migration birds to the South/West.
In contrast to Sanbanze, which faces Tokyo Bay, this site is connected to the sea by two channels, and there is a time lag between the tidal cycles between these two sites.
When I arrived at this site, there were still some mudflats in the distance, but no shorebirds could be seen.
Instead, a Saunder's Gull was flying.
Soon it started to rain, so I left this site and headed to the next destination, Hinode Coast in Shin-Urayasu, which is the opposite shore of Sanbanze.
In the previous year, the Urayasu Sanbanse Environmental Observation Center was constructed on the Hinode Coast, allowing visitors to observe seabirds without worrying about rain.
On the coast, there were Eurasian Wigeons and Northern Pintails, but Greater Scaups, Common Goldeneyes, and Red-breasted Mergansers were far away due to a fishing boat staying near the coast and could not be identified easily even by the scope.
I managed to find a Horned Grebe and a Black-necked Grebe, but not Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), which had been observed here for few days ago.
The birds observed are;
- at Sanbanze Tidal Flat
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus) Common Coot (Fulica atra atra) Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans) Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola) Common Ringed Plover (Eastern) (Charadrius hiaticula tundrae) Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis) Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina) Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae) Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus) Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis) White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus) Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus) White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
- at Yatsu Tidal Flat
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica) Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi) Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba) Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta) Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) Common Coot (Fulica atra atra) Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi)
- at Hinode Coast (Shin-Urayasu)
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica) Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula) Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus) Horned Grebe/Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus auritus) Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis) Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus) Common Coot (Fulica atra atra) Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae) White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
ヒドリガモ, オナガガモ, スズガモ, ホオジロガモ, ウミアイサ, カンムリカイツブリ, ミミカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, オオバン, ミヤコドリ, ダイゼン, ハジロコチドリ, シロチドリ, ハマシギ,
セグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, ズグロカモメ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ
Izumi River, Sakaigawa Retarding Basin Park & Imada Retarding Basin
和泉川＆境川/今田遊水地公園(神奈川)
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus)
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae)
in Sakaigawa Retarding Basin
Ruddy-breasted Crake (erythrothorax) (Porzana fusca erythrothorax/Zapornia fusca erythrothorax)
I started to walk from Shimo-iida station of Yokohama Subway Line.
On the walking path along Izumi River, it was quiet with few birds probably due to the noon time.
At Sakaigawa Retarding Basin Park, there were also few birds.
Ducks in the water were few in number, and the birds in the reed fields kept hiding in the grasses and did not come out due to the northerly winds. Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Northern Goshawk flew in the sky, but I wondered if they would capture any prey?
At Imada Retarding Basin I saw a Ruddy-breasted Crake luckily.
The birds we observed are;
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Ruddy-breasted Crake (erythrothorax) (Porzana fusca erythrothorax/Zapornia fusca erythrothorax),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)?
ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, ハイタカ, オオタカ, ヒクイナ, バン, オオバン, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト,
カワセミ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ,
オオカワラヒワ, アオジ, オオジュリン?
Maioka Park (Totsuka, Kanagawa)
舞岡公園(戸塚,神奈川)
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
Ruddy-breasted Crake (erythrothorax) (Porzana fusca erythrothorax/Zapornia fusca erythrothorax)
The Maioka Park is located in the suberbs of Yokohama city.
There are ponds, rice fields and forests, providing the good habitats for the wintering birds such as snipes, finches, etc.
This site is famous for the regular wintering of Eurasian Woodcock and Common Snipe, and is providing good opportunities for their observation. They did come again this year.
There was also Ruddy-breasted Crake, who had joined as the regular wintering member recently.
Chinese Bamboo-Partridges were found at several points but were quiet this time.
Masked Buntings were seen at several points as well.
Dusky Thrushes are scarce this winter again, and only one was seen here.
The birds we observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Ruddy-breasted Crake (erythrothorax) (Porzana fusca erythrothorax/Zapornia fusca erythrothorax),
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コジュケイ, コガモ, ヒクイナ, ヤマシギ, タシギ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, アカゲラ,
モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ツグミ, ハクセキレイ, アオジ
Wadabori Park (Tokyo)
和田堀公園(東京)
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis)
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Indian) (Psittacula krameri manillensis)
Wadabori Park is located alongside Zenpukuji River and next to Omiya-hachimangu Shrine, the third largest shrine among the 23 wards of Tokyo, after Meiji Shrine and Yasukuni Shrine.
I visited there for the Yellow-bellied Tit, which is one of the rare winter/migratory birds in Japan.
I waited for some time, but no tits came in.
Instead, Ryukyu Minivets and Pale Thrushes appeared.
A large brown bird flew by our side in low suddenly. This bird seemed to be an Eurasian Woodcock.
Tired of waiting, I walked a little and saw a Japanese Sparrowhawk perched on a tree not far, and a Japanese Tit was calling out warningly nearby. Apparently, this bird of prey was the reason why the tits did not appear.
In the pond of the park, ducks were swimming and a Grey Heron was catching fish.
Brown-eared Bulbuls and a Dusky Thrush came to drink in the shallow water.
Rose-ringed Parakeet was also there.
When I returned to the original point, the Japanese Sparrowhawk was gone and birders and photographers gathered to look at the canopy of conifers.
There was the Yellow-bellied Tit moving together with Japanese Tits, Varied Tit, Long-tailed Tits, and Warbling White-eyes in the branches and leaves.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis),
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Indian) (Psittacula krameri manillensis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Yellow-bellied Tit (Pardaliparus venustulus/Periparus venustulus),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, アオサギ, カワウ, ツミ, ヤマシギ,
キジバト, ワカケホンセイインコ, カワセミ, コゲラ, リュウキュウサンショウクイ,
ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, キバラガラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, メジロ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ハクセキレイ
Middle-reaches of Sagami River (Atsugi, Kanagawa)
相模川中流域(厚木,神奈川)
Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus)
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis)
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus)
The weather was fine and calm witout wind.
We started the birding from Sakai Sport Playground and walked towards Hon-atsugi Station along Sagami River.
A flock of Asian House Martins was flying over the departure point, and one Barn Swallow and House Swift could be seen among them. Due to recent global warming, wintering of these species, which were formerly summer birds, seemed to have become the normal in this spot.
Buff-bellied Pipits were foraging on the lawns of several baseball/soccer grounds.
A few Eurasian Teals and Common Coots were in the narrow water channel beside the ground.
Along the channel, Masked Buntings, Dusky Thrushes, Grey-capped Greenfinches, Daurian Redstarts and Meadow Buntings appeared in the grassland and on the small trees.
At the weir (Sagami Ozeki), there were various kinds of ducks (Falcated, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Tufted, Northern Pintail), herons (Great White Egret, Grey), Common Coots and Common Mergansers/Goosanders.
More than ten Common Merganser/Goosander were in the stream and on a small sandbar.
Here, over five Barn Swallows were flying, too.
Various raptors (Western Osprey, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eastern Buzzard, Black Kite) also appeared well this time.
A small flock of Azure-winged Magpie were also lively making calls, too.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), American Wigeon x Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca americana x Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, アメリカヒドリxヒドリガモ, マガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カワアイサ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハイタカ, ノスリ,
オオバン, イカルチドリ, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, ヒメアマツバメ, カワセミ, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ,
キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Tama, Tokyo)
多摩川中流(多摩)
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula)
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae)
This rare bird was found just a month ago and attracted a lot of Japanese birder's and bird photographers. At the peak time, it attracted about two hundred watchers, but recently the number of visitors seemed to have decreased.
This time, it moved about 200 meters upstream from the previous point, and was still diving frequently.
Although there were only a few Eurasian teal at the last visit, this time various species of ducks were seen. In particular, a Common Goldeneye, which is rare in the middle reaches of this river, was repeatedly diving together with the Bufflehead.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
オカヨシガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ヒメハジロ, ホオジロガモ,
カイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, トビ, オオタカ, オオバン, ドバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, シメ, ホオジロ
Miyagase, Kanagawa
宮ヶ瀬(相模原,神奈川)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
When I visited last time, large-scale constructions were underway at two locations, and dump trucks and mixer trucks were passing by on the forest road, so there were very few birds along the forest road.
This time, I was hoping that the number of birds would be increased just after the New Year's holiday.
I arrived at the entrance to the forest road past 6:00 a.m. It was still dim and the road was very quiet as it was the time of the year when the sun rises the latest.
When it became a little brighter, I saw a Daurian Redstart moving on the slope by the road.
Eurasian Jays and tits also began to sing.
Since there was no construction work on the river this time, I expected and looked for Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris lugubris) on the surface of the lake, but could not find it.
I also did not see Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), which are usually found. There were also only a few Greate Cormorants.
On the forest road, only a small construction vehicle and a truck with a backhoe passed by this time, and no other construction vehicles came and went as in the previous visit.
However, there were only a few birds, probably due to the construction work that continued until the end of the year, such as two Long-tailed Rosefinches, no Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris/Pyrrhula pyrrhula rosacea), no Japanese Accentor (Prunella prunella).
However, Pale Thrushes and Dusky Thrushes, which were not seen last time, were seen, and Red-flanked Bluetail and Daurian Redstart were seen here and there.
The birds observed were;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
カルガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, カワウ, トビ, キジバト, コゲラ, カケス, ハシボソガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, シロハラ, ツグミ,
ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, アオジ
Cemetery Tama (Fuchu, Tokyo)
多磨霊園(府中,東京)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)
In the forest, the leaves had fallen and it was bright.
At the bird bath, there was no photographers this time and was very quiet.
We saw some Masked Buntings,Brown-eared Bulbuls,Japanese Bush-Warbler, Warbling White-eyes, Pale Thrush, Dusky Thrush and fortunately White's Thrush.
A friendly Red-flanked Bluetail was seen by a trail.
A Japanese Green Woodpecker was on a dead tall tree, trying hard to peel its bark searching for worm.
The birds observed are;
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ,
トラツグミ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, シメ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus)
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata)
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
This time, I walked downstream from the Tamagawara Bridge, taking the opposite course than usual.
Whether birds were feeling the change of the year and spring, or whether it was earlier than usual time of visit, many Long-billed Plovers were actively flying and calling.
Chestnut-eared Buntings and Zitting Cisticolas also appeared.
Many House Swifts were also flying in the sky.
In addition to Western Osprey, Black Kite, and Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eastern Buzzard was also seen.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba), Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハイタカ, ノスリ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, セグロカモメ, ユリカモメ,
ドバト, キジバト, ヒメアマツバメ, カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
ガビチョウ, ムクドリ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ,
ホオジロ, ホオアカ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Area around Watarase Retarding Basin (Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki)
渡良瀬遊水地周辺(群馬,栃木,茨城)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii)
& Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus)
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus)
We first visited Matsubushi Green Park (Matsubushi Midori-no-Koen) in Saitama Prefecture.
This park has a nature-like water environment and a rich green satoyama, which attracts many birds and provide pleasant birding.
It was reported that Red-breasted Flycatcher, one of the few winter birds in Japan, has been seen in this park.
After arriving at the park, we saw ducks (Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Eurasian Teal), grebes (Little, Great Brested) and Common Moorhens and Common Cootsin the large pond that is located at the center of the park.
Several photographers gathered at the base of a hill in the park for Red-breasted Flycatcher.
After a while, the target bird appeared and showed us its cute appearance.
Later, we walked around the pond and found a Northern Goshawk perched as if it was a bird of prey.
Several photographers gathered at the base of a hill in the park for Red-breasted Flycatcher. After a while, the desired bird appeared and showed us its cute appearance.
Later, we walked around the pond and found a Northern Goshawk perched in a tree in Nakajima and hiding in the trees.
We then visited a site near the Tone River in Kazo City where we saw Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto decaocto) a year ago, but could not see it this time.
Near noon, I went birding at the area from the central entrance to the birding hide in Lake Yanaka of the Watarase Retarding Basin.
There were not many, but Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Smew, and Great Crested Grebe were seen.
A Vega Gull was flying in the sky.
Long-tailed Rosefinches and Meadow Buntings were seen at the roadside bushes near the birding hide, foraging seeds of grasses.
Then we headed to Tatara Marsh (Tatara-Numa) before revisiting Watarase Retarding Basin in the evening.
At Gaba Swamp, there were many visitors who came to see the swans, but most of the swans had moved to the Takara Swamp side. Instead, many Northern Pintails were crowded around the foods fed by the visitors. At Tatara Marsh, there was a flock of Bewick's Swans. Two Whistling Swans were also found among them. There were also two Greater White-fronted Geese with them.
Two Oriental Storks were also nearby.
Ducks, Vega Gull, Smews, Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, and Great Cormorants were seen in the swamp.
And birds of prey such as Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Eastern Buzzard appeared, too.
As sunset time was getting closer, we returned to Watarase Retarding Basin.
On the way, we passed through the rice fields of Itakura, but could not find any Rook (pastinator), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), or Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus), which should have been seen during the winter.
When we returned to Watarase Retarding Basin, there were birders waiting to watch the harriers roost. Another group was on the bank of the Watarase River waiting for a Short-eared Owl to appear. Usually in winter, many Eastern Marsh-Harriers are gathering near dusk, but this time we did not see a single one, so we decided to wait at the Short-eared Owl point. While it was still daylight, one owl started flying far away and gradually flew closer and closer to us and landed near us. As the sun set, we moved to the point of the harrier and waited, but only one what appeared to be a Hen Harrier flew over the reed field.
The birds found were;
At Matsubushi Green Park (Matsubushi Midori-no-Koen):
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
At Tatara Marsh:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
At Itakura paddy field:
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
At Watarase Retarding Basin:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
キジ, マガン, オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ, アメリカコハクチョウ, オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ,
ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ,
コウノトリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, コチョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, トビ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ハイタカ, ノスリ,
バン, オオバン, セグロカモメ, キジバト, コミミズク, カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, ミヤマガラス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, ニシオジロビタキ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Shakujii Park (Tokyo)
石神井公園(東京)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae)
& Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis)
Shakujii Park is a greenery-rich urban park in Nerima Ward, that preserves the natural landscape of old Musashino area. The park contains the artificial Shakujii Pond and Sanpoji Pond, which used to be one of the three major springs in Musashino. These ponds are surrounded by mixed forests and adjacent farmland, and their diverse habitats provide an urban oasis for many birds.
We entered the park from the entrance on the Shakujii Pond side and checked the reed field by the pond, but we did not find any bird.
Hearing a loud call from the forest, and we saw two Rose-ringed Parakeets. This species is an introduced species that breeds in the Tokyo area.
There were many kinds of ducks in the ponds. There were also beautiful Falcated Ducks at Sanpoji Pond.
A friendly Black-crowned Night Heron was seen in close distance.
A Common Kingfisher was attracting many photographers.
A Northern Goshawk was seen twice being chased and harassed by crows above us.
Some Japanese Bush-Warblers were heard and caught a glimpse in the bushes by the trail.
We looked for Masked Bunting, but did not find any.
Other birds seen were such as Japanese Tits, Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, several Dusky Thrush, a Hawfinch, and a House Swift.
The birds observed are;
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Indian) (Psittacula krameri manillensis),
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
ヨシガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, カワウ,
オオタカ, オオバン, キジバト, ワカケホンセイインコ, ヒメアマツバメ, カワセミ, コゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ツグミ, シメ
Around Tateshina Highland (Nagano)
蓼科高原周辺(長野)
Ryujin Pond
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
& Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida)
Asian Rosy-Finch (brunneonucha) (Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha)
On the way, we stopped by Togariishi historical Site in Chino City.
A Solitary Snipe (japonica) (Gallinago solitaria japonica) visits here every winter, and we expected to observe this bird. However, we could not find it.
Then we moved to the area of Ryujin Pond.
The pond was almost frozen. There was one open spot where water was springing up, and ducks (Eastern Spot-billed, Mallard) were gathering there.
There were only a few tits, a Meadow Bunting and a Bull-headed Shrike in the forest.
When we arrived at a small cottage (Bergcot) in snow at the south foot of Tateshina Mountain at an altitude of 1,500 meters, Willow Tits, Japanese Tits, Varied Tits and Wood Nuthatches were coming on the bird feeder with seeds of sunflower. We waited for the other birds such as Asian Rosy-Finch or Eurasian Bullfinch, but did not appear in the day.
From the dawn of the next morning, we waited for the birds coming to the bird feeder.
The first to appear was a Japanese marten.
When it became brighter, the birds came one after another.
In addition to yesterday's members, a flock of about 30 Japanese Grosbeaks, and a few Grey-capped Greenfinches and Eurasian Bullfinches also came.
Near check-out time (10.00), a Japanese Accentor appeared, followed by several Asian Rosy-Finch which was our main target.
After check-out, we checked points where a Copper Pheasant (Scintillating) (Syrmaticus soemmerringii scintillans) had recently been seen, but there was no lucky encounter.
The birds we observed are;
at Togariishi Historic Site:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
at Tateshina Highland:
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Asian Rosy-Finch (brunneonucha) (Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
マガモ, カルガモ, チョウゲンボウ, キジバト, アカゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, ヒヨドリ, ゴジュウカラ, スズメ,
カヤクグリ, オオカワラヒワ, ハギマシコ, ウソ, イカル, ホオジロ
Around Lake Suwa (Okaya & Chino, Nagano)
諏訪湖周辺(長野)
Mt. Yatsu, a view from Enrei
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula)
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
At first, we visited Enrei, which is located at in the corner of the Yatsugatake center Plateau National Park.
This field is located on a plateau 1,000m above sea level and is also known as the home of over 100 varieties of wild birds.
When we visited, it was cold below zero degrees Centigrade, but there was almost no snow on the road.
We expected to see reddish birds which visit there in the winter season, but probably due to the cars passing on the snow-free the road that had not yet closed, we did not see Pallas' Rosefinch (Carpodacus roseus portenkoi).
A small flock that looked like Red Crossbill flew overhead, but we could not confirm it.
We stopped at nearby Kotori-no-mori, and saw a small flock of Hawfinch there.
Then we visited the north side of Lake Suwa.
A flock of about 20 Smew and a few Common Goldeneyes were seen near the Kamaguchi Water Gate, the source of the Tenryu River. On the unfrozen shore of the lake, flocks of ducks dominated by Common Pochard or Eurasian Wigeon were seen, and near the shore flocks of about 20 Common Merganser (Goosander) and Great Crested Grebe were also seen.
No swans were seen this time.
The birds we observed are;
at Enrei
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Red Crossbill (Japanese) (Loxia curvirostra japonica)?
at Enrei Kotori-no-mori
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
at Lake Suwa
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus), Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ホオジロガモ, ミコアイサ, カワアイサ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, オオバン, コゲラ, アカゲラ, モズ,
ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, ヒヨドリ, ゴジュウカラ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ,
オオカワラヒワ, イスカ? シメ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi, Tama)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城,多摩)
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
Today, I walked upstream from the Noborito area, extending my usual observation area, as I had had information about a Bufflehead, a stray bird in Japan, the day before.
I looked for it on the way until the Yanokuchi area, but there were almost the same members as the last time.
Then, I got a call from a bird pal telling me that the Bufflehead was near Seiseki Sakuragaoka, so I headed there and luckily I was able to see the Bufflehead.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ヒメハジロ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, クイナ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, イソシギ,
セグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
ガビチョウ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ,
ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Tama Forest Science Garden, Hachioji, Tokyo
多摩森林科学園(八王子, 東京)
Yellow-throated Bunting (Yellow-headed) (Emberiza elegans elegantula/Schoeniclus elegans elegans)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Though Mt. Takao is very crowded with many tourists, this park is very quiet, and is a hidden spot for birders.
However, despite it was a weekday, there were a slightly more number of birders and photographers there for Yellow-throated Bunting which had been seen recently.
A flock of a few Yellow-throated Buntings were soon found, but they were restless and moved through the streamside trees and could not be observed closely enough.
I then walked around the park, but there were still a few winter birds.
Instead, there were many Japanese macaques.
The birds observed were;
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Yellow-throated Bunting (Yellow-headed) (Emberiza elegans elegantula/Schoeniclus elegans elegans),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
トビ, キジバト, コゲラ, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ,
メジロ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, ミヤマホオジロ, アオジ
Ura-Bandai Area (Fukushima Prefecture)
裏磐梯エリア(福島)
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica)
Since we arrived after 3pm, we had little time for observation before sunset and it was snowing with rain, so we focused our search on the Japanese Waxwing, whose arrival had been reported on this site a while ago.
As the specific location of the bird was unknown, we checked the Mistletoes in the woods around the Kyukamura Hotel.
Fortunately, we were soon able to find a tree with a flock of about 50 birds perched on it.
The birds observed are;
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica)
ヒレンジャク
Lake Izu-Numa, Kabukuri-Numa Marsh & Shizu Bay (Miyagi Prefecture)
伊豆沼&蕪栗沼&志津湾(宮城)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Sunset in Lake Izu-numa
Sunrise at Kabukuri Marsh
Cackling Goose (Aleutian) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia)
& Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis)
& Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca)
Eurasian Spoonbill (major) (Platalea leucorodia major)
Leser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)
& Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis)
Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans/Branta nigricans nigricans)
In the evening, we arrived at Lake Izu-Numa.
We waited at the eastern end of the lake to watch geese roosting at sunset.
There were still few geese on the water, only ducks and smew.
As the sun was about to disappear over the horizon, flocks of geese came back one after another and landed on the water.
The area of lake became very busy and lively all at once.
The next day, this time we got to Kabukuri Marsh before dawn and waited for the geese to leave their roost at sunrise.
In the darkness, we could already hear them chattering away.
As the eastern sky began to lighten, the flocks took off one after another with a loud clatter of feathers. It was a wonder how there were so many geese in this small swamp, and so many flew overhead.
As it gets brighter, ducks on the water and remaining geese became visible.
A few Cackling Goose were still remaining.
There were also Eurasian Spoonbills, and this year there were four of them together.
We walked around the marsh, and saw an Eastern Marsh-Harrier, but no White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla albicilla) this time.
In Minamikata area, we searched for Leser White-fronted Goose.
We checked flocks of Greater White-fronted Goose one by one and managed to find a few Leser White-fronted Geese in a flock.
The last stop was Shizugawa Bay in Minami-sanriku town. Minami-sanriku town is located in the northeastern part of Miyagi Prefecture.
The birds observed are;
- at Izu-numa Lake:
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii),
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis)
- at Kabukuri-Numa Marsh:
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii),
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis), Cackling Goose (Aleutian) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Eurasian Spoonbill (major) (Platalea leucorodia major),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
- in Minamikata area:
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii),
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis), Leser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis)
- at Sizu Bay:
Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans/Branta nigricans nigricans),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
オオヒシクイ, マガン, カリガネ, シジュウカラガン, コクガン, オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ,
オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ,
ヘラサギ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, ウミウ, トビ, チュウヒ, ノスリ, オオバン, ウミネコ, オオセグロカモメ,
キジバト, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ
Hachirogata reclaimed land (Hachirogata Kantakuchi) & Oga Peninsula (Akita Prefecture)
八郎潟&男鹿半島(秋田)
Snow Goose (Lesser) (Anser caerulescens caerulescens)
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
Hachirogata is a reclaimed land from Lake Hachirogata, which used be the largest lake next to Lake Biwa in Japan.
This is the large wintering site and stop over site for White-fronted Goose, Taiga Been Goose, Tundra Bean Goose and other ducks and geese.
In recent years, it has become the largest wintering site in Japan for Snow Goose, which have increased thanks to enthusiastic conservation efforts.
In summer, Marsh Grassbird (Japanese) (Helopsaltes pryeri pryeri/Locustella pryeri pryeri) and Eastern Marsh Harrier breed in the reed beds.
This area is designated as a Special Protection Area of Ogatasougen National Wildlife Protection Area.
We arrived at the site shortly before sunset and searched for flocks of Snow Goose for a short time before getting dark, but were out of time for the day.
From dawn the next day, we visited the points on the Oga Peninsula for Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans/Branta nigricans nigricans), but unfortunately we did not find any.
After that, we went to the Hachirogata reclaimed land to look for Snow Goose and rounded possible points, where Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Whooper Swan and Tundra Swan were seen here and there, but no Snow Goose could be found.
When we were about to give up, we met a birder who had seen at the point we had not yet visited. Then we went there and found a few Snow Geese amongst a large flock of Swans.
While we watched them for a while, a large flock of several hundred Snow Geese appeared in the sky and flew over us for some time.
In the large channel in the reclaimed land, a flock of Common Merganser (Goosander) were also seen, as well as ducks.
The birds observed are;
- at Hachirogata reclaimed land:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii), Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris serrirostris),
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis), Snow Goose (Lesser) (Anser caerulescens caerulescens),
Cackling Goose (Aleutian) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus), Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
- at Oga Pennsula:
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
キジ, オオヒシクイ, ヒシクイ, マガン, ハクガン, シジュウカラガン, オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ,
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ,
ミコアイサ, カワアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, ウミウ, トビ, ノスリ,
オオバン, ウミネコ, セグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, キジバト, ハシボソガラス, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ,
ツグミ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ
Niigata area (Niigata Prefecture)
新潟エリア(新潟)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii)
& Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus otus)
Waterfowl gathered for feeding at Hyo-ko
Fukushimagata Lagoon
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus)
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
At first, we visited Sakata Lake in Niigata City.
Sakata, the Ramsar site, is a freshwater lake with marshes along its shores. It is located in a basin among sand dunes surrounded by farmland and pine forests. The lake has no river inflow, but is fed by groundwater running under the dunes. It has only one outlet and the water drains into a river from a gate on the east end of the lake and irrigates lotus ponds and rice paddies in the lower reaches of the river. Because it does not freeze over in winter, Sakata is a wintering site for waterfowl such as swans, geese and ducks. More than 3000 Tundra Swans winter here every year.
We arrived at this site at around 07:00, and most of the swans had already flown to their feeding grounds, so numbers were small.
There were many ducks on the water. Most were Mallards. A few Smews were also seen.
We stopped over Toyanogata Park in Niigata City. Near the building of library, there was a Long-eared Owl resting in a tree.
Next, we drove to Pond Hyo-ko (Hyo-Ko)in Agano City.
The pond was made in 1639 in Edo period as an irrigation reservoir. And this is the first place in Japan where the people succeeded in feeding swans in 1954. This came to be known nationwide as the “Swan Lake,” and it greatly influenced the movement for the wild bird protection. The local people, from children to the elderly, participate actively in the community-based protection activities. Because of these historic backgrounds and local people's efforts for conservation, people can watch swans and other water birds right in front of them.
We were able to get close to the birds and observe in detail.
In the evening, we visited Fukushimagata Lagoon in Niigata City.
Fukushimagata Lagoon is one of the habitats registered by East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) where many migratory waterbirds winter, including about 5,000 Taiga Bean Geese, 5,000 Tundra Swans, and 20,000 ducks. We can see over 220 kinds of birds in this site in year.
Cold rain began to fall heavily and we avoided the rain and birded at the observation tower, but there were not many waterbirds on the water surface.
A few Eastern Marsh-Harriers flew over the reed fields.
The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla albicilla) observed recently was not to be seen.
Many Taiga Bean Goose and Tundra Swan were seen in the surrounding rice fields.
Birds in the reed fields were inactive due to the rain, but a few Common Reed Buntings were found.
We revisited the following morning, but conditions were not good, with light rain falling.
One Whistling Swan was found amongst a flock of swans.
The birds observed are;
- at Lake Sakata:
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus)
- at Toyanogata Park:
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus otus)
- at Pond Hyo-ko:
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Hybrid American Wigeon x Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope x Mareca americana),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus l0ineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
- at Fukushimagata Lagoon:
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii),
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オオヒシクイ, マガン, オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ, アメリカコハクチョウ, ヒドリガモ, アメリカヒドリxヒドリガモ雑種,
マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, オオダイサギ, カワウ, トビ, チュウヒ, ハイタカ, ノスリ, オオバン, タゲリ, キジバト, トラフズク, ハシボソガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, オオジュリン
Takanosu Pond (Takanosu-Ike) (Wakayama Prefecture)
鷹巣池(和歌山県有田郡有田川町)
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
This pond is one of the ponds scattered along the middle reaches of the Arita River (Arita-gawa), surrounded by fields of mandarin orange.
A Black Stork has visited this pond again this year, following last winter's visit.
When I arrived, the pond was almost out of water, and an Oriental Stork was in the small area of water that remained.
I looked for Black Stork but did not see any in sight. There were a few photographers at the distance, so I went there and found the target bird in a stream at the bottom of the dried-up pond. At first it was difficult to see it because it was in the channel, but eventually it moved into a better location so I could see its whole body.
The birds we observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, ナベコウ, コウノトリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, カワウ,
トビ, イカルチドリ, キジバト, カワセミ, ハシブトガラス, ヒヨドリ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ
South-eastern Lakeshore of Lake Biwa (Shiga Prefecture)
琵琶湖南東岸(滋賀)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
& Common Coot (Fulica atra atra)
Sandhill Crane (Lesser) (Antigone canadensis canadensis)
The numbers of ducks appeared to be decreasing a little compared to about a month ago. They seem to have moved to other sites.
However, there were still a huge number of Common Pochard and Tufted Duck, and many were resting with their heads buried in their feathers, making it difficult to find the target Ring-necked Duck amongst them.
Instead, three Red-crested Pochards were found. A small number winter in Lake Biwa every year, but it is rare to see three at the same time.
I asked a local birder who was watching nearby about Sandhill Crane, which had also recently been reported, and was told that it had already left the area, so we almost gave up, but a friend of the birders informed us that they were in a rice field in Moriyama, and we were lucky enough to see two of them. I had never expected to see them in this area.
Three days later, we visited Lake Biwa again.
On the way, we stopped by Miidera Temple in Otsu City.
This temple has a large site on the southwest of Lake Biwa, foot of Mt. Hiei.
A Red-flanked Bluetail with a beautiful blue back was calling well by the three-storey pagoda.
We looked for Ring-necked Duck at Lake Biwa, but again we did not spot any.
Only one Red-crested Pochard still remained.
The birds we saw are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Sandhill Crane (Lesser) (Antigone canadensis canadensis),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, トモエガモ, コガモ,
アカハシハジロ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, カワウ, トビ, ノスリ, オオバン, カナダヅル, ユリカモメ, ドバト, キジバト,
ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, ルリビタキ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ
Kodomo Nature Park (Kodomo Shizen Koen) (Yokohama)
こども自然公園(横浜)
Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti deserti)
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)
On the way, I made a detour to see Desert Wheatear, stray bird, that had been seen near Kugenuma for a few days. When I arrived at 7am, many birders and photographers were already surrounding this bird which was foraging in the farm field and perching on fences or roofs.
At Kodomo Nature Park, A small flock of Tufted Duck was seen in the pond of the Kodomo Nature Park. Among the flock, a female Ring-necked Duck was soon found. Ring-necked Duck is a rarity in Japan, and this individual returned this season again following the previous winter.
One Common Kingfisher was also seen in the same pond, diving into the pond.
In the hillside forest, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Masked Buntings and Chinese Hwameis were seen moving in the bushes, Japanese Tits, Long-tailed Tits and Warbling White-eyes in the trees, and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers and Japanese Green Woodpecker were on dead trees.
The birds we observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti deserti),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コジュケイ, カルガモ, クビワキンクロ, キンクロハジロ, アオサギ, カワセミ, コゲラ, アオゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ジョウビタキ, サバクヒタキ, ハクセキレイ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis)
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus)
In addition to the last visit about 11 days ago, new winter birds joined such as Hawfinch in trees, Rustic Bunting in the meadow, and Falcated Duck in the river.
A Baikal Teal was also seen, which seemed to have stopped by on its way to the migration.
Raptors also increased, with Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and Western Osprey circling above. The Eurasian Sparrowhawk attacked birds in the grasses.
A Chinese Pond-Heron (Ardeola bacchus), which had been seen the day before at a site a little further downstream, was not seen in this field.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, トモエガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハイタカ, オオバン,
イカルチドリ, セグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ,
ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Around Jike Hometown-village (Yokohama)
寺家ふるさと村周辺(横浜)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
We started to walk from Mitakedai Park along Tsurumi River.
In the river we saw many birds; waterfowl such as several species of ducks (Gadwall, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Eurasian Teal), Great White Egret, Little Egret, Common Sandpipers, Common Kingfishers and wagtails (Grey, White, Japanese); Bull-headed Shrikes, and winter birds such as Masked Buntings, Dusky Thrush and Daurian Redstart.
Buff-bellied Pipits, winter bird, were seen on the firm field in Jike Hometown-village.
One Bull-headed Shrike was observed holding a lizard and trying to impale the prey on a twig for later consumption, too.
Not many birds were seen in the hillside forest, with a few Japanese Tits, Varied Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Brown-eared Bulbuls and Warbling White-eyes, and Japanese Bush-Warblers, Chinese Hwameis and Masked Buntings in the bushes by the trail.
A few Rustic Buntings were finally seen in the valley. They will increase in numbers soon.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト,
カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ,
メジロ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Western & Southern foothills of Mt. Yatsugatake (Nagano & Yamanashi)
八ヶ岳西部&南部山麓(長野&山梨)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
& Common Coot (Fulica atra atra)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
There was no snow at all on the mountains and the forests at the foothills were in full autumn leaf colour.
The site where we first visited was Togariishi historic site in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture.
A Solitary Snipe (japonica) (Gallinago solitaria japonica) visits here every winter, and we expected to observe this bird. However, we could not find it this time, probably the timing was slightly too earlier.
A White's Thrush was heard, and was sighted by the side of a stream running through the forest, but was very nervous and quickly disappeared.
At Ryujin Pond, there were a some kinds of ducks (Mandarin, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Eurasian Teal). They were also nervous as well about our presence, probably because they had just arrived.
On the hedge of the building adjacent to the pond, Japanese Tit, Varied Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Daurian Redstart and Long-tailed Rosefinch gathered.
Small flocks of Brambling, Dusky Thrush and Rustic Bunting were seen in the forest in the area of the pond.
After the Togariishi historic site, we headed for Nobeyama.
Driving south along the western foot of Mt. Yatsugatake and we stopped by Tobisawa Reservoir (Tobisawa-Ike) in the area of villas at Kai-Oizumi Highland in Hokuto City.
The pond was under construction and there was little water, and a part of the forest had been extensively logged, there were few birds probably due to the effects of the construction.
Then we alsostopped by Daimon Dam in Kiyosato.
It was just noon and the birds were not very active, so not many birds were seen.
In the farming areas of Nobeyama, some tractors were in operation for some preparation towards the coming cold winter in the fields where harvesting had been completed.
The day of our visit was warm and mild, very unlike the mid-November weather in Nobeyama. As usual, the wind was blowing down from Mt Yatsugatake, but it was not a biting cold breeze.
Along the edges of woods adjacent to agricultural fields and in small wooded meadows along the farm fields banks, flocks of Rustic Bunting and Grey-capped Greenfinch were seen, as well as Long-tailed Rosefinch, Meadow Bunting, Japanese Tit, Willow Tit, Wood Nuthatch and others were seen.
At sunset, we looked for Ural Owl (hondoensis) (Strix uralensis hondoensis), but only a few Eastern Buzzards appeared.
The birds observed are;
at Togariishi historic site:
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
at Kai-Oizumi:
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis)?
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
at Daimon Dam;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
at Nobeyama;
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
オシドリ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, トビ, ハイタカ? ノスリ, オオバン, キジバト,
コゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ゴジュウカラ, ムクドリ, トラツグミ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, カワガラス,
スズメ, ハクセキレイ, アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Miyagase, Kanagawa
宮ヶ瀬(相模原,神奈川)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
This time I wanted to check if the early winter birds had arrived.
The construction work after the super-typhoon in 2019 still going on upstream on the river near the Hayato-gawa bridge, and Kanazawa Forest Road. Construction vehicles often came and went on the forest road.
Whether due to the construction work or the sufficiency of food in the forests around the forest road, the number of birds on the forest road was very small, with only a few Daurian Redstarts, Meadow Bunting, Masked Buntings, woodpeckers (Japanese, Great Spotted, Japanese Green) and Chinese Hwameis were seen.
Mixed flocks of tits (Japanese, Varied) and Warbling White-eyes and a small flock of Grey-capped Greenfinch were also seen.
Subsong of a Red-flanked Bluetail was heard but not seen.
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus) was not observed.
On the lake, Mandarin Ducks, Mallards, a Little Grebe and Grey Herons, Great Cormorants and a Western Osprey were seen.
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris lugubris) did not appear, possibly due to the construction works.
The birds observed were;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オシドリ, マガモ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ,
モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ,
ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera)
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus)
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis)
In addition to the last visit about a month ago, new winter birds such as Masked Bunting and Buff-bellied Pipit had arrived.
Ducks had also increased in species and numbers.
Several Black-headed Gulls were also resting on the weir together with ducks, and one Black-headed Gull caught a large fish, which appeared to be a little too big for it.
A Common Kestrel and a Peregrine Falcon were also present, perhaps due to the increasing numbers of prey in the field.
A Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus) had been seen a few days ago at a site a little further downstream.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis)?
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, ハイタカ? オオバン, イカルチドリ,
ユリカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, ガビチョウ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Around Kohoku Wild birds Center (Shiga Prefecture)
湖北野鳥センター付近(滋賀)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus)
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis)
It was late for birding as it was after noon when we visited, but we were able to observe a unexpectedly many species of birds.
Tundra Swans were resting on the lakeshore in front of the centre.
There were also many ducks in the lake, although fewer than on the south area of the lake.
Gulls were perched on stakes in the distance.
A Long-tailed Rosefinch and Masked Buntings were found in the grassland along the shore.
There was also an out-of-season small flock of Barn Swallow.
Black Kites, Grey-headed Lapwings, Eurasian Skylarks, Amur Stonechat, Russet Sparrows, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, White Wagtails, Japanese Wagtails, Buff-bellied Pipits, Grey-capped Greenfinch and others were resting or foraging in the farm field around the centre.
Steller's Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus pelagicus) may arrive here soon.
The birds observed are (* by the Center staff):
*Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris serrirostris), *Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
*Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), *Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
*Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
*Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
*Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
*Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), *Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
*Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus),
*Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva),
*Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
*Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
*Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
*Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
*Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
*ヒシクイ, *マガン, コハクチョウ, *ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, *オナガガモ, コガモ,
ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, *スズガモ, *カワアイサ, *カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ,
アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, *チュウヒ, *ハイタカ, オオバン, ケリ, *ムナグロ,
*タシギ, *ハマシギ, *カモメ, セグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
ツバメ, エナガ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ムクドリ, ジョウビタキ, ノビタキ, ニュウナイスズメ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, カワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, *カシラダカ, アオジ, *オオジュリン
Kyoto Imperial Garden (Kyoto Prefecture)
京都御苑(京都)
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni)
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta)
The weather was fine and a little hot.
There were not yet many ducks in Kamo River on the way to the garden, but a Common Sandpipers was seen this time.
There were no birds in the bird bath in the garden, probably because of the rain the day before.
However, there was a Pale Thrush in the surrounding trees, which seemed to have just arrived, and was very nervous, as if it was not yet at home.
There was also a remaining Narcissus Flycatcher.
An Olive-backed Pipit, also likely to have just arrived, was found in a grassy area of the pine trees.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher on their way to migration and Japanese Green Woodpecker were also seen.
Other birder observed flocks of Brambling and Japanese Grosbeak.
The birds observed are:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae)?
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
カルガモ, チュウダイサギ, トビ, オオタカ? イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ, アオゲラ,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ジョウビタキ, エゾビタキ, キビタキ, スズメ,
キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, ビンズイ, カワラヒワ
Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine (Kyoto)
石清水八幡宮(京都)
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis)
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis)
A large tree (Ogatama-no-ki, Michelia compressa) next to the shrine had many fruits on it, which attracted Narcissus Flycatchers, Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, Brown-eared Bulbuls, Warbling White-eyes and Eyebrowed Trush have gathered there.
Two sparrow hawks soared in the sky. They appeared to be a Japanese Sparrowhawk and an Eurasian Sparrowhawk, judged from the photographs.
The birds we observed are;
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica)
トビ, ツミ, ハイタカ, キジバト, コゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, メジロ, マミチャジナイ, キビタキ, スズメ, カワラヒワ
South-eastern Lakeshore of Lake Biwa (Shiga Prefecture)
琵琶湖南東岸(滋賀)
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus)
& Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus)
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca),
& Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
This long uninterrupted age has allowed for a notably diverse ecosystem to evolve in the lake.
This lake is an important place for water birds. About 5,000 water birds visit there every year.
There are many rich birding spots.
We visited the south-eastern lakeshore of Lake Biwa.
The first site was Lake Ibanai in Higashi-Omi City.
Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard and Northern Shoveler were seen in the shallow water.
Moving further south, the next site visited was Lake Nishinoko (Nishi-no-Ko) in Omi-Hachiman City.
Bird banding was taking place when we arrived. We were shown the birds that had been captured, most of them were Siberian Rubythroat, others were Dusky Thrush, Eurasian Wryneck, Common Reed Bunting and so on. We were able to see closely these insidious birds, which we would not be able to encounter easily in ordinary birding at this time of the year.
There were few ducks in the lake, and only one Western Osprey, a few Black Kites and an Eastern Marsh-Harrier were the only birds of prey.
They will be increasing in numbers towards the winter season.
The last site visited was Kogan-ryokuchi Shina-2 Park in Kusatsu City located further south.
A huge number of ducks were clustered in this area. Common Pochard was the most abundant, with Tufted Duck and Eurasian Wigeon also abundant.
Amongst the flock we searched for a Ferruginous Pochard, which we had been given information about in advance by a local birder, but it was very hard to find it as the ducks were sleeping with their heads buried in the body, moving around, or diving.
There was also an American Wigeon among the flock.
The birds we saw are;
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), American Wigeon (Mareca americana),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Siberian Rubythroat (Kamchatka) (Calliope calliope camtschatkensis),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, アメリカヒドリ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, メジロガモ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, オオバン, ケリ, ユリカモメ, キジバト, カワセミ,
コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ,
ツグミ, ノゴマ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ, オオジュリン
Oku-Nikko (Tochigi)
奥日光(栃木)
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus)
Senjogahara
The weather was fine, the autumn leaves were at their best, and many sightseers started crowding in early in the morning since the place had been featured on the morning TV news. The parking lot at Senjogahara was already full and we had to wait for a while for parking.
A Japanese Bush-Warbler was chirping near the entrance to the trail from Akanuma.
There was also a Brown Dipper in the stream that runs right beside the trail. This was the first time I had seen one in this place where there are many people passing by.
Moving further on, there were a Brown-headed Thrush, a Dusky Thrush and Bramblings around Toringo crabapple (Malus sieboldii) trees. They seemed to be feeding on the berries of these trees.
On the boardwalk along the Yu-kawa river, flocks of Brambling were seen well.
We also encountered small mixed flocks of tits, long-tailed tit and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker at several points.
In the grassland, Siberian Rubythroat (Kamchatka) (Calliope calliope camtschatkensis) had been observed until a week ago, but no birds were seen as they had already migrated away.
Several Mallards were seen in the river.
At the farm field adjacent to Senjo-gahara, we saw some Meadow Buntings and a Bull-headed Shrike.
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus) did not seem to have arrived yet.
In the afternoon, the return route was already heavily congested, so we had to return home in the early time.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, トビ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ゴジュウカラ,
カワガラス, アカハラ, ツグミ, アトリ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Daiza-hoshi Pond & Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden (Nagano Prefecture)
大座法師池&戸隠森林植物園(長野)
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis)
Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki)
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden (Togakushi Shinrin Shokubutu-En)
On the way we stopped by Daiza-hoshi Pond.
In the distance we saw flocks of Eurasian Wigeon and Common Coot. Yet the species and numbers were not many.
It was a little past the peak of the autumn foliage season in Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden (Togakushi Shinrin Shokubutu-En), located on a plateau 1,200 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Togakushi in northern Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, but with sunny skies expected, many cars were already parked in the parking lot when we arrived.
Wood Nuthatches were flying around in the parking lot, and the small chirp of Eurasian Wren was heard near the entrance to the botanical garden's walkway.
In the small pond in the garden, there was small flocks of Eurasian Wigeon and Tufted Duck, one Eurasian Teal, and a family of Little Grebe.
At the gate of the approach to Okusha, many photographers and birders gathered, waiting for the Mugimaki Flycatcher to come to the nearby Euonymus fortuneis berries.
Usually in late October, Eyebrowed Thrush and Mugimaki Flycatcher pass through this field on their migration,
We also waited there for a while. During our observation, Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers and tits came to eat the berries frequently. After about an hour, the bird came, but it did not stay for very long and soon left.
We waited the bird to return for another few moments, but then gave up and went for a walk around the garden.
We looked for Eyebrowed Thrush, White-backed Woodpecker, Tree Creeper, etc., but only saw a woodpecker looked like a Woodpecker flying away, calling.
Usually we see not only Eyebrowed Thrush but also Dusky Thrush, but we did not see any on this day.
In the afternoon we moved to the camping site. Here, too, many cars were parked in the parking lot, and there were many photographers and birders in the site.
A Mugimaki Flycatcher appeared in the morning at the Euonymus fortuneis berries here, but during our observation, Grey-streaked Flycatcher and Narcissus Flycatcher visited frequently.
Small flocks of Brambling were also seen descending to the ground to forage.
The next morning, although there were some clouds, it was a good day and the temperature was not too cold.
In the yard of the inn, two Eurasian Jays were down on the ground foraging for something.
First, we entered the botanical garden as on the previous day.
We heard the lively song of a Japanese Grosbeak near the entrance.
A large flock of brambling was also flying around.
At the pond, a juvenile Little Grebe was seen nearby.
While we waited for the Mugimaki Flycatcher at the torii gate, we saw a thrush flying overhead to the south, so we walked along the approach looking for the thrush.
In the middle of the path, we found several Dusky Thrushes and an Eyebrowed Thrush perched on a tree in the distance.
We also managed to see one Tree Creeper in the garden.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis)?
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
White-backed Woodpecker (stejnegeri) (Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Eurasian Tree-Creeper (japonica) (Certhia familiaris japonica),
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki),
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
ヒドリガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, ハイタカ? オオバン, コゲラ, オオアカゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ミソサザイ, ゴジュウカラ, キバシリ, マミチャジナイ, ツグミ,
エゾビタキ, キビタキ, ムギマキ, オオルリ? ハクセキレイ, アトリ, カワラヒワ, イカル, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta)
& Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae)
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
& Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca)
Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica)
After consecutive cold and rainy days during the previous week, the sunny skies returned and the temperatures rose. I checked how many winter birds had returned to this field.
Three species of wagtails (Grey, White, Japanese) were busily flying around on the sandbar.
There was also flocks of Grey-capped Greenfinches.
Only a small number of species and number of ducks (Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal) were seen around the weir yet.
Little egrets and Great Cormorants had gathered and were resting on the weir.
Flocks of Bulbuls were moving westward.
A small flock of Red-rumped Swallow was seen in the sky.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
ミサゴ, トビ, オオバン, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス,
シジュウカラ, コシアカツバメ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, ムクドリ, スズメ,
キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
1-day Trip in Northeast foot of Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi Prefecture)
富士山北東山麓(山梨)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
: photo by Jacob Lesniak
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea lutea)
: photo by Jacob Lesniak
Mt.Fuji, a view from Okuniwa Natural Park
The cold, drizzly weather until the day before turned out to be sunny and warm on the day of our visit.
We headed for Okuniwa slowly, stopping on the way for birding on the Fuji-Subaru Line.
On the road to the second station, we could see and hear tits, Warbling White-eye, Narcissus Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit and Japanese Grosbeak among the broadleaf trees along the road.
In the coniferous forest zone higher up, we saw and heard Red-flanked Bluetail and Goldcrest.
From the parking lot at the entrance to Okuniwa Natural Park, we walked along the Chudo trail to Oniwa.
Being near the forest limit, it was a bit windy, and here we only heard Japanese Bush Warbler and saw Coal Tit.
Eurasian Bullfinch and Coal Tit could be heard on the steep downhill trail to the Okuniwa Lodge.
There were no photographers around the bird bath at the lodge, where many photographers crowded during the summer, and only a Coal Tit was bathing.
When we started observing there, the bird bath refilled the water by the lodge owner.
After a while, Eurasian Bullfinch and Red-flanked Bluetail came to bathe at the bird bath.
Goldcrest and Spotted Nutcracker appeared around, but did not visit the bird bath and could not be observed closely.
Then, we went for a walk in Okuniwa Natural Park. We did not feel cold, which we had worried about, and saw Red-flanked Bluetails and Coal Tits in the calm, sunny forest.
In the afternoon, we once descended the Subaru Line and drove through the forest road in Narusawa area.
Japanese Grosbeak, tits (Japanese, Varied, Willow, Coal), Japanese Bush Warbler, Eurasian Jay, and flocks of Red-billed Leiothrix were seen and heard.
Somehow, we did not see any woodpeckers this time.
The birds observed are;
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii)?
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Spotted Nutcracker (Japanese) (Nucifraga caryocatactes japonica),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea lutea),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Goldcrest (japonensis) (Regulus regulus japonensis),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus)?
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
キジバト, アオバト? モズ, カケス, ホシガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ソウシチョウ, メジロ, キクイタダキ, ミソサザイ? ルリビタキ, キビタキ, ウソ, イカル
One-day trip for Kasai-Rinkai Park (Tokyo) & Sanbanze Seaside Park (Chiba)
葛西臨海公園(東京)&三番瀬(千葉)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica)
: photo by Jacob Lesniak
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans)
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri)
: photo by Jacob Lesniak
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
Due to the passage of a warm front, it rained from the previous night until early in the morning, so we waited for the rain to stop and visited Kasai Rinkai Park at first.
We checked out the sunflower field first.
There were no Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri), but a small group of Grey-capped Greenfinch was seen.
The forest at the west end of the park had been cut down and became smaller by the construction of the Olympic facilities. Oriental Turtle-Dove and Japanese Tit were only observed.
There were several Great White Egrets on the ocean side, but no sea ducks were observed yet.
The tide level was just low, and the mudflats of the protected Higashi-Nagisa area were wide spread, and many gulls and Great Cormorants were seen in the distance.
Some Great Cormorants and Black Kites were resting together in a tree on a nearby bank.
There were no ducks in the ponds at the Ornithological Garden, besides a few Eastern Spot-billed Ducks and Common Coots, as I had expected. It seems they had not yet arrived.
However, we were lucky enough to see Brown-cheeked Rail this time.
Next, we headed to Sanbanze.
Upon arrival, a sudden shower of rain began to fall. After waiting for a while, the sun started to shine and the rain stopped, so we started birding.
About three hours had passed after the lowest tide, and the tide level was rising. The mudflats, which had spread out widely, gradually became narrower and narrower, and shorebirds could be observed closer to the shore.
Although fewer in number than at the peak of the migration, there were still many species of shorebirds to be seen.
Many Eurasian Oystercatchers and Great White Egrets were also seen.
A small flock of Greater Scaup was seen at sea. Their numbers will increase soon towards winter.
Gulls were mostly Black-tailed Gulls, but a few Vega Gulls and Slaty-backed Gulls were also seen.
The birds observed are;
at Kasai-rinkai Park;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
at Sanbanze (*reported by other birder);
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans),
*Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola),
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis), Lesser Sand-Plover (atrifrons) (Charadrius mongolus atrifrons),
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri), Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
カルガモ, スズガモ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, クイナ, オオバン,
ミヤコドリ, *ムナグロ, ダイゼン, シロチドリ, メダイチドリ, オオソリハシシギ, オバシギ, ミユビシギ, ハマシギ,
ウミネコ, セグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ, モズ, オナガ,
ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ
Chausu-Yama in Nagano City (Nagano Prefecture)
長野市篠ノ井茶臼山植物園（長野）
Brown Flycathcer (Muscicapa dauurica)
Fruits of Swida macrophylla
Spot-breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
: All photos by T.Endo
I attended a bird watching event of Wild Bird Society of Japan.
We visited Chausu-Yama, a typical satoyama in northern Nagano prefecture to look for autumn visitors.
In October, black fruits of Cornel trees (Swida macrophylla) grown in mountain areas, attracts some Flycatcher species during their southward travel.
The main target of the day was Spot-breasted Flycatchers (Muscicapa griseisticta).
Fortunately, we could find a bird on the top of a dead branch near Cornel trees.
We also saw a Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) on the same spot.
At the foot of the mountain, I found a pair of Siberian Stonechats (Saxicola maurus), another attractive autumn visitor.
List of species;
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis),
Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis orientalis), Black Kite (Milvus Migrans),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus),
Jay (Garrulus glandarius), Carrion Crow（Corvus corone）, Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor), Varied Tit (Poecile varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina), Spot-breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica),
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus),
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea),
Oriental Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica）,
Siberian Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides)
キジバト，ハチクマ，トビ，コゲラ，モズ，カケス，ハシボソガラス，ハシブトガラス，シジュウカラ，ヤマガラ，ヒヨドリ，
エナガ，キビタキ，エゾビタキ，コサメビタキ，ノビタキ，キセキレイ,カワラヒワ,ホオジロ
One-day Trip around Inashiki area (Ibaraki)
利根川中流&稲敷方面(茨城)
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus)
& Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
In the morning, we headed to the reed fields with some small swamps at the middle reaches of the Tone River.
Two swans were seen flying overhead on a road near the Tone River. They were probably just arriving.
At the site, the weather was almost clear but a northerly strong wind was blowing over the reed fields on the riverbed.
Two Eastern Marsh-Harriers were soaring over the reed field.
In the swamps scattered, there were large flocks of Northern Pintail, Common Pochard and Eurasian Teal, which seemed to have just arrived.
Among the flocks were a small number of Mallard and Northern Shoveler.
One Greater Scaup and one Garganey were also seen.
The birds were still nervous and did not stay on the water surface and repeated to fly around the area.
The birds in the reed fields were inactive due to the strong winds.
We managed to see Zitting Cisticolas and Eurasian Skylarks foraging on the road.
In Inashiki, harvested lotus fields with open water surface increased.
Though the number of shorebirds had decreased at the end of the migration, many species of shorebirds could still be seen in the fields.
There were still many Sand Martins and Barn Swallows, which had gone from the other areas near Tokyo.
The birds observed are;
- at middle-reaches of Tone River:
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Garganey (Spatula querquedula),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)?
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
- at Inashiki area (*observed other birder):
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Black-tailed Godwit (Siberian) (Limosa limosa melanuroides),
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta),
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Ruff (Calidris pugnax), *Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)?
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Sand Martin (Kamchatka) (Riparia riparia ijimae), Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri)?
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
コハクチョウ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, シマアジ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, スズガモ,
カイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ,
オオバン, セイタカシギ, コチドリ, オオハシシギ, オグロシギ, コアオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ,
トウネン, オジロトウネン, ヒバリシギ, ウズラシギ, エリマキシギ, *アカエリヒレアシシギ,
ウミネコ, セグロカモメ? ユリカモメ? ドバト, キジバト, ツツドリ, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
ショウドウツバメ, ツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, ノビタキ? スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, ホオジロ
One-day Trip in Western Area of Kanagawa Prefecture (Kanagawa)
神奈川西部 (神奈川)
White-bellied Green-Pigeons (Treron sieboldii sieboldii)
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax)
The first site we visited was Terugasaki Beach in Oiso Town.
In summer (May to October), a lot of White-bellied Green-Pigeons gather at this beach.
They inhabit in the Tanzawa Mountains, north of this beach.
They come to this beach to drink sea water.
However, only a small number of White-bellied Green-Pigeons came this time.
According to a person who monitors the site every day, fewer White-bellied Green-Pigeons arrive on days with low temperatures. The day before the cold front passed, and the temperature dropped quite a lot, so this may have had an effect.
Streaked Shearwater could be seen soaring above the surface of the sea in the distance.
Black Kites and Black-tailed Gulls also were observed close by.
Next, we headed to Mt. Gongen in Hadano City.
Here, a hawk migration observation survey is being conducted.
The weather on the day was fine after a series of rainy days, and more migration was expected after the poor results by then, even though it was already the last stage of migration.
The observation team recorded a total of 68 Grey-faced Buzzards, but we missed two kettles and only observed a small number flying at a distance.
We did, however, see a Japanese Sparrowhawk perched on a dead tree nearby.
Varied Tits were seen well, collecting nuts and carrying it somewhere to store for the coming winter.
There were still a few berries of dogwoods, which attracted a few Grey-streaked Flycatchers.
The most common bird observed was a Brown-eared Bulbul, which was also on its way westwards.
The last visits were Oone Park in Hadano City and Sanada Reservor in Hiratuka City nearby.
At Oone Park, there had been Garganeys (Anas querquedula).
We tried to find among many Eurasian Teals, but we could not find them this time. They might have left this site already.
However we saw many Eurasian Tealswhich had just arrived for wintering.
Also we saw many Black-crowned Night Herons and Little Egrets, too.
The birds obserbed are;
- at Terugasaki Beach:
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis)
- at Mt. Gongen (*reported by local observation team):
*Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis), *Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi), House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), *Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
*Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
- at Oone Park & Sanada Reservoir:
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, オオミズナギドリ, ゴイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
*ハヤブサ, *ミサゴ, トビ, ツミ, サシバ, ノスリ, タシギ, ウミネコ, ドバト, アオバト,
アマツバメ, ヒメアマツバメ, カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, *イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ムクドリ, *クロツグミ,
イソヒヨドリ, エゾビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ
One-day Trip around Watarase Retarding Basin
渡良瀬遊水地近郊
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
At first, we drove around the farm fields in Itakura Town.
Some of the rice fields have already been harvested and the rest will soon be harvested.
A Common Snipe was foraging in a water-filled, harvested paddy field.
There was still a small number of Intermediate Egret remaining, besides Grey Heron and Great White Egret (Ardea alba modesta).
Passerines were inactive and not seen due to light rain, but Eurasian Skylark and Bull-headed Shrike were actively calling well.
The hawks were Black Kites and Eastern Buzzard seen. They will increase in numbers towards winter.
Only a few Little Grebes were seen in the pond, which is regularly crowded with ducks during the winter season. Soon they will be coming back to overwinter.
White-cheeked Starling and Eurasian Tree Sparrow were forming flocks.
Next, we visited the Watarase Retarding Basin.
The reed fields, where reed warblers and others had been abundant during the summer, were very quiet, thanks in part to the light rainfall.
Even Meadow bunting, which usually forages on the road, seemed to be resting somewhere.
However, Green Pheasant appeared well here and there. Some were families with juvenile birds born this year. They may not be afraid of birds of prey not active in the rain.
Small ponds scattered in the reed fields and in the channel were visited by flocks of ducks (Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler), either wintering or stopping off on their migration, as well as Eastern Spot-billed Duck. Two Oriental Storks were in a rice field near one of the artificial stork nests.
Then we drove around the farming fields in the Omoigawa area.
We looked for shorebirds, but could not find any watered fields, neither could we find the birds we were looking for. When we were about to give up, we finally found a flock of ten Pacific Golden-Plover in a field with a small puddle of water.
Common Kestrels were seen in several places.
We returned to Watarase Retarding Basin in the afternoon. The rain occasionally stopped.
Like they had been waiting for it, Meadow Bunting appeared on the roads and began busily foraging.
Black Kites were also drying their feathers here and there.
A Bull-headed Shrike, an Oriental Turtle-Dove and an Oriental Cuckoo were seen perched on one large tree in the reed field. The Oriental Cuckoo was stopping over on the way of migration.
The last stop was at the irrigation ponds in Ikura, but it was not lively as in summer.
The birds observed are;
- in Itakura area:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great Egret/Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis ),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda japonica japonica),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail / Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
- in Watarase Retarding Basin:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great Egret/Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)?
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
- in Omoigawa area:
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great Egret/Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea modesta),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda japonica japonica),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/ Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
キジ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, コウノトリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ,
カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ, チュウヒ? ノスリ, バン, オオバン, ムナグロ, タシギ, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト,
ツツドリ, カワセミ, アカゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ,
エゾビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Isa Marsh (Saitama)
伊佐沼(埼玉)
Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
The water level of the marsh was down and the muddy shore was appeared, and some shorebirds, such as Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshanks and Temminck's Stint, were stopping by.
However, besides the resident Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, there were no wintering ducks or migratory Garganey (Spatula querquedula), which we expected to see this time.
There were many herons and egrets resting on the stakes lining the edge of the marsh's middle island.
A small group of Brown-eared Bulbul flew westwards.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
, カルガモ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, チョウゲンボウ, オオバン,
コチドリ, アオアシシギ, イソシギ, オジロトウネン, モズ, ヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ
Downstream of Sakawa River (Kanagawa)
酒匂川下流(神奈川)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri)
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus)
The Sakawa River runs through the Sakawa Lowland in the western region of Kanagawa Prefecture, between Hakone Volcano to the west and the Oiso Hills to the east and flows into Sagami Bay.
The river was muddy and swollen due to the heavy rainfall caused by the typhoon that had passed the day before.
Perhaps due to this, there were only a few herons on the riverbed.
A Common Sandpiper was foraging on a concrete block submerged in the water, undaunted by the rushing stream.
An Amur Stonechat on migration was found in the grassland.
A call that sounded like an Oriental Reed Warbler was heard from a tree on the bank, and searched for it but found a Bull-headed Shrike. Apparently the bird was imitating the call.
A Black-winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis) was rescued just after the typhoon a month ago, but no such bird carried by the typhoon was found this time.
The birds obserbed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
カルガモ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ,
イソシギ, ウミネコ, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, ツバメ, セッカ,
ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, ノビタキ, スズメ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ
Terugasaki Beach, Oiso (Kanagawa)
照ヶ崎海岸 (大磯, 神奈川)
White-bellied Green-Pigeons (Treron sieboldii sieboldii)
In summer (May to October), a lot of White-bellied Green-Pigeons gather at this beach.
They inhabit in the Tanzawa Mountains, north of this beach.
They come to this beach to drink sea water.
The reasons below are considered why the White-bellied Green-Pigeons need to take sea water;
- Their foods in the summer season are mainly baccas of cherry-tree or cornel which do not include enough sodium for them.
To supplement sodium, they drink sea water.
- They feed chicks the pigeon milk which produced by themselves. They need to take nutrition for their chicks.
Even in the bad condition like that high waves wash the rocks of the beach, the pigeons drink water at the risk of life.
A typhoon passed the day before our visit. There were many dead trees and other debris washed up on the beach.
Over fifty White-bellied Green-Pigeons were seen flying away on our arrival.
Shortly after a short wait, the flock returned and could be observed landing on the rocks on the beach and drinking seawater.
The birds observed are;
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii)
オオミズナギドリ, トビ, ウミネコ, ドバト, アオバト
Inashiki Area (Ibaraki)
稲敷方面(茨城)
Black-tailed Godwit (Siberian) (Limosa limosa melanuroides)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
; photo by S.Niwa
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca)
The rain that had been falling early in the morning had stopped by the time of arrival and did not bother our birding.
Harvesting in lotus fields, which was not done the last time, about a month ago, had started here and there. So, the number of fields that had been harvested and the open water surface had expanded was increasing. And all the paddy fields had also been completed harvested and became open to be seen.
Such changes in the field conditions resulted in more spots where shorebirds could be observed than in the previous visit.
Small flocks of Marsh Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitchers, Black-tailed Godwits and Spotted Redshanks were newly found. A few Pectoral Sandpipers, which only visit Japan in small numbers, were seen in the harvested rice paddies.
Common Snipes, Ruff, Long-tailed Stint and Wood Sandpiper were also found in those fields, but were difficult to spot as they were hiding in the rice stumps and the second ears.
Eastern Cattle Egret, which had been abundant last time, had migrated away.
Zitting Cisticola were quieter and were not found.
Instead, Bull-headed Shrikes were territorially calling loudly here and there.
Eurasian Teal had arrived.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Black-tailed Godwit (Siberian) (Limosa limosa melanuroides),
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta),
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
カルガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, トビ, ノスリ, セイタカシギ, コチドリ, タシギ, オオハシシギ, オグロシギ,
ツルシギ, コアオアシシギ, アオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, イソシギ, トウネン,
オジロトウネン, ヒバリシギ, アメリカウズラシギ, ウズラシギ, エリマキシギ,
ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ツバメ, ムクドリ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ
Mt. Gongen (Hadano, Kanagawa)
権現山(秦野,神奈川)
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae)
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis)
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
By the beginning of September, the season of autumn hawk migration had started, and observations had begun at many sites all over Japan.
At this site, as well, observations have continued everyday since 29 August, other than rainy days.
On the day I visited, despite sunny weather, with a cool and comfortable easterly breeze, with good visibility to the distance in low humidity atmosphere, it was a good day for observation.
In this favorable condition, a variety of hawk species appeared, though in small numbers, and were enjoyable.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers and Asian Brown Flycatcher also perched in the treetops nearby.
Various species of swallows and swifts also flew well.
A flock of White-bellied Green-Pigeons returning to the mountain after taking seawater at the beach was also seen.
The birds obserbed are;
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi), House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, ハチクマ, トビ, ツミ, オオタカ, サシバ, ノスリ, キジバト, アオバト, アマツバメ, ヒメアマツバメ,
コゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, コシアカツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ,
メジロ, エゾビタキ, コサメビタキ, キビタキ
Higashiyoka-higata Tidal Mudflat & Fukudomi Reclaimed Land (Saga)
東与賀干潟&福富干拓(佐賀)
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola)
Eurasian Curlew (Eastern) (Numenius arquata orientalis)
& Far Eastern Curlews (Numenius madagascariensis)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida javanicus)
& Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus)
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
The Site is internationally important in the life cycle of migratory waterbirds, acting as a stopover and a wintering site.
About 7,000 migratory shorebirds are recorded from autumn to spring, including over 1% of the flyway populations of the grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola).
The Site also support globally threatened waterbirds, such as the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea), the endangered black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor), and the vulnerable Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) and Saunders's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi).
More than 1% of the flyway population of Saunders's gull occur at the Site.
A rich biodiversity can be found on the mudflat, including fish, benthos, and halophytes, due to the warm climate, large tidal variation, and shoals which facilitate sediment deposition.
Over the years, the extensive mudflats around the Ariake Bay have been subjected to land reclamation and the construction of dykes.
As a result, Higashiyoka-higata, together with the two other coastal Ramsar Sites in Ariake Bay, Arao-higata and Hizen Kashima-higata, has an increasingly important role in biodiversity conservation in the Bay.
The Higashiyoka-higata mudflats are also locally important as a fishing site and for supporting local cultural practices.
The two days we visited were the peak of the shorebirds' fall migration, and the flood tide was especially high, so we saw huge flocks of many species as well as a Saunder's Gull on the mudflats near the shore, which narrowed at the high tide.
Small flocks of Eurasian Spoonbill and Black-faced Spoonbill were also flying.
In the Fukudomi Reclaimed Land nearby, there were freshwater shorebirds in the harvested lotus fields, ducks including migrating Garganeys and a Greater White-fronted Goose in the irrigation reservoir, and about 10 Whiskered Terns and several Western Ospreys were observed together along a canal.
More than ten Oriental Pratincoles were resting on the bare land behind Saga Airport.
The birds observed are;
- at Fukudomi Reclaimed Land:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Garganey (Spatula querquedula), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Black-tailed Godwit (Siberian) (Limosa limosa melanuroides),
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida javanicus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Oriental Magpie (Oriental) (Pica serica serica), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis taivana/Motacilla flava taivana)?
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
- at Higashiyoka-higata Tidal Mudflat:
Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis), Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii),
Black-tailed Godwit (Siberian) (Limosa limosa melanuroides), Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri),
Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus),
Eurasian Curlew (Eastern) (Numenius arquata orientalis), Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis),
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Common Redshank (Central Asian) (Tringa totanus ussuriensis),
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes), Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus),
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Red Knot (rogersi) (Calidris canutus rogersi),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Eastern) (Calidris falcinellus/Limicola falcinellus sibirica),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
- around Saga Airport:
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
マガン, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, シマアジ, コガモ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ,
カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, バン, セイタカシギ, ムナグロ, ダイゼン, コチドリ, シロチドリ, メダイチドリ, オオメダイチドリ, タシギ,
オグロシギ, オオソリハシシギ, チュウシャクシギ, ダイシャクシギ, ホウロクシギ, ツルシギ, アカアシシギ, コアオアシシギ,
アオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, キアシシギ, ソリハシシギ, イソシギ, オバシギ, コオバシギ, トウネン, ヒバリシギ,
ウズラシギ, ハマシギ, キリアイ, ツバメチドリ, ウミネコ, ズグロカモメ, クロハラアジサシ, ドバト, キジバト, モズ,
カササギ, ハシボソガラス, ツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ツメナガセキレイ? ハクセキレイ, ホオジロ
Mt. Eboshi-dake (Sasebo, Nagasaki)
烏帽子岳(佐世保,長崎)
Chinese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis)
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis)
This mountain is located at the most northern point in Kyushu Island on the autumn migration route of Chinese Goshawk from Siberia and Korea to Philippines and Indonesia.
Two days before our visit, 14,415 Chinese Goshawks were observed at Tsushima, the previous point on the migratory route, and 536 were counted at Mt. Eboshi-dake.
On the first day of our visit, however, the weather conditions in Tsushima and the Korean Peninsula, the hawks' departure points, were not so good, and the number of hawks observed was low, at 48.
Two days later, we revisited the site in the afternoon. 201 hawks were observed in that morning, and only a few were observed in the afternoon in the evening.
I wondered if this year's record as close to the 11,286 Chinese Goshawks observed on September 15, 2020 would be achieved.
On the other hand, the number of Crested Honey Buzzards migrating from the Honshu side should increase soon, and eight were observed on the day of our visit.
The birds we observed were;
Green Pheasant (Kyushu) (Phasianus versicolor versicolor),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Chinese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea lutea),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
キュウシュウキジ, ミサゴ, ハチクマ, トビ, アカハラダカ, アマツバメ, ハシボソガラス,
ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ, ソウシチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, エゾビタキ, ホオジロ
Isahaya Reclaimed Land (Nagasaki)
諫早干拓地 (長崎)
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
& Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
The Sea Wall cut off the water of Isahaya Inner Bay from the Ariake Sea.
Although Isahaya Bay deserves the status of a wetland of international importance, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries claimed that the project was inevitable for flood control and more agricultural lands.
Although the mudflat areas were lost, many birds are still inhabiting at the grassy plain and the fields.
When we visited there, it was earlier than the birding season from October.
The number and species of birds were fewer. In the reclaimed rice fields, we saw a few shorebirds
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
カルガモ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ,
タカブシギ, イソシギ, ウズラシギ, ウミネコ, ズグロカモメ, キジバト, カワセミ,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ
Sanbanze tidal flat & Yatsu-Higata tidal flat (Chiba)
三番瀬&谷津干潟(千葉)
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
& Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida)
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola)
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni)
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri)
& Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus)
Sanbanze is facing to Tokyo Bay, and Yatsu-Higata is jointed to Tokyo Bay with two small channels.
Both of these two spots are very important stopover points for the migrating birds flying to/from the North (Siberia) from/to the South (Australia and Southeast Asia).
From middle of August until end of September is the season of the migration birds to the South/West.
When we arrived at Sanbanze, two hours had passed from the lowest tide, yet the mudflats were still widely spread out.
Perhaps the peak of the shorebirds' migration had passed or the next flocks yet to arrived, there were no big flocks, but small flocks of Grey Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Sanderlings and Great Knots, with a few Kentish Plovers, Lesser Sand-Plovers, Red-necked Stints, Terek Sandpipers, Red-tailed Tattlers, Red-necked Stints, Red-tailed Tattlers Dunlins were seen.
There was also small flock of Eurasian Oystercatchers, and were big flocks of Black-tailed Gulls and Great White Egrets.
As the number of observers increased and the flocks of birds moved away, we left the mudflats and checked the sea side.
There was a Great Crested Grebe in the distance, which was unusual for this time of year, probably over-summering.
Next, we headed to Yatsu Tidal Flat.
There had been a few shorebirds, but they went away after one Peregrine Falcon appeared and chased them away.
There were a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron hiding and resting in the reeds and a Little Grebe beside the Observation Center.
The birds observed are;
at Sanbanze;
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans),
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola), Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis),
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni), Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri),
Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes), Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
at Yatsu-Higata;
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni), Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri),
Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus), Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ハヤブサ,
ミヤコドリ, ダイゼン, シロチドリ, メダイチドリ, チュウシャクシギ, オオソリハシシギ, キアシシギ, ソリハシシギ,
イソシギ, オバシギ, ミユビシギ, トウネン, ハマシギ, ウミネコ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ,
ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ
Cemetery Tama, Fuchu, Tokyo
多磨霊園 (府中, 東京)
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata)
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon)
Migrating birds visit in this season every year.
The record-breaking hot summer was over and the temperature dropped below 30 degrees Celsius. However, due to a super typhoon that was stalling near the Okinawa area, the weather was unstable and there were several days of heavy showers even in the Tokyo area far from it.
Fortunately, the day of my visit was cloudy and it did not rain, and blue skies could be seen.
Although I searched for migratory birds in the forest of the hill, there was no sign of birds among a loud chorus of cicadas.
When visiting at the point where I regularly see Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher, I encountered a mixed flock of about 20 tits (Japanese, Varied, Long-tailed), Warbling White-eyes and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers.
As I looked carefully at the flock, I recognized a slightly larger bird. It turned out to be one of the targets; Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher. Two of them were busily flying around in the trees.
I also found a leaf warbler which seemed to be an Eastern Crowned Warbler.
Later, I also saw a Grey-faced Buzzard soaring overhead. After circling several times, it flew away to the west.
The birds observed are;
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus)
サシバ, キジバト, コゲラ, サンコウチョウ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, センダイムシクイ, メジロ
Middle reaches of Tone River & Inashiki Area (Ibaraki)
利根川中流&稲敷方面(茨城)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
Flock of egrets
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
& Broad-billed Sandpiper (Eastern) (Calidris falcinellus sibirica/Limicola falcinellus sibirica)
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
In the morning, we headed to the reed fields with some small swamps at the middle reaches of the Tone River.
Unfortunately, it was raining heavily and strong north-easterly winds were blowing, which was not so good for birding.
There were many Eastern Spot-billed Ducks in the swamps, and sometimes they would suddenly fly away as if frightened by something.
We looked for Garganey (Spatula querquedula) among them, which might stop by to avoid such bad weather, but they were not there.
Instead, one Eurasian Teal was seen.
Birds in the reed beds were quiet due to the bad weather, however, many Zitting Cisticola were foraging on the dirt road.
One Common Snipe was also resting on the road.
Several Eastern Marsh-Harriers were seen flying over the reed fields and resting in a small tree.
Then, on the way to Inashiki, we drove through the Yotaura area.
Several large flocks of herons were in the rice paddies. Eastern Cattle Egrets and Intermediate Egrets were dominant, with a few Grey Herons and Great White Egrets.
There were a Northern Pintail among Eastern Spot-billed Ducks in the pond. It might be on its way to migration.
When we arrived at the Inashiki area, it was raining hard again. After a short wait, that rain began to weaken, so we resumed birding to search for shorebirds in the lotus fields.
Most of the fields were still entirely covered with lotus, but we found many species of freshwater shorebirds in some fallow fields.
This time, Little Ringed Plover and Red-necked Stint were abundant.
Other species observed were Common Greenshanks, Green Sandpipers, Wood Sandpipers, Terek Sandpiper, Ruff, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Long-tailed Stints, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, and Broad- billed Sandpiper.
The birds observed are;
- at middle-reaches of Tone River:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Marsh Grassbird (Japanese) (Helopsaltes pryeri pryeri/Locustella pryeri pryeri),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
- at Yotaura area:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
- at Inashiki area:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola),
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Little Stint (Calidris minuta),
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta),
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Broad-billed Sandpiper (Eastern) (Calidris falcinellus sibirica/Limicola falcinellus sibirica),
Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Sand Martin (Kamchatka) (Riparia riparia ijimae), Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, アマサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, トビ, チュウヒ, セイタカシギ, コチドリ, タシギ, アオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ,ソリハシシギ,
イソシギ, トウネン, ヨーロッパトウネン, オジロトウネン, ヒバリシギ, ウズラシギ, キリアイ, エリマキシギ,
ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, ハシボソガラス, ショウドウツバメ, ツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, オオセッカ, オオヨシキリ, ムクドリ,
スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Paddy fields in Omoigawa (Tochigi) Itakura & Tatara Marsh (Gunma)
思川のたんぼ(栃木)&板倉&多々良沼(群馬)
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus)
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
& Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis sinensis)
Sand Martin (Kamchatka) (Riparia riparia ijimae)
Swallows in the twilight sky
There are paddy fields which are flooded with water as artificial fresh-water tidal flats to gather waterfowl.
Some days before our visit, a Common Ringed Plover (Eastern) (Charadrius hiaticula tundrae) and a Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), which are uncommon in Japan, were reported, and we expected to encounter them, but it seemed that they had already left the site.
We searched for the watered fallow fields and fresh-water shorebirds there.
Little Ringed Plovers were abundant in the shallow water fields, as were Wood Sandpiper, Red-necked Stints, Long-toed Stints and Common Snipes.
A Common Greenshank and a Black-winged Stilt were found in deeper water.
Small flocks of Sand Martin were flying over the grown rice plants.
Many herons moved from their breeding sites were also seen.
Next, we visited the irrigation pond in Itakura. The pond was almost entirely covered with lotus and the flowers were in full bloom.
Yellow Bitterns were flying through the lotus, and Common Moorhens and juvenile Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, which had grown to the same size as their parents, were seen in the few remaining open water.
Barn Swallows were resting on the nearby power lines. A few Sand Martins were also seen among them.
At Tatara Marsh, we waited Eurasian Tree Sparrow, egrets and Barn Swallow which communal roost in the reed fields.
No sparrow roosting was observed this time.
The number of swallows was also low (several hundreds), and the usual roosting in the reed beds could not be confirmed. They might be roosting in different places this year.
The birds observed were;
- at the paddy fields in Omoigawa area;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Sand Martin (Kamchatka) (Riparia riparia ijimae), Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
- at Itakura;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis sinensis), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Sand Martin (Kamchatka) (Riparia riparia ijimae), Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
- at Tatara Marsh;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
カルガモ, ヨシゴイ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, バン,
セイタカシギ, コチドリ, タシギ, アオアシシギ, タカブシギ, トウネン, ヒバリシギ,
キジバト, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ショウドウツバメ, ツバメ, ヒバリ,
セッカ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ
Oku-Nikko (Tochigi)
奥日光 (栃木)
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus)
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus)
Oku-Nikko is not only a famous summer resort but also a famous birding field.
There are several birding spots such as Chuzenji Lake, Yunoko Lake, Senjyogahara Plateau, Odashirogahara Plateau and Kirikomi Lake.
At Senjyogahara Plateau and Odashirogahara Plateau, there are wide grass field surrounded by forests of deciduous broad-leaved trees and Japanese larch.
During the long holiday (Obon) in mid-August, even with the largest number of COVID-19 infections on record, there was a great number of people moving like before because there were no restrictions on activities.
We visited the field to avoid this period, but the birds had finished raising their offspring, and the field was very quiet. Therefore, there were few birds that appeared.
First, we walked the trail from Tachiki-Kannon to the Italian Embassy Villa on the shore of Lake Chuzenji and back.
There were no waterfowl in the lake, but in the woods by the lake, we saw Wood Nuthatch, flocks of tits (Long-tailed, Japanese, Willow), woodpeckers (Japanese Pygmy, Great Spotted) Woodpecker, flycatchers (Narcissus, Blue-and-white) were seen.
We also saw what appeared to be an Eastern Crowned Warbler.
Next, we visited Senjyogahara Plateau.
In early summer, many summer birds can be seen in the grasslands and forests along the Yukawa River, but the birds were very quiet in this time.
Here, too, we saw flocks of fledglings of tits (Japanese, Coal, Willow, and Long-tailed), Woodpeckers (Japanese Pygmy, Great Spotted, and Japanese Green) and flycatchers (Narcissus, Blue- and-white) in the forest.
We looked for Amur Stonechats in the meadows, but only one appeared, and soon disappeared for a short time. Two Eastern Buzzards flew.
Some anglers were in the Yukawa River, where fishing is allowed only during the summer season, but about ten Mandarin Ducks, which seem to have bred here, were swimming and resting on driftwoods without paying any particular attention to them. Occasionally, they jumped at dragonflies perched on twigs or stakes.
In the afternoon, near Kotoku Ranch, it began to rain heavily. We saw one Olive-backed Pipit perched on the ranch fence just before the rain started.
Finally, we visited the Onsen-dera area of Yumoto, and when the rain eased off, we saw tits flying on the mountainside.
Early the next morning, we revisited the Senjyogahara Plateau.
The heavy rain of the previous night had stopped, and blue skies were appearing.
On the trails with no visitors, we saw Mallards and a Grey Heron in the river, a Brown-headed Thrush on the wooded trail, and Masked Buntings, Bull-headed Shrikes, and Japanese Grosbeaks in the forests.
In the afternoon, we stopped by the Nikko Botanical Garden.
Nikko Botanical Garden is located nearby Nikko Station. This is an institute for research and education of Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, but is open for public. The main activities of the Botanical Garden have centered on enriching the collections of temperate and alpine plants of Japan and adjacent regions for the purpose of botanical research and education. A total of 2,200 species (130 species of pteridophytes, 70 species of gymnosperms, and 2,000 species of angiosperms) are planted in the garden.
This environment makes it a good site for birding as well.
This time, however, the time of year and time of day were not good, and we only confirmed Eurasian Jay and Brown-eared Bulbul.
The birds we observed were;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus)?
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica sibirica),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オシドリ, マガモ, アオサギ, カワウ, トビ, ノスリ, ホトトギス, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ,
モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
センダイムシクイ, ゴジュウカラ, アカハラ, ノビタキ, サメビタキ, キビタキ, オオルリ, スズメ,
キセキレイ, ビンズイ, イカル, アオジ
Hirugano Plateau (Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture)
ひるがの高原(郡上,岐阜県)
Pond in Hirugano Plateau
White-throated Needletail (Northern) (Hirundapus caudacutus caudacutus)
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), hunting fishes
At first we visited a famous pond where White-throated Needletais gather.
It is said that more White-throated Needletails visit early in the morning and late in the evening. We arrived around 7:30 a.m., and although a few were seen until 6:30 a.m. according to the local birders on the site, none appeared for a while.
After about an hour, one finally appeared. It glided over the surface of the pond and drank some water.
Several Asian House Martins also appeared and began chasing the White-throated Needletail.
An Intermediate Egret was seen flying just above the surface of the water. As we watched, surprisingly, it caught fishes swimming on the surface of the water flying.
From the surrounding woods, song of a Japanese Thrush was heard, and a few Japanese Grosbeaks and Bull-headed Shrikes were also seen.
We waited for the White-throated Needletail to appear again, but gave up at 9:00 a.m. and headed for the Hirugao Wetland Botanical Garden and Bunsuirei Park.
Pacific Swifts and Barn Swallows were flying over the marshland.
Meadow Buntings were singing from the meadow, but the birds were inactive as the breeding season was at its end.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
White-throated Needletail (Northern) (Hirundapus caudacutus caudacutus), Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
カルガモ, アオサギ, チュウサギ, トビ, キジバト, アオバト, カッコウ, ホトトギス, ハリオアマツバメ, アマツバメ,
コゲラ, アカゲラ, モズ, カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, メジロ, クロツグミ, キセキレイ, カワラヒワ, イカル, ホオジロ
Okutainai & Matsunoyama (Niigata Prefecture)
奥胎内&松之山(新潟)
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana)
Ruddy Kingfisher (major) (Halcyon coromanda major)
Forest of Okutainai
Oriental Dollarbird/Dollarbird (cyanicollis) (Eurystomus orientalis cyanicollis)
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans)
At first, we visited Okutainai.
Okutainai is located in Bandai-Asahi National Park and is an area of wild nature consisting of the valley of the Tairai River, which originates from the Iide Mountain Range, and the surrounding deep forests.
Because it is one of the snowiest areas in Japan, visitors can only reach this area in summer and autumn, from June to November, when the access road is open.
The Okutai Hutte is located at the end of the access road and is available for overnight stays.
We stayed at this hutte this time.
The first day was calm, cloudy in the morning and occasionally sunny in the afternoon.
Compared to my previous visit in early June, there were fewer birds singing and appearing less frequently, as most birds were either incubating eggs or their chicks had left the nests.
However, Blue-and-white Flycatchers greeted us with their songs in the treetops here and there along the valley.
Ruddy Kingfishers were heard in several places, but seen only once.
A female Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher appeared briefly, but hid without making any call.
Two Grey-faced Buzzards were flying on the slope of the mountain. Perhaps they were looking for a nesting place?
White-backed Woodpecker were not observed well.
The Japanese Scops-Owl seen the day before could not be found that day.
When the sun was setting and it was getting dark, we went to the Okutainai carpark, which is located a little downstream from the hutte.
As it became dark, we heard Oriental Scops-Owl in the distance.
A Grey Nightjar was also heard nearby only briefly. We looked for it and found it on the lawn of the dam's administration facility.
When we returned to the hutte, it started to rain.
It continued to rain strongly throughout the night with thunder and lightning until dawn. This caused a power outage in the hutte
At dawn around 4:00 a.m., the rain temporarily stopped, so we went out for birding.
Because of the early hour, Warbling White-eyes and Narcissus Flycatchers were singing well.
However, thunderstorms started again, and we had to return to the hutte and departed for our next destination, Matsunoyama, earlier than scheduled.
We arrived at Matsunoyama before 11 am.
Here, about 200 km southwest from Okutainai, it was not raining, and sunny.
Matsunoyama is one of the world's heaviest snowfall area, with an average snowfall of 3.5 meters and a maximum of 5 meters in winter. Thanks to the heavy snowfall, the area is covered with Japanese beech forests.
In a small valley with scattered farmlands and forests, we heard songs of Meadow Buntings, Oriental Reed Warblers, Yellow Bunting, Japanese Bush-Warblers, Narcissus Flycatchers, Lesser Cuckoo, and so on, even though it was almost noon.
From the woodlands a short distance away, Japanese Thrush, Japanese Grosbeak, Oriental Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Ruddy Kingfisher and Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher were also heard.
A Wood Nuthatch family, a Eurasian Tree-Creeper, Asian Brown Flycatchers and Grey-capped Greenfinches were also seen. Grey-faced Buzzards, Black Kites and a Crested Honey Buzzard also appeared in the sky, and the Crested Honey Buzzard performed a distinctive display flight, flapping its wings.
We did not see any Tiger Shrike (Lanius tigrinus) this time, probably because they had already left the nest and moved on.
In the woods near Matsunoyama-onsen, we were able to see two Oriental Dollarbirds that arrive here every summer.
On the nearby plateau, there was a large flock of Russet Sparrows, nearly 100 in number, which were born this year.
The birds observed are;
- at Okutainai:
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Oriental Scops-Owl (japonicus) (Otus sunia japonicus),
Grey Nightjar (Grey) (Caprimulgus jotaka jotaka),
Ruddy Kingfisher (major) (Halcyon coromanda major),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
White-backed Woodpecker (stejnegeri) (Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps squameiceps),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
- in Matsunoyama:
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus), Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Oriental Dollarbird/Dollarbird (cyanicollis) (Eurystomus orientalis cyanicollis),
Ruddy Kingfisher (major) (Halcyon coromanda major),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
White-backed Woodpecker (stejnegeri) (Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Eurasian Tree-Creeper (japonica) (Certhia familiaris japonica),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata/Schoeniclus sulphuratus)
ハチクマ, トビ, サシバ, キジバト, アオバト, カッコウ, ツツドリ, ホトトギス, コノハズク, ブッポウソウ,
ヨタカ, アカショウビン, コゲラ, オオアカゲラ, アオゲラ, サンショウクイ, サンコウチョウ,
カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ,
ヤブサメ, ウグイス, オオヨシキリ, センダイムシクイ, メジロ, ゴジュウカラ, キバシリ, クロツグミ,
コサメビタキ, キビタキ, オオルリ, ニュウナイスズメ, キセキレイ, カワラヒワ, イカル, ホオジロ, ノジコ
2-day Trip in Northeast foot of Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi Prefecture)
富士山北東山麓(山梨)
Goldcrest (japonensis) (Regulus regulus japonensis)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
Japanese Leaf Warbler/Pacific Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas/Seicercus xanthodryas)
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni)
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida)
Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus)
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana)
This time of year is the best for birding and photographing on Mt. Fuji, but because it is during the rainy season in this region, the results depend significantly on the weather on the day of the trip.
This time, fortunately, it rained in the afternoon of the first day, but the rest of the day was cloudy, and the second day was blessed with clear skies.
At first, we visited Okuniwa Natural Park at the 5th station of Mt. Fuji.
On the Subaru Line heading for Okuniwa, we heard the Siberian Blue Robin and various other birds singing.
The elevation of Okuniwa is about 2200 m, and is a typical site of a parasitic volcano of Mt. Fuji.
It is covered with grass and trees, and mosses and mushrooms grow on the ground.
Goldcrests greeted us on the steep descent from the Okuniwa parking lot to the Okuniwa-so Lodge.
Okuniwa-so Lodge, where meals and lodging are available, has a specially prepared bird bath and many alpine birds can be observed closely.
Although it had rained the night before our visit, there had been no rain for several days before, so there were no other watering places on Mt. Fuji, and Red-flanked Bluetails, Eurasian Bullfinches, Goldcrests, Japanese Leaf Warblers and Coal Tits came frequently to bath and drink at this small pond of Okuniwa-so Lodge.
In Okuniwa Natural Park, a Japanese Bush Warbler, which usually only sings in bushes and rarely shows itself, was singing at the top of a tree.
From there, we walked on Oniwa and Chudo trail a little higher on the mountain.
There, Olive-backed Pipit repeatedly sang in a treetop and then flew to another treetop.
Japanese Accentor did not appear very often, but did sing on the nearby treetops several times.
When we returned to the parking lot, it began to rain.
On Subaru Line, we descended in rain and occasional fog.
We stopped at the Kawaguchiko Field Center and attempted to visit the water point there, but unfortunately it was not allowed to enter the area.
So we headed for the Narusawa Forest Road.
Unfortunately, it was raining hard from time to time, and although we heard cuckoos (Oriental, Lessor Common, Northern Hawk) and Siberian Robin, we could not see any of them.
A Japanese Robin appeared on a stump for a second, but quickly disappeared.
On the next morning, Mt. Fuji looked beautiful in the blue sky.
In Fuji-yoshida Town, Barn Swallows and Asian House Martins were flying in the blue sky.
At Kita-Fuji Military Base (Kita-Fuji Enshujo) where we visited at first, The facility is a Ground Self-Defense Force training area, but due to historical practice, local residents are allowed to enter the training area every Sunday. Though it was early in the morning, there were many persons entering the vast facility area picking wild vegetables.
There were also many birds, actively singing and flying around.
Until about 20 years ago, there were several sites near Tokyo where Latham's Snipe visited as a summer bird, but now this is one of the few sites left. Even here, their numbers have been decreasing and it becomes harder to see them.
Soon we heard Latham's Snipe nearby.
While watching Asian Brown Flycatcher, Amur Stonechat's family, Oriental Reed Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Chestnut-eared Bunting and Bull-headed Shrike. Latham's Snipe began to fly and presented its unique flight display. The birds then repeated the flight several times, chased each other, and perched on a dead tree nearby.
The Chestnut-cheeked Starlings were raising their chicks in the holes of the dead tree made by woodpeckers, and were actively carrying bugs to their nests.
Eastern Buzzard, Common Cuckoo and Lesser Cuckoo were also seen and heard.
We drove along the edge of the surrounding forest, but with the rising temperatures, cicadas began to sing and we had a hard time finding the birds.
Masked Bunting, Brown-eared Bulbul, Japanese Bush Warbler, Eurasian Wren, Warbling White-eye, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Green Pheasant were seen and heard there.
After that, we drove along the shores of Lake Yamanaka and visited the Obora Spring in the villa area.
There were a few Mute Swans and a Great Cormorant in the lake.
Narcissus Flycatcher, Japanese Green Woodpecker and Shika Deers were seen in the forests near the spring.
Narcissus Flycatchers, Blue-and-white Flycatchers, Japanese Tits, Coal Tits, and Varied Tits repeatedly came to bathe at the spring.
The melodious song of a Japanese Grosbeak was heard from the surrounding forest.
A female Japanese Thrush and a Grey-capped Greenfinch also came in the afternoon.
A mixed flocks of juvenile tits (Long-tailed, Japanese, Coal, Varied) and Warbling White-eyes were seen along the road toward the carpark located a short distance away from the spring.
Near the carpark, White Wagtails, darkened in breeding plumage, were foraging on the ground.
The birds observed are;
- at Subaru Line, Okuniwa, Oniwa, Ochudo and Narusawa Forest Road, Mt. Fuji:
Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus), Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Spotted Nutcracker (Japanese) (Nucifraga caryocatactes japonica), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Japanese Leaf Warbler/Pacific Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas/Seicercus xanthodryas),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Goldcrest (japonensis) (Regulus regulus japonensis),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus),
Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige akahige/Luscinia akahige akahige), Siberian Blue Robin (bochaiensis) (Larvivora cyane bochaiensis),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata)
- in Kita-Fuji Military Base:
Green Pheasant (Shikoku) (Phasianus versicolor tohkaidi),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis), Black-browed Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
- at Obora no Izumi & Yamanaka Lake:
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
トウカイキジ, コブハクチョウ, カワウ, トビ, ノスリ, オオジシギ, キジバト, ジュウイチ, カッコウ, ツツドリ, ホトトギス,
アカゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, ホシガラス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ,
エナガ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, オオヨシキリ, コヨシキリ, メボソムシクイ, センダイムシクイ, メジロ, キクイタダキ,
ミソサザイ, コムクドリ, ムクドリ, クロツグミ, アカハラ, コマドリ, コルリ, ルリビタキ, ノビタキ, コサメビタキ, キビタキ, オオルリ,
スズメ, カヤクグリ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ビンズイ, カワラヒワ, ウソ, イカル, ホオジロ, ホオアカ, アオジ
Miyagase (Kanagawa)
宮ヶ瀬(相模原,神奈川)
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus)
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana)
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius)
Colony of Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae)
The rainy season had started in this region, but the day I visited was cloudy without rain.
It was the latter half of the breeding season, and although there were no birds singing on the treetops, various species were heard from the woods along the forest road, such as Eastern Crowned Warbler, Narcissus Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher, and so on.
Also seen were juveniles born this year of Japanese Tit, Varied Tit, and Blue-and-white Flycatcher.
Great Cormorant, which had been repelled several years ago and reduced in number for a while, had formed a colony again.
The birds reported are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus).
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps squameiceps),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
マガモ, アオサギ, カワウ, トビ, キジバト, アオバト, ツツドリ, ホトトギス, カワセミ, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ,
リュウキュウサンショウクイ, サンコウチョウ, カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ,
ツバメ, イワツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ヤブサメ, ウグイス, センダイムシクイ, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ,
クロツグミ, キビタキ, オオルリ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, イカル, ホオジロ
Around Watarase Retarding Basin
渡良瀬遊水地近郊
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto decaocto)
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis)
Marsh Grassbird (Japanese) (Helopsaltes pryeri pryeri/Locustella pryeri pryeri)
Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis sinensis)
Northern Boobook (Ninox japonica japonica)
At first, On the way, we stopped at a cattle barn in Kazo City.
This time we were lucky enough to see a Eurasian Collared-Dove.
This bird is believed to have been introduced from overseas during the Edo period as a game bird for the General Shogun's "hawk hunting".
About 20 years ago, there were about 10,000 birds inhabiting Saitama Prefecture, and it is designated as the bird of the prefecture.
However, due to the disappearance of their habitat and the decrease in feeding places caused by development, their numbers have drastically decreased in recent years, and only 29 birds were confirmed in the wild in a survey conducted in 2020.
Next, we visited the Watarase Retarding Basin.
Common Cuckoos were heard in the distance, and Oriental Reed Warblers and Black-browed Reed Warblers were singing in chorus in the reed fields, letting us feel the coming of summer.
A Lesser Cuckoo perched and was calling on a nearby tree.
Marsh Grassbirds, which can only be seen in limited sites in Japan and China, were also singing and soaring.
There was also a stork in the artificial stork nest tower, which was newly built this year in addition to the existing one.
We looked for Long-eared Owl (Asio otus otus) breeding here, but could not find it as it had already left the nest.
In Itakura, some wheat fields had not yet been harvested, and here and there rice planting had started.
Not many herons were seen, perhaps gathering in their breeding sites.
There were a few Grey-headed Lapwings.
Yellow Bitterns were seen flying around the reeds in the irrigation pond.
Families of Little Grebe and Common Moorhen were also there.
Next we visited a shrine in the suburbs of Sano City.
This is the site where Northern Boobook have been breeding every year, but we couldn't find it this time.
Next, we visited Nogi Shrine, which is located next to Watarase Retarding Basin.
Every year here, Ural Owl (momiyamae) (Strix uralensis momiyamae) is breeding.
This time, we could not find it as it had already left the nest.
Finally, we visited Suzume Shrine nearby.
We could not see Ural Owl but saw a Northern Boobook.
I hope that raising chicks in this summer will be successful.
The birds observed are;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis sinensis), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus)?
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto decaocto),
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Northern Boobook (Ninox japonica japonica),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Marsh Grassbird (Japanese) (Helopsaltes pryeri pryeri/Locustella pryeri pryeri),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis), Black-browed Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
キジ, カルガモ, カイツブリ, ヨシゴイ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, オオタカ, バン, オオバン, ケリ, コチドリ? キジバト, シラコバト, カッコウ, ホトトギス,
アオバズク, カワセミ, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
オオセッカ, ウグイス, オオヨシキリ, コヨシキリ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Northeast foot of Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi Prefecture)
富士山北東山麓(山梨)
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis)
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata)
Black-browed Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps)
; photo by S.Niwa
Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)
; photo by S.Niwa
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus)
; photo by S.Niwa
Japanese Leaf Warbler/Pacific Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas/Seicercus xanthodryas)
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus)
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis)
The day was sunny and Mt. Fuji was clearly seen to the summit.
Tokyo was the hottest day of the year, with temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F).
At first, we visited Kita-Fuji Military Base (Kita-Fuji Enshujo).
Until about 20 years ago, there were several sites near Tokyo where Latham's Snipe visited as a summer bird, but now this is one of the few sites left. Even here, their numbers have been decreasing and it becomes harder to see them.
As we rounded the site, we found many Chestnut-cheeked Starlings, Amur Stonechats, Chestnut-eared Buntings and Black-browed Reed Warblers, which are the dominant summer birds here.
Amur Stonechats, Chestnut-eared Bunting and Black-browed Reed Warbler were actively singing on grasses and small trees in the grasslands.
Chestnut-cheeked Starlings seemed to be raising their chicks in the holes of dead trees in the trees within the grassland.
A few Common Cuckoos and Lesser Cuckoos were also seen, flying around the trees and perching on treetops in the grassland, perhaps looking for an opportunity of brood parasitism.
We also saw a Common Cuckoo being chased away by small birds.
However, we did not see or hear Latham's Snipe.
There was a spot on the site where many birders and photographers were gathering. We heard that Latham's Snipes were in the grasses in front of them.
We could hear Latham's Snipe's calls from two different points.
After waiting for a while, although we did not notice when it took off, a Latham's Snipe showed us its characteristic display flight in the sky overhead.
Then, we drove up the the Fuji Subaru Line tollway toward Okuniwa Natural Park at the 5th station of Mt. Fuji.
The elevation of Okuniwa is about 2200 m, and is a typical site of a parasitic volcano of Mt. Fuji.
It is covered with grass and trees, and mosses and mushrooms grow on the ground.
Okuniwa-so Lodge, where meals and lodging are available, has a specially prepared bird bath and many alpine birds can be observed closely.
Along the trail from the Okuniwa parking lot on the Subaru Line down to Okuniwa, many Japanese Leaf Warblers were singing, and some were seen flying among the nearby trees.
Near the lookout, a few Coal Tits and a Red-flanked Bluetail were seen, but not as many as expected.
We waited for a while to see if Spotted Nutcracker would fly over the tree line on Mt. Fuji, but it did not appear this time.
At the bird bath of Okuniwa-so Lodge, Coal Tit, Red-flanked Bluetail, and Eurasian Bullfinch came to bathe. Several Goldcrests often visited the nearby Japanese larches.
We returned to the Okuniwa parking lot on the Subaru Line and walked further up Ochudo and Oniwa from there.
Ochudo is a route that circles Mt. Fuji, which is said to be the border between gods and humans, and was once a path of faith that only those who had climbed Mt. Fuji three or more were allowed to walk.
After passing through the forest and reaching the tree line, the trail leads through a sparsely vegetated area of small trees.
The upper slopes are bare surfaces of the rugged Mt. Fuji.
Here we saw Japanese Accentors, Japanese Leaf Warblers, Goldcrest, and Red-flanked Bluetail.
We looked for Olive-backed Pipit and Spotted Nutcracker, but they did not appear.
We then descended the Subaru Line and ascended the Takisawa Forest Road, but there were few birds, perhaps because of the noon time.
In the evening, we visited "Obora no Izumi," a spring located in the villa area of Yamanaka Lake.
This spring, located about 1,000 meters altitude, is famous as a place where many birds come to bathe.
We stayed until it became dark in the valley where the spring is located, and Japanese Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Japanese Thrush, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Narcissus Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, etc. came one after another.
Woodpeckers, White-bellied Green-Pigeon, and Oriental Cuckoo were heard from the vicinity.
The birds observed are;
- in Kita-Fuji Military Base:
Green Pheasant (Shikoku) (Phasianus versicolor tohkaidi),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus), Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis), Black-browed Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis), White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata)
- at Okuniwa, Ochudo, Oniwa and Takisawa Forest Road, Mt. Fuji:
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)?
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps squameiceps),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Japanese Leaf Warbler/Pacific Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas/Seicercus xanthodryas),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Goldcrest (japonensis) (Regulus regulus japonensis),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis), Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus),
Siberian Blue Robin (bochaiensis) (Larvivora cyane bochaiensis),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
- at Obora no Izumi & Yamanaka Lake:
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni)?
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
トウカイキジ, アオサギ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ, ノスリ, オオジシギ, キジバト, アオバト, カッコウ, ツツドリ, ホトトギス,
コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ツバメ, エナガ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ,
ヤブサメ, ウグイス, オオヨシキリ, コヨシキリ, メボソムシクイ, センダイムシクイ, メジロ, キクイタダキ, ミソサザイ,
コムクドリ, ムクドリ, クロツグミ, アカハラ, コルリ, ルリビタキ, ノビタキ, コサメビタキ, キビタキ, オオルリ, スズメ,
カヤクグリ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ビンズイ? カワラヒワ, ウソ, ホオジロ, ホオアカ
Nanohana-dai (Hadano, Kanagawa)
菜の花台(秦野,神奈川)
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis)
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
It seems that the migration of Crested Honey Buzzard in the latter half of this spring's hawk watching season is now in its final stages.
The pattern of migration this spring was unusual due to the different atmospheric pressure pattern from that of ordinary years, and the migration in the southern Kanto area seemed to be later than usual.
The day before I visited, Honey Buzzards flew nearby, but on the day of my visit, despite the similar weather, not even Black Kite flew in the morning.
At around 11:00, a few resident Eastern Buzzards began to fly, and Barn Swallows and Asian House Martins also began to fly.
Then, Peregrine Falcon, Grey-faced Buzzards and Crested Honey Buzzards appeared, and some of them migrated toward the northeast.
A few White-bellied Green-Pigeons, which were probably going to drink seawater, were seen flying toward the coast of Oiso several times.
From the distance, an Oriental Cuckoo and a Lesser Cuckoo were heard.
Ashy Minivets, Narcissus Flycatcher, Grey-capped Greenfinches, and Japanese Grosbeaks were seen nearby, too.
The birds observed are;
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi), House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
ハヤブサ, ハチクマ, トビ, サシバ, ノスリ, キジバト, アオバト, ツツドリ, ホトトギス, アマツバメ, ヒメアマツバメ,
サンショウクイ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ,
メジロ, キビタキ, カワラヒワ, イカル
Isa Marsh (Saitama)
伊佐沼(埼玉)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis sinensis)
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis)
Little Tern (sinensis) (Sternula albifrons sinensis)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida javanicus)
; photo by K.Inoue
White-winged Tern/White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
; photo by K.Inoue
The water level is high during spring and summer, and low during fall and winter, and the birds that can be seen change according to the water level.
Therefore, many species of birds can be observed throughout the year.
In summer, Yellow Bittern, Little Tern, Oriental Reed Warbler can be observed.
At the end of May, Whiskered Tern and White-winged Tern regularly stop by here on their way to migration.
On May 23, these two marsh terns were observed. However, the next day, May 24, they had already left and could not be found.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis sinensis),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Little Tern (sinensis) (Sternula albifrons sinensis),
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida javanicus), White-winged Tern/White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
カルガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, ヨシゴイ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, バン, オオバン,
コアジサシ, クロハラアジサシ, ハジロクロハラアジサシ, キジバト, ハシブトガラス,
ツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, オオヨシキリ, ムクドリ, スズメ
Yanagisawa-Pass (Yamanashi), Hometown Village of Mountain (Yama no Furusato Mura) & Hachioji Castle Ruins (Tokyo)
柳沢峠(山梨),山のふるさと村&八王子城跡(東京)
Siberian Blue Robin (bochaiensis) (Larvivora cyane bochaiensis)
Grey Bunting (Emberiza variabilis variabilis/Schoeniclus variabilis variabilis)
Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige akahige/Luscinia akahige akahige)
The main targets were Japanese Robin and Siberian Thrush (Geokichla sibirica davisoni), which are often observed at this site every summer.
When we arrived at the site early in the morning, the rain stopped on the previous night, but it was still misty. Therefore, visibility was poor, and although we could hear calls of birds such as tits, Japanese Robin, Oriental Cuckoo, Japanese Bush-Warbler and Narcissus Flycatcher, it was difficult to spot them when we started walking along the forest path.
As we walked for a while, a photographer was feeding and taking pictures of the birds that were gathering for the food. Thanks to him, we were able to see Japanese Tits, Willow Tit, Siberian Blue Robin, and Grey Bunting at close distance.
Further up the forest road, the mist cleared and visibility became clear. We looked for Siberian Thrush, but found only Eurasian Jay and a small flock of Red-billed Leiothrix. So we turn around and headed back.
On the way back, we saw a Eurasian Wren singing enthusiastically.
We checked the stream where we had heard a Japanese Robin when we first started our walk and found two of them.
Having seen one of our targets, we moved on to the next site, Hometown Village of Mountain (Yama no Furusato Mura).
Near the visitor center, Grey Wagtails and Narcissus Flycatchers were seen and heard.
On the lakeshore trail, Japanese Grosbeaks and Brown-eared Bulbuls were gathering for the fruits of the cherry trees.
We heard Narcissus Flycatcher and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker.
We also heard Crested Kingfisher and Eastern Crowned Warbler. We searched for the Crested Kingfisher, but could not find it. Only one Eastern Crowned Warbler was seen this time.
In the afternoon, we visited the ruins of Hachioji Castle.
Hachioji Castle was a yamashiro, or mountain-castle, which is located near Mt. Takao in Hachioji, Tokyo.
Our target was the Japanese Paradise-Flycatchers that breed here every year.
As we headed up the trail further along the stream, a Narcissus Flycatcher was singing.
Further up the trail, many photographers were taking photos pointing their cameras toward the upper part of the forest. There was a nest of Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher that looked like it was still in the process of being made, and a female was occasionally seen entering the nest. The male was found nearby.
We looked for other pairs, but this was the only pair we saw this time.
A Lesser Cuckoo, which seemed to have just arrived, was singing well.
The birds observed are;
- at Yanagisawa-Pass
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea lutea),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige akahige/Luscinia akahige akahige), Siberian Blue Robin (bochaiensis) (Larvivora cyane bochaiensis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Grey Bunting (Emberiza variabilis variabilis/Schoeniclus variabilis variabilis)
- at Yama no Furusato Mura
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris lugubris),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
- at Hachioji Castle Ruins
Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana)
カワウ, トビ, アオバト, ツツドリ, ホトトギス, ヤマセミ, コゲラ, アオゲラ, サンコウチョウ, カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, コガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, センダイムシクイ, ガビチョウ, ソウシチョウ, メジロ, ミソサザイ, ゴジュウカラ,
クロツグミ, コマドリ, コルリ, キビタキ, オオルリ, キセキレイ, イカル, クロジ
Island Miyakejima & Cruise (Tokyo)
三宅島&航路(東京)
IIima's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus ijimae/Seicercus ijimae)
Izu Thrush (Turdus celaenops)
Styan's Grasshopper Warbler/Pleske's Grasshopper-Warbler (Helopsaltes pleskei/Locustella pleskei)
Japanese Robin (tanensis) (Larvivora akahige tanensis/Luscinia akahige tanensis)
Eurasian Wren (mosukei) (Troglodytes troglodytes mosukei)
White-tailed Tropicbird (Pacific) (Phaethon lepturus dorotheae)
Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris/Puffinus tenuirostris)
; all photos by M.Fujita
We departed for Miyakej-ima by Miyake Ferry on the night of May 18.
We arrived at Miyake-jima at 5:00 a.m. on May 19, and started birding from 5:30 a.m. until night, and again early morning on May 20.
On Miyake-jima, we saw the typical birds such as Izu Thrush, Pleske's Grasshopper-Warbler, IIima's Leaf Warbler, Japanese Wood-Pigeon, Japanese Robin (tanensis), Eurasian Wren ( mosukei), and Owston's Tit.
We also heard Northern Boobook, Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher, Oriental Cuckoo and Lesser Cuckoo.
On the ferry back to Tokyo, we saw Black-footed Albatross, Streaked Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, and surprises: Tropicbird and South Polar Skua.
The birds observed
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes),
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas), Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris/Puffinus tenuirostris),
Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii),
White-tailed Tropicbird (Pacific) (Phaethon lepturus dorotheae),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki), Pomarine Jaeger/Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus),
Japanese Wood-Pigeon (nominate) (Columba janthina janthina),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), Lesser Cuckoo (Small) (Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus),
Northern Boobook (Ninox japonica japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (matsudairai) (Yungipicus kizuki matsudairai/Dendrocopos kizuki matudairai),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Owston's Tit (Sittiparus owstoni),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Styan's Grasshopper Warbler/Pleske's Grasshopper-Warbler (Helopsaltes pleskei/Locustella pleskei),
IIima's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus ijimae/Seicercus ijimae),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (stejnegeri) (Zosterops japonicus stejnegeri),
Eurasian Wren (mosukei) (Troglodytes troglodytes mosukei),
Izu Thrush (Turdus celaenops),
Japanese Robin (tanensis) (Larvivora akahige tanensis/Luscinia akahige tanensis), etc.
コジュケイ, クロアシアホウドリ, オオミズナギドリ, ハシボソミズナギドリ, アナドリ, シラオネッタイチョウ,
ウミネコ, ナンキョクオオトウゾクカモメ, トウゾクカモメ, カラスバト, ツツドリ, ホトトギス, アオバズク,
ミアケコゲラ, サンコウチョウ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, オーストンヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
ウチヤマセンニュウ, イイジマムシクイ, シチトウメジロ, モスケミソサザイ, アカコッコ, タネコマドリ, 他
Nobeyama Highland (Yamanashi,Nagano)
野辺山高原(山梨,長野)
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri)
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus)
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis)
At one spot in the woods along the road on the entrance of the Umi-no-Kuchi side of the highland, tits (Japanese, Varied, Coal), Long-tailed Tit, Warbling White-eye, Japanese Thrush and Japanese Grosbeak were gathering.
Cold winds were blowing down from the Yatsugatake Mountains under cloudy skies on the highland farmland, and a small number of birds were seen at the edge of the surrounding forests.
A small flock of Grey-capped Greenfinch and a pair of Daurian Redstart, which have recently been reported breeding in Japan, were found.
A small number of Amur Stonechats were also seen.
A pair of Chestnut-cheeked Starlings were seen, too.
They will probably raise their chicks this summer in this field.
The birds we observed are;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
キジ, ノスリ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ,
コムクドリ, クロツグミ, ジョウビタキ, ノビタキ, キビタキ, オオルリ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ, イカル, ホオジロ
Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden & Oyachi Marsh (Oyachi-Shitsugen) (Nagano)
戸隠森林植物園 & 大谷地湿原(長野)
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus)
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica)
Siberian Blue Robin (bochaiensis) (Larvivora cyane bochaiensis)
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis)
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei)
White-backed Woodpecker (stejnegeri) (Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri)
However, here as well, the large amount of snowfall this winter could have had some effect on the birds. We saw Narcissus Flycatcher still fighting for territory and Brown-headed Thrush collecting nesting material.
On the other hand, we heard Japanese Thrush, Japanese Grosbeaks, Oriental Cuckoo and Siberian Thrush singing vigorously atop tall trees, Eurasian Wrens singing excitedly near the ground, and Ashy Minivets soaring and calling busily overhead.
Asian Brown Flycatcher and Eurasian Tree-Creeper seemed to have begun egg-laying.
The bamboo grass and small bushes along the trail had been cut several meters wide, probably to keep the bears away from the trail. Perhaps because of this, we did not hear any Siberian Blue Robin or Grey Bunting.
Also, the number of woodpeckers seemed to be low. Perhaps the super typhoons that took down many large and dead trees had an effect, resulting in fewer in their numbers. We saw a few Great Spotted Woodpecker, but did not encounter any White-backed Woodpecker.
The next morning, at dawn, we revisited the garden.
We looked for Siberian Blue Robin, Grey Bunting, Siberian Thrush, Japanese Thrush, and White-backed Woodpecker, which we could not hear or see the day before.
We encountered Siberian Blue Robins at two locations, one of them being spotted by a birder with good eyesight. Thanks to her, we could see a singing Siberian Blue Robin perched in a tree.
We saw a Japanese Thrush as well.
Little Grebes were collecting grasses and makings a floating nest in the middle of the pond.
Later, at "Kotori-no-ike" Pond near the garden, we heard a few Grey Bunting, and near the entrance of the campsite, we encountered a White-backed Woodpecker.
We also heard a Common Cuckoo, which we had not recognized the day before. It seemed that they had just arrived.
Near noon, the garden was crowded with visitors and the parking lot became fully occupied. We moved to Oyachi Marsh in Iizuna. The reed beds spreading in the center of the field had been mowed away.
Several Oriental Reed Warblers perched and sang on the surrounding trees.
Crested Honey Buzzard, Eastern Buzzards and Black Kite flew overhead.
Asian Brown Flycatcher, Narcissus Flycatcher and Blue-and-white Flycatcher were observed in the surrounding forest.
The birds we observed are;
- at Togakushi area;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus), Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
White-backed Woodpecker (stejnegeri) (Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri), Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Eurasian Tree-Creeper (japonica) (Certhia familiaris japonica),
Siberian Thrush (Geokichla sibirica davisoni), Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Siberian Blue Robin (bochaiensis) (Larvivora cyane bochaiensis),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata/Schoeniclus sulphuratus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Grey Bunting (Emberiza variabilis variabilis/Schoeniclus variabilis variabilis)
- at Oyachi Marsh;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana)
キジ, カルガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, ハチクマ, トビ, ノスリ, キジバト, アオバト,
カッコウ, ツツドリ, アマツバメ, コゲラ, オオアカゲラ, アカゲラ, サンショウクイ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, ツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, オオヨシキリ, コサメビタキ, キビタキ, オオルリ,
ミソサザイ, ゴジュウカラ, キバシリ, マミジロ, クロツグミ, アカハラ, ツグミ, コルリ,
ニュウナイスズメ, キセキレイ, カワラヒワ, イカル, ノジコ, アオジ, クロジ
Madarao Highland, Nagano
斑尾高原 (長野)
Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata/Schoeniclus sulphuratus)
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis)
There are wet-land and forests which are good birding spots. I believe that the population of Yellow Bunting, which breeds here as a summer bird, is particularly high.
On the way to the highland, we saw a Grey-faced Buzzard perched on a utility pole, Russet Sparrows perched on electric wire and treetop, and a family of Japanese Wagtail in a rice field filled with water before the planting.
This time, perhaps because it was a bit earlier than previous visits and the winter snowfall was heavy in this winter, lingering snow was seen here and there in the field.
The snow at Numa-no-hara Marsh seemed to have just melted, and although Skunk cabbage and Yellow marsh marigold were in full bloom, other flowers and grasses were not yet sprouted.
Perhaps because of this, and also because of the weather that looked as if it would rain at any moment, there were fewer birds than in previous visits.
Even so, a few Yellow Bunting were singing sweetly.
Japanese Thrush presented its melodical song.
Japanese Bush-Warbler, Grey Bunting and Asian Stubtail were heard from the bushes.
An Oriental Cuckoo was heard from a distant ridge. No other species of cuckoo had arrived yet.
In the sky, four Crested Honey Buzzards soared at once, perhaps just arriving or stopping by on their migration. One of them performed a unique wing-flapping display.
After sunset, we revisited the marsh in search of Grey Nightjar (Grey) (Caprimulgus jotaka jotaka) and Ural Owl (hondoensis) (Strix uralensis hondoensis), but unfortunately, rain started to fall and we did not encounter any.
We visited the marsh early the next morning but had no particular results due to drizzling rain.
The birds we observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps squameiceps),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis), Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata/Schoeniclus sulphuratus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Grey Bunting (Emberiza variabilis variabilis/Schoeniclus variabilis variabilis)
カルガモ, アオサギ, ハチクマ, トビ, サシバ, ノスリ, キジバト, アオバト, ツツドリ, アカゲラ,
サンショウクイ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ヤブサメ, ウグイス, メジロ, ミソサザイ, ムクドリ, クロツグミ, アカハラ, キビタキ,
ニュウナイスズメ, スズメ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ, イカル, ホオジロ, ノジコ, アオジ, クロジ
Low mountain in Kyoto City (Kyoto Prefecture)
京都市低山(京都)
Blue Rock Thrushes (Monticola solitarius)
Eastern Buzzards (Buteo japonicus)
Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus)
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina)
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana)
; all photos by A.T.
I observed regularly in my local patch to monitor spring migration and departure of wintering birds.
This spring (March to April) was rather cold and arrivals of spring migrants were relatively late.
Wintering birds remained longer.
On March 27, a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes (Monticola solitarius) was seen and the male was singing well.
The final record of Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) was March 30.
An Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps) arrived on April 2, but this bird was apparently a passing one.
The earliest Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus) arrived on April 4 (it was still cold).
On the same day, I saw a group of four Eastern Buzzards (Buteo japonicus) forming a small kettle and migrated toward east.
On April 7, I heard a Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae).
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus) was first recorded on April 10.
On April 8, the first individual of Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) arrived. The volume of the song was very small and it must have just arrived. The individual was the same one I observed last year.
A Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) was first heard on April 9. I saw four birds flying in the blue sky on April 11.
On the same day, I heard the first song of Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina), Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis) and Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica).
This day was apparently the first major peak of spring migration. After this, there was a spell of rain.
Narcissus Flycatcher increase since April 15 and there were conflicts here and there.
On April 17, I heard an Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus). This was relatively early in this place.
On April 20, there was another wave of migration.
I heard a Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus borealoides) singing well, which also issued high-frequency (5 kHz) calls, suggesting that there was another individual and the bird might have been in excitement. If I had only heard the calls, I would have thought it to be a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus tenellipes), although the season was too early.
Sakhalin Leaf warblers arrived in a large number on April 23 and I heard them in different locations. This species appears to have been rich in this year and I sporadically recorded the species until May 11.
I saw a pair of Eastern Crowned Warblers. A bird was carrying nest material and another bird was guarding it.
It became warmer and I heard song of Bramblings (Fringilla montifringilla) on this day.
The final, and a late, record of Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus) was on April 21 (probably a passing bird).
I heard a Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige) on April 21 (this species is not abundant here).
There was also a singing Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala). Black-faced Buntings had apparently arrived on migration and stayed here for a while.
After a spell of somewhat rainy days, there was another peak of migration on April 28.
I heard the song of a Siberian Blue Robin (Larvivora cyane). This species is also not so abundant here like Japanese Robin, but I recorded this species multiple times in this year.
On the same day, I heard the song and call of Japanese Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata), relatively rare visitor here.
After rain on April 29, new birds arrived.
I heard a Rufous Hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus) in the morning sky on April 30.
On the same day, I heard the song of Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus). The species identification was made later after recording a better song and comparison with other data and description in a field guide.
The song was composed on two or two plus half notes and resembled that of Siberian Thrush (Geokichla sibirica), but has trembling notes similar to other Turdus species.
After identifying this song, I noticed that this species was passing in a considerable number and characteristic low flight calls were also recorded.
On May 2, a Siberian Blue Robin (Larvivora cyane) was singing in a garden of a house and the song was brilliantly heard.
A number of thrushes (some of them may have been Eyebrowed Thrushes) arrived on this day and high calls were heard high from trees.
On May 4, there were unfamiliar calls, which turned out to be the call of an Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), which stayed on the next day and its song was also heard.
May 5 was the day of Eyebrowed Thrush and I could record the song closely.
On May 6, the pair of Blue-and-white Flycatchers started feeding chicks and the male suddenly became silent.
On this morning, I saw a small heron flying away from a stream upon my appearance. This must have been a Japanese Night Heron (Gorsachius goisagi) considering the location and the season.
On May 8, while recording a Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, I also recorded the song of Japanese Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas). This song was three-note pattern and this type of song is often confused with Kamchatka Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus examinandus). The song of Kamchatka leaf warbler is different in that the final note of the three notes is lower and can be safely distinguished.
On May 12 before rain, high-frequency notes drew my attention. Hearing trill calls, I initially thought it to be an Asian Brown Flycatcher, but the song turned out to be in very high frequency (in the range of the song of Asian Stubtail and similar to the call of Goldcrest). I identified this bird to be a Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica). The record of this species is rare, particularly in spring. I only once saw and heard a perched and singing bird long time ago in the middle of May.
On the same day, I heard the call of a Black-faced Bunting, very late in season and was a passing bird.
Early on May 13, Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) was particularly active. After calls (I heard them very close), song continued long. I could even hear the song of two birds in broad daylight (although the weather was cloudy). I could hear the song even after 8:00 a.m.
Rain persisted up to May 14 and I could hear the Dark-sided Flycatcher at the same place three days in a row.
イソヒヨドリ, ミソサザイ, ヤブサメ, センダイムシクイ, ノスリ, リュウキュウサンショウクイ, サンショウクイ, オオルリ,
コシアカツバメ, キビタキ, クロツグミ, コサメビタキ, ツツドリ, エゾムシクイ, アトリ, ルリビタキ, コマドリ, アオジ, コルリ,
ノジコ, ジュウイチ, マミチャジナイ, マミジロ, ミゾゴイ, メボソムシクイ, サメビタキ, フクロウ
Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden (Nagano Prefecture)
長野市戸隠森林植物園(長野)
Cinnamon Sparrow (Passer rutilans)
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Japanese Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata)
Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane)
Siberian Thrush (Zoothera siberica)
: All photos by T.Endo
I attended a bird watching event held by Nagano branch of Wild Bird Society of Japan.
Togakushi is one of the most famous birding spots in subalpine zone of Japan, and there have been too many birders during the holyday week, so called Golden week (April 29 to May 8 in this year).
However after the very busy week, calm returned to the forest park, and birding was very confortable.
In the forests we could hear songs of Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Siberian blue Robin (Luscinia cyane), and Japanese Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata).
Old and dangerous boardwalks are now replaced by new ones, and unfortunately, some part of the park is not permitted to walk.
The most exciting event this day was to encounter a male Siberian Thrush (Zoothera siberica), a rare summer visitor. We could enjoy the bird, perched on a branch, singing for about 20 minutes.
I observed this species for the first time in my life.
A leader of the event showed us a nest hole of Treecreepers (Certhia familiaris) and a nest of Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica).
We could take photos of Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane) after waiting for 10 minutes at the point where we heard a song of the bird hiding behind a bush.
We enjoyed walking through woodland for about 3 hours.
List of species:
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis),
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) ,
Black Kite (Milvus Migrans), Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus),
Oriental Cuckoo (Cululus optatus),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius),
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus),
Willow Tit (Parus montanus), Coal Tit (Parus ater), Varied Tit (Parus varius), Japanese Tit (Parus minor),
Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicas),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphone cantans),
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus,
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes),
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea),
Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris),
Siberian Thrush (Zoothera siberica), Japanese Grey Thrush (Turdus cardis), Brown Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus),
Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina), Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica),
Cinnamon Sparrow (Passer rutilans),
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata),
Oriental Greenfinch (Chloris sinica), Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus),
Japanese Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata), Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala)
コガモ, キンクロハジロ，カイツブリ，アオサギ，トビ，ハチクマ，ツツドリ，アカゲラ，コゲラ，サンショウクイ，ハシブトガラス，カケス，
キクイタダキ，コガラ，ヒガラ，ヤマガラ，シジュウカラ，メジロ，ヒヨドリ，ウグイス，エナガ，ミソサザイ，ゴジュウカラ，キバシリ，
マミジロ，クロツグミ，アカハラ，コルリ，キビタキ，コサメビタキ，ニュウナイスズメ，キセキレイ，イカル，カワラヒワ，マヒワ，ノジコ，アオジ
Sanbanze Tidal Flat & Shin-urayasu Coast (Chiba)
三番瀬&新浦安海岸(千葉)
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni)
& Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans)
& Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina)
Common Tern (Siberian) (Sterna hirundo longipennis)
& Little Tern (sinensis) (Sternula albifrons sinensis)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres)
Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes)
Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
Many shorebirds were seen around tide pools left on the mudflats spread by low tide. Dunlin, Grey Plover, Sanderling, and Eurasian Oystercatcher were still remaining in large numbers. There were also many Red-necked Stint, Lesser Sand-Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and Grey-tailed Tattler which were on their way to migration. Many of them were in beautiful breeding plumage.
There was a small flock of Black-headed Gulls and one Saunder's Gull.
While I was watching for a while, terns were gathering in large numbers. Common Terns formed a large flock over 100 in number.
There were still a few dozen Greater Scaup and one Great Crested Grebe at sea.
Next, I visited the Shin-urayasu Coast to look for Wandering Tattler, which had been confirmed to have stopped by two days before.
On the way to the sighting point, I saw a small flock of Ruddy Turnstone feeding on seaweed on the quay and a Grey-tailed Tattlers resting on tetrapods.
Since a photographer who had arrived earlier had found the target bird at the point, I was able to see it easily.
The birds observed are;
- at Sanbanze Tidal Flat
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans),
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola), Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri), Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus),
Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres), Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus), Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi),
Common Tern (Siberian) (Sterna hirundo longipennis), Little Tern (sinensis) (Sternula albifrons sinensis),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
- at Shin-Urayasu Coast
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus), Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes), Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana),
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
スズガモ, カンムリカイツブリ, ダイサギ, カワウ, ミヤコドリ, ダイゼン, メダイチドリ, オオソリハシシギ, チュウシャクシギ,
キアシシギ, メリケンキアシシギ, キョウジョシギ, ミユビシギ, トウネン, ハマシギ, ユリカモメ, ズグロカモメ, アジサシ, コアジサシ,
ドバト, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, オオヨシキリ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ
Mt. Takao (Tokyo)
高尾山(東京)
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
Mt. Takao is located about 50 minutes away from Shinjuku by train, close enough for a day trip of leisurely hiking on the mountain. The Japanese have regarded it as a holy mountain since the Edo period. The summit of Mt. Takao is 599 meters above sea level. This mountain has the rich habitats for birds because it sits inside the natural boundary between Japan's subtropical and temperate forests. Trees and plants of both woodland types grow in abundance on the mountain slopes.
It was the last holiday of the Golden Week in May, and there were concerns about crowds, but it was not as crowded as we had worried.
As soon as we got off the cable car and started walking, we heard the song of a Narcissus Flycatcher. However, we could not find it. After that, we heard singing here and there, but could not see them.
We also heard the calls of tits, Chinese Hwamei and Japanese Thrush, but we could not find them obstructed by the fresh green foliage.
On the way back, we somehow spotted Varied Tit, Narcissus Flycatcher, Japanese Grosbeak and Blue-and-white Flycatcher.
The birds observed are;
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
キジバト, アオバト, コゲラ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ,
メジロ, クロツグミ, キビタキ, オオルリ, ハクセキレイ, イカル
Tsushima island, Nagasaki
対馬 (長崎)
Ashy Drongo (leucogenis) (Dicrurus leucophaeus leucogenis)
White-shouldered Starling (Sturnus sinensis)
& White-cheeked Starlings (Spodiopsar cineraceus)
Chestnut-cheeked Starlings (Agropsar philippensis)
Little Curlew/Little Whimbrel (Numenius minutus)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops saturata)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Grey-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx)
Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys/Schoeniclus chrysophrys)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes)
Oriental Dollarbird/Dollarbird (cyanicollis) (Eurystomus orientalis cyanicollis)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus cervinus)
We visited Tsushima Island located north to Kyusyu at the south-west entrance of the Japan Sea. This island is a crossing of migrating bird's paths.
On April 29, the scheduled flight was canceled due to strong winds, so we had to wait at Nagasaki Airport for a very long time in hopes of getting canceled seats on the last flight. We barely managed to secure our seats and arrived in Tsushima that night, but we wasted half a day of birding time.
However, the birding results on this island are brought about by bad weather.
As expected, many migratory birds stopped by the island the next day.
In the morning, along the road from Izuhara-machi to Cape Tsutsu, we were greeted by bird songs such as Japanese Thrush, Siberian Blue Robin, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Ashy Minivet, Pygmy Woodpecker (kotataki), etc.
At Cape Tsutsu, an Ashy Drongo, and a mixed flock of White-shouldered Starlings, Red-billed Starlings and White-cheeked Starlings were seen perched on power lines.
Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Narcissus Flycatcher, Dark-sided Flycatcher and Brambling were seen near the tip of the cape.
A Japanese Cormorant and a Pelagic Cormorant were resting on a rock offshore from the tip of the cape.
One Western Osprey flew in sight, and another was found incubating on the direction of its flight and landing.
On the way south from Cape Tsutsu to Azamo, we saw a small flock of Chestnut-cheeked Starlings perched on an electric wire in a village.
On trees and power lines along the coast of Azamo, there were Yellow Buntings and Masked Buntings.
And in a field, there were Little Buntings, Yellow-browed Buntings, Masked Buntings, Black-faced Buntings, and Black-browed Buntings foraging. They were foraging in the field, and when people approached them, they hid in the hedge of a neighboring house or in bunches of abandoned farmland.
An Eurasian Hoopoe also appeared in the same field.
In addition, a Little Curlew was found there.
In a field in the adjacent community of Nan-in, a Chinese Pond-Heron was stopping by.
In another field, a flock of Eastern Yellow Wagtail (plexa) and White Wagtail (M.a.ocularis) were seen.
A Citrine Wagtail (Northern) (Motacilla citreola citreola) had been seen prior to our arrival but did not appear during our observations.
Many buntings (Little Bunting, Yellow-browed Bunting, Masked Bunging, Black-faced Bunting, Rustic Bunting) were foraging in the same field.
In another field, a Yellow-breasted Bunting (ornatus) (Emberiza aureola ornata/Schoeniclus aureolus ornatus) was observed in the afternoon but was not encountered by us.
In the afternoon, we went north and visited the rice fields of Komoda and the wetlands of Kashi, but we did not get any particular results.
The next morning we visited Nan-in before sunrise.
Compared to the previous day, wagtails had disappeared and the number of bunting had decreased.
The Chinese Pond-Heron was still staying.
We then moved on to Azamo.
One Chinese Egret was found in the beach.
As we approached the trees where bunting species were seen the day before, various birds flew away. It was difficult to identify what they were, but one was identified as a Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher because it had two long tails.
There were still many bunting in the field.
Little Curlew was still there.
A Striated Heron and a Black-crowned Night Heron were also seen.
We moved north again that day, heading for the northern island.
On the way to Tsutsu, we found an Oriental Dollarbird perched on an electric wire.
A Red Turtle Dove/Red Collared-Dove (humilis) (Streptopelia tranquebarica humilis) had been observed a few days before at Tanohama on the northern island, but was not found.
Instead, one Red-throated Pipit and several Buff-bellied Pipits were seen in Sago. They appeared to have just arrived and looked too tired to fly very well.
Finally, we returned to Nan-in, but the birds remained scarce there.
On the last day, we had a limited birding time of about 5 hours before sunrise to the departure. First we headed to Azamo. We were very fortunate to see a Tsushima leopard cat on a road in the mountains near the Nan-in.
In Azamo, however, it seemed that most of the birds had left and the number of birds had decreased significantly.
At Nan-in, there were almost no birds left.
We spent the time before our departure at Aso Bay Park.
There was a small group of Eurasian Teal in the pond.
We also saw a few Paled Thrushes, which may breed here.
The birds observed (*reported by local birding club as of May 01) are;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Striated Heron (amurensis) (Butorides striata amurensis),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Chinese Pond-Heron (Ardeola bacchus), Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus), Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Little Curlew/Little Whimbrel (Numenius minutus),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Oriental Dollarbird/Dollarbird (cyanicollis) (Eurystomus orientalis cyanicollis),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops saturata),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (kotataki) (Yungipicus kizuki kotataki/Dendrocopos kizuki kotataki),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (horii) (Picus awokera horii),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Ashy Drongo (leucogenis) (Dicrurus leucophaeus leucogenis),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (mandshuricus) (Corvus macrorhynchos mandshuricus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (magnus) (Aegithalos caudatus magnus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps squameiceps),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus montis barisanus/Abrornis inornatus)?
Japanese Leaf Warbler/Pacific Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas/Seicercus xanthodryas)?
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus borealoides/Seicercus borealoides),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis), White-shouldered Starling (Sturnus sinensis),
Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus), White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Thrush sp,
Siberian Blue Robin (bochaiensis) (Larvivora cyane bochaiensis),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica sibirica), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis taivana/Motacilla flava taivana),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (simillima) (Motacilla tschutschensis simillima),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Grey-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx), Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/East Siberian Wagtail (Motacilla alba ocularis/Motacilla ocularis),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni), Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus cervinus),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla/Schoeniclus pusillus),
Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys/Schoeniclus chrysophrys),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata/Schoeniclus sulphuratus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Black-faced Bunting (Western) (Emberiza spodocephala spodocephala/Schoeniclus spodocephala spodocephala)
オシドリ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, カンムリカイツブリ, ササゴイ, ゴイサギ, アカガシラサギ,
アマサギ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, カラシラサギ, ウミウ, ヒメウ, ミサゴ, トビ,
タシギ, コシャクシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, キアシシギ, イソシギ, ブッポウソウ, ドバト, アオバト,
ヤツガシラ,ツシマコゲラ, カゴシマアオゲラ, サンショウクイ, モズ, ハイイロオウチュウ, サンコウチョウ, ハシボソガラス, チョウセンハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, チョウセンエナガ, ヒヨドリ, ヤブサメ, ウグイス, オオヨシキリ, キマユムシクイ?
メボソムシクイ? エゾムシクイ, センダイムシクイ, メジロ, コムクドリ, カラムクドリ, ギンムクドリ, ムクドリ,
クロツグミ, シロハラ, ツグミsp, コルリ, ノビタキ, イソヒヨドリ, サメビタキ, キビタキ, オオルリ, スズメ,
ツメナガセキレイ, マミジロツメナガセキレイ, キタツメナガセキレイ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ,
タイワンハクセキレイ, ビンズイ, ムネアカタヒバリ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, コホオアカ, キマユホオジロ, カシラダカ,
ノジコ, アオジ, シベリアアオジ
Higashiyoka-higata Tidal Mudflat (Saga)
東与賀干潟(佐賀)
Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor)
& shorebirds
Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
& Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides)
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
; photo by T.Sako
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
; photo by T.Sako
White-winged Tern/White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
; photo by T.Sako
Higashiyoka-higata is a tidal mudflat at the mouths of Honshoe River and Hattae River on the north shore of the innermost section of Ariake Bay.
The Site is internationally important in the life cycle of migratory waterbirds, acting as a stopover and a wintering site.
About 7,000 migratory shorebirds are recorded from autumn to spring, including over 1% of the flyway populations of the Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola).
The Site also support globally threatened waterbirds, such as the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea), the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), and the vulnerable Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) and Saunders's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi).
More than 1% of the flyway population of Saunders's Gull occur at the Site.
A rich biodiversity can be found on the mudflat, including fish, benthos, and halophytes, due to the warm climate, large tidal variation, and shoals which facilitate sediment deposition.
Over the years, the extensive mudflats around the Ariake Bay have been subjected to land reclamation and the construction of dykes.
As a result, Higashiyoka-higata, together with the two other coastal Ramsar Sites in Ariake Bay, Arao-higata and Hizen Kashima-higata, has an increasingly important role in biodiversity conservation in the Bay.
The Higashiyoka-higata mudflats are also locally important as a fishing site and for supporting local cultural practices.
We visited just in time for the New Moon spring tide, when the tide was high in the morning and the mudflats were narrowing, should allowing us to observe shorebirds and other waterfowl at a relatively close distance. However, on April 29, the weather was terrible with heavy rain and strong winds, so we had to avoid the rain and observe from inside the car, so conditions were not good.
Still, we were able to see large flocks of Dunlins flying around like clouds, which was a spectacular sight.
Whimbrels and Grey Plovers were also very abundant.
Large Far Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Black-faced Spoonbill were also seen in large numbers.
There was an individual that looked like an Asian Dowitcher, but we could not be sure.
Saunder's Gull was still around.
Flocks of Common Shelducks and Northern Shovelers were seen on the sea surface.
Next, we visited a regulating pond in Nanaura, Kashima City.
Spotted Redshanks, Common Greenshanks and Grey-tailed Tattler were resting in clusters on rocks near the southeast shore of the pond.
Four days later, we revisited Higashi-yoka at the morning high tide.
This time the weather was fine and we were able to observe from outside the car.
We enjoyed this hot spot with the largest concentration of shorebirds in Japan, but were very tired observing too many birds as well.
One Ruddy Shelduck was seen among a flock of Common Shelducks.
More than 300 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were crowded and foraging in a small lotus field nearby.
We birded around Saga Airport and saw many Oriental Reed Warblers singing in the grassy area.
We also visited Fukudomi Land Reclamation in Shiraishi Town on the west side of Higash-yoka.
The area is littered with lotus fields.
We looked for shorebirds and found a flock of 17 Black-winged Stilt, a few Wood Sandpipers, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, and Little Ringed Plover in several locations.
A small number of ducks were resting in the pond.
The birds observed (*reported by local birding club as of May 01) are;
Green Pheasant (Kyushu) (Phasianus versicolor versicolor),
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Eurasian Spoonbill (major) (Platalea leucorodia major), Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor),
Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta), *Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
*Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni), Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus)?
*Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii),
*Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Black-tailed Godwit (Siberian) (Limosa limosa melanuroides),
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri), Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus),
Eurasian Curlew (Eastern) (Numenius arquata orientalis), Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis),
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres), Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris),
*Red Knot (rogersi) (Calidris canutus rogersi), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), *Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos),
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), *Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea),
*Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Saunder's Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi),
*Common Tern (Siberian) (Sterna hirundo longipennis), White-winged Tern/White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Oriental Magpie (Oriental) (Pica serica serica), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
キュウシュウキジ, ツクシガモ, アカツクシガモ, オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ,
ヘラサギ, クロツラヘラサギ, *アマサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, *カラシラサギ, カワウ, ウミウ,
ハヤブサ, トビ, バン, オオバン, セイタカシギ, ダイゼン, コチドリ, *メダイチドリ, シベリアオオハシシギ? *オオメダイチドリ, *オオハシシギ,
オグロシギ, オオソリハシシギ, チュウシャクシギ, ダイシャクシギ, ホウロクシギ, ツルシギ, コアオアシシギ, アオアシシギ,
タカブシギ, キョウジョシギ, オバシギ, *コオバシギ, トウネン, *アメリカウズラシギ, ウズラシギ, *サルハマシギ,
*ウミネコ, ズグロカモメ, *アジサシ, ハジロクロハラアジサシ, ドバト, キジバト, モズ, カササギ, ハシボソガラス, ツバメ, コシアカツバメ,
ヒバリ, セッカ, オオヨシキリ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ
Nomo Cape (Nomo-zaki) & Kaba Island (Kaba-Shima) (Nagasaki Prefecture)
野母崎&樺島(長崎)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (simillima) (Motacilla tschutschensis simillima)
Richard's Pipit (ussuriensis) (Anthus richardi ussuriensis)
Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys/Schoeniclus chrysophrys)
Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus)
Chinese Pond-Heron (Ardeola bacchus)
Yellow-breasted Bunting (ornatus) (Emberiza aureola ornata/Schoeniclus aureolus ornatus)
Nomosaki and Kabashima are located on the southern coast of Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu, facing the East China Sea.
This area is on the flyway of migratory birds, and in spring and autumn a variety of birds pass by here. Some of them are rare species in Japan. It seems like a remote island in the Sea of Japan. The advantage compared to the remote islands is that we can visit here without taking a boat, so we can visit even in bad weather. This makes it possible to follow in a timely manner the migratory birds that drop in to take their rest in bad weather.
The day before we visited, the weather was stormy with light rain and strong winds, so we hoped that perhaps many migratory birds had come in to avoid the bad weather.
When we arrived in the Takahama area before noon, we saw not many but a few migratory birds such as buntings (Little, Yellow-browed, Yellow Bunting, Masked, Black-faed), wagtails (M.a.ocularis, M.t.taivana/M.f.taivana, M.t.plexa), Richard's Pipits, Red-billed Starling, and egrets (Eastern Cattle, Grey Heron, Great White Egret) in the abandoned fields and the surrounding unplanted rice paddies.
At Suisen Park, although it was just after noon and the time of day was not good, Yellow-browed Buntings, Little Bunting, and Olive-backed Pipits were foraging on the lawn under the wisteria trellis.
Around it, adults and juveniles of Grey-capped Greenfinches were flying around.
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Y.k.kizuki/D.k.kizuki) and Eastern Crowned Warbler were also heard.
The island of Kabashima, where many migratory birds were seen during the previous visit, was disappointing this time as it was deserted this time.
We visited the Takahama area at dawn the next day.
A Ruddy-breasted Crake was calling.
As it became brighter, many birds began to sing.
A Chinese Pond-Heron and a Chestnut-cheeked Starling were new to be seen.
At Suisen Park, the Olive-backed Pipit and Yellow-browed Bunting were not observed.
There were few birds on Mt. Gongen.
The island of Kabashima had even fewer birds than yesterday.
Revisiting Suisen Park in the afternoon, a Green Pheasant (Kyushu) was found singing on the slope.
In the evening, we visited the Takahama area again.
A Little Ringed Plover was newly found in the creek.
The next morning we left this field for a visit to the tidal flats of Higashiyoga in Saga and then to Tsushima, and returned to this field four days later.
The day of the move to Higashiyoka and Tsushima was stormy again, with strong winds and heavy rain.
When we returned, the weather had recovered and the temperature was a little lower.
At our first visit to the Takahama area, the members of the field had been replaced.
One Chinese Pond-Heron was seen, not sure if it was the same individual.
Little Buntings, Yellow-browed Buntings, Masked Buntings, and Black-faced Buntings were seen again, though in smaller numbers.
I was lucky enough to encounter a beautiful Yellow-breasted Bunting stopping by.
Birds were still scarce at Kabashima.
There was a report of a Chestnut Bunting (Emberiza rutila/Schoeniclus rutilus), but we could not find it.
The stormy weather of a few days ago seemed not to have brought migratory birds to this area.
The next morning, before moving to the tidal flats of Higashiyoka, we visited the Takahama area again.
Yellow-breasted bunting, which had been hard to see the day before in the dead grass on the ground, perched on reeds and small trees, so we were able to get a good look.
The birds observed (*reported by other birder) are;
Green Pheasant (Kyushu) (Phasianus versicolor versicolor),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Chinese Pond-Heron (Ardeola bacchus),
Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Ruddy-breasted Crake (erythrothorax) (Porzana fusca erythrothorax/Zapornia fusca erythrothorax),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki kizuki/Dendrocopos kizuki kizuki),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus montis barisanus/Abrornis inornatus)?
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis), Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Thrush sp,
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis taivana/Motacilla flava taivana),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (simillima) (Motacilla tschutschensis simillima),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (plexa) (Motacilla tschutschensis plexa),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/East Siberian Wagtail (Motacilla alba ocularis/Motacilla ocularis),
Richard's Pipit (ussuriensis) (Anthus richardi ussuriensis), Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor), Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla/Schoeniclus pusillus),
Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys/Schoeniclus chrysophrys),
Yellow-breasted Bunting (ornatus) (Emberiza aureola ornata/Schoeniclus aureolus ornatus),
Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata/Schoeniclus sulphuratus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Black-faced Bunting (Western) (Emberiza spodocephala spodocephala/Schoeniclus spodocephala spodocephala)
キュウシュウキジ, カルガモ, ホシハジロ, アカガシラサギ, アマサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ,
チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ヒクイナ, コチドリ, クサシギ, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, キュウシュウコゲラ,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, コシアカツバメ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, キマユムシクイ? センダイムシクイ, メジロ, コムクドリ, ギンムクドリ, ムクドリ, ツグミsp, イソヒヨドリ,
キビタキ, オオルリ, スズメ, ツメナガセキレイ, マミジロツメナガセキレイ, シベリアツメナガセキレイ, タイワンハクセキレイ, マミジロタヒバリ,
ビンズイ, カワラヒワ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, コホオアカ, キマユホオジロ, シマアオジ, ノジコ, アオジ, シベリアアオジ
Yatsu Tidal Flat & Katakgai Coast (Chiba), Tone River & Inashiki Area (Ibaraki)
谷津干潟&片貝海岸(千葉),利根川&稲敷方面(茨城)
Red Knot (rogersi) (Calidris canutus rogersi)
& Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola)
Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus)
& Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri)
& Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina)
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina)
Little Tern (sinensis) (Sternula albifrons sinensis)
Japanese Reed Bunting/Ochre-rumped Bunting (Japanese) (Emberiza yessoensis yessoensis/Schoeniclus yessoensis yessoensis)
Marsh Grassbird (Japanese) (Helopsaltes pryeri pryeri/Locustella pryeri pryeri)
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
& Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus)
In the morning, we visited Yatsu Tidal Flat.
This is one of the major tidal flats in the Tokyo Bay. It is surrounded by buildings but is connected with the Tokyo Bay through two narrow channels. Due to the inflow and outflow of seawater through these narrow channels, the tidal change is delayed here by about 1.5 hours from Tokyo Bay.
At the time of arrival there were some mudflats at a good observable distance.
Many Red Knots, which had been seen on the nearby Sanbanze tidal flats since the week before, could be seen as well. We enjoyed to observe them in their beautiful bright red summer costumes very closely.
Many of the Dunlin that wintered here were still remaining, and their bellies were getting so black.
There were also many Whimbrels and a few Bar-tailed Godwits stopping by on their migration.
As the tide came up and the mudflats became narrower, we moved to Katakai on the Kujukuri Coast.
Here, rainwater pools on the beach and forms a large puddle, where shorebirds on their migration often stop.
When we visited, several Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits, Little Ringed Plovers and a Ruddy Turnstone were observed.
One Kentish Plover was found on the beach.
Two Little Terns, which recently arrived, flew in the sky above and were also bathing in the puddle. They would probably raise their chicks at a shore nearby.
The weather, which had been cloudy until then, was turning into worse like it was going to rain, so we move on to Inashiki not to stay there so long.
On the way, we stopped at the banks of the Tone River in the Kamisu City area.
In the reed fields, Japanese Reed Buntings were singing on the tips of reeds.
Zitting Cisticolas and Marsh Grassbirds were repeating flights while calling.
A few Eastern Marsh-Harriers were also flying over the reed fields.
Eurasian Bitterns were heard in several places.
A Oriental Reed Warbler, which might have just arrived, was also singing loudly.
Many kinds of ducks were still remaining in the ponds.
A Merlin and a Chestnut-cheeked Starling were also seen, probably on their way to migration.
In the afternoon, we drove around the Inashiki area.
Many of the lotus fields spread over the area had been cleaned up of the remnants of dead lotus and had begun to be planted again. Common Snipes were found in some of the fields where dead lotus still remained. In the same field where many shorebirds had gathered on our previous visit in February, we again encountered many species of freshwater shorebirds of Black-winged Stilts, Ruffs, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and Little Ringed Plover. Unfortunately, it started to rain heavily and it was not able to take much time to observe well.
The birds observed are;
- at Yatsu Tidal Flat:
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri), Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres),
Red Knot (rogersi) (Calidris canutus rogersi), Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
- at Katakai Port:
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus), Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis),
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri), Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus),
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres),
Little Tern (sinensis) (Sternula albifrons sinensis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Tone River
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Eurasian Bittern/Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris stellaris),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Whimbrel (Siberian) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus), Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Marsh Grassbird (Japanese) (Helopsaltes pryeri pryeri/Locustella pryeri pryeri),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata),
Japanese Reed Bunting/Ochre-rumped Bunting (Japanese) (Emberiza yessoensis yessoensis/Schoeniclus yessoensis yessoensis)
- at Inashiki area:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Little Stint (Calidris minuta),
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
キジ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, スズガモ, カイツブリ,
サンカノゴイ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
コチョウゲンボウ, トビ, チュウヒ, バン, オオバン, セイタカシギ, ダイゼン, コチドリ, シロチドリ,
タシギ, オオソリハシシギ, チュウシャクシギ, コアオアシシギ, タカブシギ, キアシシギ, イソシギ,
キョウジョシギ, コオバシギ, ミユビシギ, ヨーロッパトウネン, ウズラシギ, サルハマシギ, ハマシギ, エリマキシギ,
コアジサシ, ドバト, キジバト, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ツバメ, ヒバリ,
セッカ, オオセッカ, ウグイス, オオヨシキリ, コムクドリ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ, ホオアカ, コジュリン
Island Miyakejima & Cruise (Tokyo)
三宅島&航路(東京)
IIima's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus ijimae/Seicercus ijimae)
Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas)
Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris/Puffinus tenuirostris)
Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii)
Pomarine Jaeger/Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus)
Long-tailed Jaeger (Eastern) (Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens)
This time, in addition to the endemic species/subspecies of this island, I aimed to see IIima's Leaf Warbler and Styan's Grasshopper Warbler/Pleske's Grasshopper-Warbler (Helopsaltes pleskei/Locustella pleskei), which are summer birds and breed on this island.
The weather was cloudy and little bit cool in the morning but became warm in the noon.
Since birding time on the island is limited to about 6 hours, I visited only two sites; around Izu Cape in the northern part of the island and Tairo Pond in the southern part.
Styan's Grasshopper Warbler/Pleske's Grasshopper-Warbler, one of my targets, had just arrived the island and seemed to be still inactive. I searched the grasslands near Cape Izu, but all I found were Japanese Bush-Warblers.
A local walker I met there told me that she had heard the bird for the first time that day in this year. After a little more time, in May, it will become easier to see.
At the field near Tairo Pond, I was not able to see Owston's Tit (Sittiparus owstoni) this time.
According to the staff of Akakokko-kan, visitor centor near Tairo Pond, the number of Owston's Tit is decreasing due to a poor acorn harvest of Japanese chinquapin due to a disease.
IIima's Leaf Warbler, my other target, was singing actively here and there in the forests around the pond. This green bird in the fresh green is very hard to spot, but it did appear in front of me once, so I was able to get a good, up-close look.
Japanese Bush-Warbler, Warbling White-eye (Z.j. stejnegeri), Eurasian Wren (mosukei) (T.t.mosukei) and Japanese Robin (tanensis) (L.a.tanensis) were hiding and not seen but were singing actively in the bushes here and there.
Izu Thrush were hard to find this time, but I somehow saw one at Akakokko-kan.
Japanese Wood-PigeonsJapanese Wood-Pigeons were heard in several places and flew close by twice, showing the black body with its iridescent gloss.
On the return ferry from Miyake Island to Takeshiba Pier, a variety of seabirds were observed.
The weather was cloudy and a little cooler, but with a weak southerly wind forward in the direction of the ship, the swell was low and the waves were calm, making for good observation conditions.
The large number of Short-Tailed Albatross seen about one and a half months ago may have moved to northern waters, where they were reduced in numbers.
However, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Bulwer's Petrel, Pomarine Jaeger/Pomarine Skua and Long-tailed Jellyfish, which were not seen last time, were encountered.
Jaeger/Skua started to appear when approaching the Boso Peninsula. Every time, two birds appeared at a time.
A small bird was heard nearby while observing off Oshima Island. I looked for them and found two Warbling White-eyes were flying desperately alongside the ship. I was tempted to advise them to land on the boat, even though it would be a free ride.
The birds observed
- at Miyake Island
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus),
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus), Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Japanese Wood-Pigeon (nominate) (Columba janthina janthina), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (matsudairai) (Yungipicus kizuki matsudairai/Dendrocopos kizuki matudairai),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
IIima's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus ijimae/Seicercus ijimae),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (stejnegeri) (Zosterops japonicus stejnegeri),
Eurasian Wren (mosukei) (Troglodytes troglodytes mosukei),
Izu Thrush (Turdus celaenops),
Japanese Robin (tanensis) (Larvivora akahige tanensis/Luscinia akahige tanensis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)?
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
- on Ferry from Miyake Is. to Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus),
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas), Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes/Puffinus carneipes carneipes),
Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris/Puffinus tenuirostris),
Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii),
Pomarine Jaeger/Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus), Long-tailed Jaeger (Eastern) (Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens),
Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (stejnegeri) (Zosterops japonicus stejnegeri)
コジュケイ, クロアシアホウドリ, アホウドリ, オオミズナギドリ, アカアシミズナギドリ, ハシボソミズナギドリ, アナドリ,
チュウダイサギ, コサギ, ウミウ, ヒメウ, ミサゴ, ウミネコ, トウゾクカモメ, シロハラトウゾクカモメ, カンムリウミスズメ,
カラスバト, キジバト, ミアケコゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, イイジマムシクイ,
シチトウメジロ, モスケミソサザイ, アカコッコ, タネコマドリ, イソヒヨドリ, キビタキ, スズメ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Mouth of Sakawa River (Kanagawa)
酒匂川河口(神奈川)
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)
Reddish foots of Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta)
Little Curlew/Little Whimbrel (Numenius minutus)
We expected to see some shorebirds under migration.
Upstream of the weir, most of the ducks seen in winter had left, but there were still many Eurasian Teals and one Gadwall.
There was also a flock of nearly ten Vega Gulls, probably on migration.
Moving downstream, there was a Little Egret with reddish foots in the breeding time.
A few Eurasian Wigeons, winter birds, were still remaining.
Buff-bellied Pipits with reddish breast were also seen.
House Swift, Barn Swallow and Asian House Martin were flying over the river.
A few Little Ringed Plover were found while searching for shorebirds on migration on the riverbanks.
Suddenly, one Little Curlew landed nearby. This is a rare passenger that has the records at this site in the past during the spring migration season.
The birds obserbed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Little Curlew/Little Whimbrel (Numenius minutus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, オオバン, コチドリ, コシャクシギ, イソシギ, セグロカモメ, ドバト, ヒメアマツバメ,
カワセミ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ツバメ, イワツバメ, セッカ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ
Nanohana-dai (Hadano, Kanagawa)
菜の花台(秦野,神奈川)
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
As the conditions were not good for hawks to fly, not a single hawk could be seen during my observations.
Instead, the song of the Japanese Robin was heard.
A small flock of Brown-eared Bulbul probably on their migration passed by, too.
As there were no signs of the rain stopping, and I descended the mountain.
The birds observed are;
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Robin (Larvivora akahige akahige/Luscinia akahige akahige),
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
アオサギ, コゲラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, コマドリ, オオルリ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis)
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
A flock of about 10 Dusky Thrush, probably on their way back north, perched on treetops with budding new leaves.
Only Meadow Bunting were found. Other buntings seemed to have left for their breeding sites in the north.
The number of ducks had also decreased significantly and other than the resident Eastern Spot-billed Duck, only about 10 Eurasian Teal, one or two Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Shoveler remained.
The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus), which were still many in the previous visit, had all gone.
Two Vega Gulls which were seen the last visit still stayed.
A few Buff-bellied Pipits with reddish breasted were seen.
The summer birds were as same as the last visit; Barn Swallow and Asian House Martin, but increased their number.
This time, in addition, House Swifts were also flying.
A few Little Ringed Plovers, on the migration, were seen as well.
Regarding the residents of the field, one Brown-cheeked Rails was seen well again.
Japanese Bush-Warblers, Eurasian Skylarks and Zitting Cisticolas were singing.
A Common Kestrel, a Peregrine Falcon and a Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus) also appeared.
A Blue Rock Thrush was seen, too.
The birds observed are;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba), Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
キジ, オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, トビ, クイナ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, コチドリ, セグロカモメ, ドバト, キジバト,
ヒメアマツバメ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, ガビチョウ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, シメ, ホオジロ
Nanohana-dai (Hadano, Kanagawa)
菜の花台(秦野,神奈川)
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
Nanohana-dai is a panoramic viewing platform located at south face of the mountainous region of Tanzawa in Kanagawa.
The hawk observation at this site was started on March 21 this year.
And on April 08, migration of 110 Grey-faced Buzzards were observed.
Until beginning of May, we can enjoy watching the migration of various kinds of hawks.
At the site, Mt Fuji was visible, but visibility on the sea side was not good and the Miura and Izu Peninsulas were not visible in the morning. However, by midday the haze had reduced and the Boso Peninsula, Oshima Is. and Izu Peninsula became visible.
Grey-faced Buzzard did not appeared until noon, but eight migrated in the afternoon.
Non-migratory Eastern Buzzards flew well.
Summer birds, Japanese Thrush and Blue-and-white Flycatcher, were heard.
An Ashy Minivet also flew twice.
Many Asian House Martins also flew around singing in the afternoon.
The birds observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus) Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps squameiceps),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
コジュケイ, トビ, ツミ, ハイタカ, サシバ, ノスリ, キジバト, アオバト, コゲラ, サンショウクイ,
カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ,
ヤブサメ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, クロツグミ, オオルリ, イカル, ホオジロ
Kyoto Imperial Garden (Kyoto)
京都御苑(京都)
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta)
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus)
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni)
On the way to the garden from the railway station (Demachi-yanagi), I checked the Kamo River from Kamo-O-Hashi bridge.
Petals scattered from the cherry trees on the riverbank floated on the surface of the river.
A Grey Wagtail, a Little Egret and Eurasian Teals were seen in the stream.
As I entered the park, Japanese Tits and Long-tailed Tits were pecking at the freshly budding greenery. The tails of the Long-tailed Tits looked bent, and It appeared to be beginning to warm its eggs.
At the bird bath, hawfinch, warbling white-eyes and Japanese grosbeak came.
Around there, friendly Japanese Tits, Varied Tit and Masked Buntings were observed very close by.
Several Olive-backed Pipits were found under pine trees.
On the grassland, a few White-cheeked Starlings, and many Pale Thrushes and Dusky Thrushes were seen.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba), Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
カルガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, コサギ, トビ, ドバト, キジバト, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, スズメ,
キセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, ビンズイ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, イカル, アオジ
Kyoto Botanical Gardens, Kyoto City (Kyoto Prefecture)
京都植物園 (京都)
Cherry tree in full bloom
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus)
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis)
The cherry trees in the park were in full bloom, flowers and plants such as tulips were also at their best and many people came to take a stroll.
The birds were familiar, and we could observe them closely.
I heard a Pale Thrush singing.
List of species:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba), Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
マガモ, コサギ, トビ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, メジロ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, スズメ, アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, イカル, アオジ
Mount Inari (Kyoto)
稲荷山 (京都)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea lutea)
This mountain is the sacred area covered with primeval forest protected since the ancient time.
I took a walk there in the mornings and looked for birds in the precincts of Fushimi Inari Shrine and the adjacent Fukakusa Cemetery.
Despite the off-season, when the winter birds were leaving and the summer birds were awaiting their arrival, unexpectedly many birds were observed.
Many Paled Thrushes were still to be seen here and there, and Dusky Thrushes also remained.
A friendly Red-flanked Bluetail was also observed close by.
Summer birds, such as Barn Swallow flew in the sky and Eastern Crowned Warbler was singing in a tree with fresh green leaves.
A Blue Rock Thrush was seen in this field for the first time and was singing well.
Red-billed Leiothrix were increasing in numbers and forming a large flock.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus/Seicercus coronatus),
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea lutea),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba), Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
マガモ, カルガモ, アオサギ, カワウ, キジバト, アオバト, コゲラ, カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, センダイムシクイ, ソウシチョウ, メジロ,
シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, イカル, ホオジロ, アオジ
Home of Konze (Konze-no-sato) (Ritto, Shiga)
こんぜの里(栗東市、滋賀県)
Lake Biwa, a view from Konze
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
There were few birds, probably due to the off-season, but Meadow Buntings, Japanese Bush-Warblers, Warbling White-eyes, Pale Thrushes, Bramblings, Red-flanked Bluetail and Japanese Grosbeak were seen along the roads around the wide lawn of the park, which overlook Lake Biwa below.
The birds we observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
マガモ, ノスリ, キジバト, コゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ,
シロハラ, ルリビタキ, アトリ, イカル, ホオジロ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus)
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus)
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis)
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae)
Still a small number of the winter birds remained in the field, such as Masked Bunting, Buff-bellied Pipit, Grey-capped Greenfinch (C.s.kawarahiba), Dusky Thrush, Daurian Redstart, Vega Gull, Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe and ducks (Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Tufted Duck). There were also a flock of Buff-bellied Pipit and a few Falcated Ducks, probably on their way of migration.
The summer birds were as same as the last visit; Barn Swallow and Asian House Martin.
A few Little Ringed Plovers, on the migration, were also found.
Regarding the residents of the field, two Brown-cheeked Rails stayed for a long time in an easy-to-see place. However, there was a Japanese weasel near one of the birds and I was worried that it seemed to be targeting this bird.
Japanese Bush-Warblers, Eurasian Skylarks and Zitting Cisticolas were singing well.
Northern Goshawk and Eastern Buzzard also appeared.
A Blue Rock Thrush, which has recently expanded its habitat to inland areas, was also met. This bird was also singing.
The birds observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus), Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コジュケイ, キジ, オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ,
カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, オオタカ, ノスリ, クイナ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, コチドリ,
セグロカモメ, キジバト, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ,
ホオジロ, アオジ
Area around Watarase Retarding Basin (Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki)
渡良瀬遊水地周辺(群馬,栃木,茨城)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
Watarase Retarding Basin (Watarase-Yusuichi)
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana)
Tatara Marsh (Tatara-Numa)
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi)
The farmland in Itakura was covered with the green of wheat.
Rook, Buff-bellied Pipit and Rustic Bunting have already migrated away, and winter birds such as Dusky Thrush, Daurian Redstart, Grey-capped Greenfinch (C.s.kawarahiba), Masked Bunting and Common Reed Bunting were still seen in small numbers. They will be leaving shortly.
Ducks in the irrigation pond became very few in number, too.
Also seen were several Eastern Buzzards and a Common Kestrel perched on electricity poles, and a Grey-headed Lapwing on the bank of a farming field.
Barn Swallows were also seen, which had arrived as summer birds.
The vast reed beds of Watarase Retarding Basin (Watarase-Yusuichi) were burnt in the field at the beginning of this March, exposing the hidden ponds and the ruins of the rice paddy banks.
On the exposed land, Green Pheasants, which had been quietly hiding in the reeds during the winter, were well visible.
Black Kites, Eastern Marsh-Harriers, Eastern Buzzards and Common Kestrel were flying overhead.
In the remaining reeds on the burnt field, Meadow Buntings, Eurasian Skylarks and Zitting Cisticolas were seen, as well as winter birds such as Long-tailed Rosefinch, Dusky Thrushes Common Reed Buntings were also found.
In the ponds located between the golf course and Shin-kawa River at Retarding Basin No.1, there were still some Falcated Ducks.
The heart-shaped lake, which had been dried up for purification of the water between January and March, still had a low water level and birds were gathering around the puddles in the distance.
Among them were two Oriental Storks.
A flock of about ten Vega Gulls were also resting, having stopped over on their migration.
The ducks were difficult to identify from the distance, but Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal could be recognized.
Mikamo-yama Park was full of visitors who came to see the wildflowers at their best at this time of year.
The only birds seen were a few Dusky Thrushes, Japanese Tits and Eastern Spot-billed Ducks.
In Tatara Marsh (Tatara-Numa), Whooper and Tundra Swans and Northern Pintails, which were many last time, had disappeared..
Waterfowl were reduced, with only a few Falcated Ducks, Mallards, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Eurasian Teals, Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, Grey Herons, Great White Egrets, Little Egrets, Great Cormorants and Common Coots being seen.
The birds found were;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)?
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
キジ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
コウノトリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ, チュウヒ, ノスリ,
オオバン, ケリ, セグロカモメ, キジバト, カワセミ, アカゲラ? モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ,
スズメ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, ホオジロ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Island Ishigaki (Okinawa)
石垣島(八重山,沖縄)
Crested Serpent Eagle/Ryu Kyu Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela perplexus/Spilornis perplexus)
Himalayan Buzzard (Buteo buteo refectus)?
Pacific Swallow (namiyei) (Hirundo tahitica namiyei)
Barn Swallow (saturata) (Hirundo rustica saturata)
Whistling Green-Pigeon (medioximus) (Treron permagna medioximus)
Brown Shrike (Philippine) (Lanius cristatus lucionensis)
White-shouldered Starling (Sturnus sinensis)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops saturata)
albinistic Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni)
& Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii)
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis)
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Amur Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis/Motacilla leucopsis)
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/East Siberian Wagtail (Motacilla alba ocularis/Motacilla ocularis)
Ishigaki Island is 90 kilometers around, and covered with mountains, including Mt. Omoto-dake, rising 526 meters above sea level, the highest in Okinawa.
The coral reef sea there is famous throughout the world.
In the suburbs of the city of Ishigaki spread the sugarcane fields.
Since this island is at the north-east edge of the Indomalaya Ecozone as well as Okinawa, different species or subspecies from the Honshu island can be observed.
Also this island is on the route of migrating birds and here is a good stop-over site for them.
And sometimes, some birds of the continental visit this island accidentally.
The end of March, when we visited this time, was the beginning of spring migration, and is also the timing when some of the birds that wintered on the island remain but summer birds do not come yet.
During the stay, the temperature was around 20 °C (68 °F) and the second and third days were cloudy with occasional light rain. On the last day, the fourth day, in Tokyo winter-like cold returned and snow fell and here the weather was windy, rainy and stormy.
Thanks to this weather, birding was comfortable, not too hot and not exposed to the strong tropical sun. However, the migration in this spring was abnormal, with the arrival of Eurasian Hoopoe and Chinese Blackbird (Turdus mandarinus mandarinus), which are typical birds usually stopover in March, starting at the end of last year, and the arrival of starlings, which stopover at the end of March, was yet few, according to a local birder.
* However, after we returned home, it was reported that, thanks to the rough weather on the last day, some migratory birds, such as starlings, had entered the island.
The birds observed are;
(** Species in Indo-Malaya Zone, * Different subspecies from Kanto area)
Common Pheasant (Korean) (Phasianus colchicus karpowi),
Indean Peafowl (Pavo cristatus),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)**albinistic, Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus),
Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Purple Heron (Eastern) (Ardea purpurea manilensis), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black-winged Kite/Black-shouldered Kite (vociferus) (Elanus caeruleus vociferus),
Crested Serpent Eagle/Ryu Kyu Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela perplexus/Spilornis perplexus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (iwasakii) (Accipiter gularis iwasakii),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Himalayan Buzzard (Buteo refectus)?
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis), Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii leschenaultii),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola),
Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres interpres),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (stimpsoni) (Streptopelia orientalis stimpsoni), Whistling Green-Pigeon (medioximus) (Treron permagna medioximus),
Elegant Scops-Owl (Otus elegans elegans), *Northern Boobook (Ryu Kyu) (Ninox japonica totogo),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops saturata),
*Brown Shrike (Philippine) (Lanius cristatus lucionensis), Long-tailed Shrike (Black-headed) (Lanius schach schach),
*Large-billed Crow (connectens) (Corvus macrorhynchos connectens),
*Japanese Tit (nigriloris) (Parus minor nigriloris),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), *Barn Swallow (saturata) (Hirundo rustica saturata),
Pacific Swallow (namiyei) (Hirundo tahitica namiyei),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Light-vented Bulbul/Taiwan Bulbul (orii) (Pycnonotus sinensis orii/Pycnonotus formosae orii),
*Brown-eared Bulbul (stejnegeri) (Hypsipetes amaurotis stejnegeri),
*Japanese Bush-Warbler (riukiuensis) (Horornis diphone riukiuensis),
*Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (loochooensis) (Zosterops japonicus loochooensis),
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis tristis),
White-shouldered Starling (Sturnus sinensis),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Amur Stonechat/Stejneger's Stonechat/Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
*Narcissus Flycatcher/Owston's Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina owstoni/Ficedula owstoni),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Green-headed) (Motacilla tschutschensis taivana/Motacilla flava taivana), Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
*White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Amur Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis/Motacilla leucopsis),
*White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/East Siberian Wagtail (Motacilla alba ocularis/Motacilla ocularis),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コウライキジ, インドクジャク, マガモ(白化), カルガモ, リュウキュウヨシゴイ, アマサギ, アオサギ, ムラサキサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, クロサギ,
カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, カタグロトビ, カンムリワシ, リュウキュウツミ, サシバ, ヒマラヤノスリ? シロハラクイナ, バン, オオバン, セイタカシギ,
ムナグロ, コチドリ, シロチドリ, メダイチドリ, オオメダイチドリ, タシギ, アオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, キアシシギ, イソシギ, キョウジョシギ,
トウネン, ヒバリシギ, ウミネコ, リュウキュウキジバト, チュウダイズアカアオバト, リュウキュウコノハズク, リュウキュウアオバズク, カワセミ, ヤツガシラ,
シマアカモズ, タカサゴモズ, リュウキュウハシブトガラス, イシガキシジュウカラ, ツバメ, アカハラツバメ, リュウキュウツバメ, セッカ, ヤエヤマシロガシラ,
イシガキヒヨドリ, リュウキュウウグイス, リュウキュウメジロ, カバイロハッカ, カラムクドリ, シロハラ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, ノビタキ, イソヒヨドリ,
リュウキュウキビタキ, スズメ, ツメナガセキレイ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ホオジロハクセキレイ, タイワンハクセキレイ, アトリ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus)
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus)
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis)
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis)
The winter birds still stayed in the field were Masked Bunting, Buff-bellied Pipit, Grey-capped Greenfinch (C.s.kawarahiba), Dusky Thrush, Vega Gull, Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe and ducks (Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Tufted Duck).
This time, summer birds; Barn Swallow and Asian House Martin, were found.
Chestnut-eared Bunting and Little Ringed Plover, on the migration, were also found.
Various residents of the field, becoming more and more active, were also seen.
Japanese Bush-Warblers were singing here and there, and Eurasian Skylark and Zitting Cisticola were singing in the sky.
Bull-headed Shrike seemed to be starting to nest.
Green Pheasant, which had not come out of the bush during winter, appeared out in the open.
The birds observed are;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
キジ, オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, コチドリ, セグロカモメ, ドバト, キジバト,
カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, ムクドリ, ツグミ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, ホオアカ, アオジ
Igashira Park (Tochigi)
井頭公園(栃木)
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
& Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae)
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus)
At the Torimi-tei (bird-watching observatory) by "Boat-ike Pond", visitors can watch birds while receiving explanations from staff of the Wild Bird Society between November and March.
When we arrived at around 11am, the temperature had risen to nearly 20°C and we took off our jackets and started walking in lighter clothing.
Near Torimi-tei at "Boat-ike Pond", many visitors were feeding bread to carps and ducks.
The ducks that gathered on the bread were mostly Eurasian Wigeon, with Eastern Spot-billed Duck and Northern Pintail also there.
One American Wigeon and several American and Eurasian Wigeon hybrids were also found.
There were many Falcated Ducks, Gadwalls and Mallards in this pond, as well as two Smews.
There were also many Great Cormorants in breeding plumage.
In the shallow water ponds in "Wetland Botanical Garden (Shicchi-shokubutu-en), there were many Eurasian Teals.
Around the bushes, Masked Buntings, Grey Bunting and Japanese Bush-Warbler were hiding.
Some Chinese Bamboo-Partridge were singing loudly.
A Brown-cheeked Rail made an appearance in the marshy grassland.
The birds observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), American Wigeon (Mareca americana), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Grey Bunting (Emberiza variabilis variabilis/Schoeniclus variabilis variabilis)
コジュケイ, オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, アメリカヒドリ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ,
ミコアイサ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, カワウ, トビ, クイナ, オオバン, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, シロハラ,
ジョウビタキ, キセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, シメ, アオジ, クロジ
Oku-Nikko (Tochigi)
奥日光(栃木)
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
Senjogahara Moor covered with deep snow
Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus)
Eurasian Bullfinch (rosacea) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula rosacea)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus)
It was very warm in Tokyo, with temperatures above 20°C like April, and even in Oku-Nikko, which is over 1,500 m above sea level, the minimum temperature exceeded 0°C.
There was more snowfall this winter than in the past few years, and there was still plenty of snow on the ground, so it was not possible to visit some of the birding spots such as Kotaki Fall and Kotoku Marsh.
From the road by Lake Chuzenji, Tufted Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers and Great Crested Grebe were seen in the lake.
The Akanuma car park at Senjogahara Moor was closed due to the deep snow, so we parked at the car park of Akanuma Teahouse which is closed for the winter, and walked on the trail along Yukawa River.
Eurasian Bullfinches were singing near the entrance to the trail.
There are few birds on the trail, and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Large-billed Crow, Japanese Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Brown-eared Bulbul, Wood. Nuthatch and Dusky Thrush were only encountered.
In the stream of Yukawa, Mallads and Common Coots were seen at several points, and on the next morning, a Brown Dipper was seen.
In the farmland to the east of Senjogahara Moor, Japanese Macaques were seen perched in the trees at the foot of the mountains in the distance.
Long-tailed Rosefinches, Japanese Tits and Coal Tits were seen in the hedgerows of farmhouses.
At Koutoku Ranch, there were few birds on the first day due to the wind, but the following morning, a flock of Eurasian Bullfinch were seen, as well as Eurasian Jays, Japanese Tits, Coal Tits, Willow Tits, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Almost half of Lake Yunoko in Yumoto Onsen was frozen over, and Tufted Ducks and Common Coots were seen on the unfrozen surface of the water on the Onsen side.
Coal Tits were busy foraging in the grassy ground exposed by the melting snow on the lakeside.
A small number of Eurasian Teals and a few Japanese Macaques were resting in the wetland at the source of the hot spring, as if the area was warm and little comfortable.
We walked the snowshoe trail near the Yumoto ski slope, but did not encounter any birds, probably because of the wind.
The road from Tachiki-Kannon to Mt Hangetsu, where we stopped on our way back, was closed for the winter season, a big flock of Eurasian Siskin was seen near the closing gate.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Eurasian Bullfinch (rosacea) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula rosacea)
マガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, ホオジロガモ, カワアイサ, カンムリカイツブリ, トビ, オオバン,
キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, コガラ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ゴジュウカラ, ツグミ, カワガラス, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, アトリ, マヒワ, ベニマシコ, アカウソ
Sanbanze Tidal Flat (Chiba)
三番瀬(千葉)
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi) in breeding form
When we arrived at 15:00, the tide was lowest on the day of small-tide and the mudflats extended far out to the sea.
Only a few Lesser Sand-Plovers were in the tide pools on the shore nearby, and most of the birds were gathered on the far away shores at Narashino City side.
As we were wearing rubber boots, we walked around 500 meters crossing some tide pools on the way to a spot where we managed to watch through the scope them.
There were still quite a number of Dunlin remaining there.
Greater Scaup seemed to have almost all left and were few in number.
Many Black-headed Gulls were concentrated there.
There were also many Eurasian Oystercatchers, Sanderlings and Grey Plovers, as well as Northern Pintails, Vega Gulls, Mew Gulls and Slaty-backed Gulls.
In the flocks, we looked for Saunder's Gulls (Chroicocephalus saundersi/Saundersilarus saundersi) with their blackened heads, but we could not find them.
* The following day, it was confirmed that three birds were observed in Yatsu Tidal Flat nearby on that day.
From there, we moved onto the breakwater and saw Eurasian Wigeons, Northern Pintails, Greater Scaups, Red-necked Grebes and Black-necked Grebes in the water in front of the breakwater.
Stejneger's Scoter (Melanitta stejnegeri)/White-winged Scoter (Siberian) (Melanitta deglandi stejnegeri) and Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus) were not seen, probably having migrated away.
A Grey Heron with remarkably reddened feet and bills was found on the shore.
The birds observed were;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans),
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola), Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida), Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
ヒドリガモ, オナガガモ, スズガモ, ウミアイサ, アカエリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, オオバン,
ミヤコドリ, ダイゼン, メダイチドリ, タシギ, ミユビシギ, ハマシギ, カモメ, セグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ,
ハシブトガラス, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ
Kurohama Marsh (Kurohama-numa) (Saitama)
黒浜沼(埼玉)
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
Pallas's Bunting (Western) (Emberiza pallasi pallasi/Schoeniclus pallasi polaris)
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus)
This swamp and the surrounding reed fields are protected by local volunteers, preserve the Saitama nature, preserve valuable plants, and record 130 species of birds.
We saw buntings (Meadow, Masked, Common Reed) and Japanese Tits in the reeds.
We looked for Pallas's Bunting, which had been observed this winter in many places in Japan, especially in western Japan. We saw one looked like it this time.
There were many Bull-headed Shrikes, too.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Pallas's Bunting (Western) (Emberiza pallasi pallasi/Schoeniclus pallasi polaris),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
コガモ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, トビ, オオバン, キジバト, モズ, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ,
オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, アオジ, シベリアジュリン, オオジュリン
Akigase Park (Saitama)
秋ヶ瀬公園(埼玉)
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Arrivals of waxwings this winter had been very few, and there was no information until February in the Tokyo area, but it was confirmed four days ago that three Japanese Waxwings (Bombycilla japonica) had visited this park. It was only confirmed on this one day, but not since then.
We visited the park hoping for their return, but unfortunately there were no encounters.
Flocks of Hawfinch were seen in the park, perhaps stopping over on their way to migration.
There were still many Dusky Thrushes and Paled Thrushes on the grounds.
We also met a beautiful Red-flanked Bluetail.
In the areas where the dead grass was open burnt in the farmland, in addition to Meadow Buntings, Masked Buntings, Common Reed Buntings, Rustic Buntings and Chestnut-eared Buntings could still be observed.
The breeding species in this field, Long-tailed Tit was collecting nesting material and Eurasian Tree Sparrow was in the tree hole preparing the nest.
The birds observed are;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
キジ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, トビ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ,
ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ,
ホオジロ, ホオアカ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Ferry route between Tokyo Bay and Hachijo Island, Tokyo
八丈島航路(東京)
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas)
Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)
Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume)
; photo by H.Usui
It is about 10 hours by Tokai Ferry from Takeshiba Pier, Tokyo.
From February to May, we have a lot of chances to watch albatrosses; Short-Tailed Albatross, Black-footed Albatross and Laysan Albatross, and a huge number of shearwater; Short-tailed Shearwater, Streaked Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, etc.
February to March is a particularly good time to see three species of albatross, Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), Short-Tailed Albatross and Black-footed Albatross, and this time we chose a day when conditions seemed good with a strong south wind to see them. We boarded on the ferry departing from Tokyo on the night of 4 March. We also hoped to see Brown Booby, jaegers/skuas and Japanese Murrelet.
Three low-pressure systems appeared near Hokkaido on the day and strong winds blew in these waters as well, but they were westerly rather than southerly as forecast.
Around 6am the next morning, by the time we made a stopover at Mikura Island, dawn was breaking and it was getting brighter. Many Streaked Shearwater were seen gliding over the sea surface as it gradually became brighter.
One Short-Tailed Albatross was seen flying near the island after departing Mikura Is..
Streaked Shearwater were seen in most of the waters on the route to Hachijo-jima, sometimes forming large flocks.
Two Black-footed Albatrosses were also seen.
In Hachijo-jima, in the short time before the departure of the return ferry, we birded the harbour area and saw Pacific Golden-Plovers, Lesser Sand-Plovers, Common Sandpipers, etc.
Japanese Wood-Pigeon (nominate). (Columba janthina janthina), and Izu Thrush (Turdus celaenops) were not encountered.
On the return ferry from Hachijo Is. to Mikura Is., the results was almost the same as on the outward voyage, but there were a huge number of Streaked Shearwaters in the waters between Mikura Is. and Miyake Is.
In addition, about fifty Short-tailed Albatrosses and thirty Black-footed Albatrosses were soaring around in this water. It was very exciting to be surrounded by these amazing numbers of seabirds around the ship.
Near the harbour at Miyake Is. a large flock of Black-tailed Gulls were landing on the sea.
The area from Miyake Is. to the waters where Oshima can be seen on the port side of the ship is the most potentially resultant area at this time of year, but for some uncertain reason, it was not good this time.
We did not encounter any Laysan Albatross in this area, which we had expected.
Pomarine Jaeger/Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus), Parasitic Jaeger/Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus), Long-tailed Jaeger (Eastern) (Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens) also did not appear.
But a few Japanese Murrelets, Black-footed and Short-tailed Albatrosses and many Streaked Shearwaters appeared.
The birds observed were;
- on Ferry Mikura Is. -> Hachijo Is. -> Miyake Is. ;
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus),
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas),
Brown Booby (Forster's) (Sula leucogaster plotus),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
- around Ferry Terminal in Hachijo Is.;
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans)
- on Ferry Miyake Is. -> Entrance of Tokyo Bay. ;
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus),
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume)
クロアシアホウドリ, アホウドリ, オオミズナギドリ, アオサギ, カツオドリ, ウミウ, ムナグロ, メダイチドリ, イソシギ,
ウミネコ, セグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, カンムリウミスズメ, キジバト, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス
Tone River, Fishing ports at Hazaki & Choshi (Ibaraki, Chiba)
利根川、波崎&銚子漁港(茨城,千葉)
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
& Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)
& Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis)
Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus)
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
On the way, we stopped over at the river side of Tone River, and we saw an Western Osprey, Black Kites, Eastern Marsh-Harriesr, Eastern Buzzards, ducks (Eastern Spot-billed, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal), buntings (Meadow, Common Reed), Daurian Redstart, Buff-bellied Pipits, etc.
We expected to see Japanese Reed Bunting singing, but no calls were heard, and we saw one with a blackish head, but it quickly hid in the reeds and we were unable to confirm it.
On the breakwaters at the mouth of the Tone River on the Hazaki side, many cormorants were resting, and a flock of gulls was also seen, dominated by Black-headed Gull and Black-tailed Gull, with Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Vega Gull and Slaty-headed Gull among them.
At Hazaki Fishing Port, there were fewer anglers as it was a weekday, probably due to this, more seabirds were seen, unlike the last time we visited on a weekend.
Black-necked Grebe Large formed a big flock and were repeating catching bate by the synchronized diving.
It was distant, yet we saw a flock of about fifty Red-breasted Mergansers near the harbour bank.
A small flock of Black Scoter was also seen in the harbour, as well as Tufted Ducks and Greater Scaups.
A various kinds of ducks (Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup) were seen at the former Hazaki Fishing Port by Tone Park located a little upstream from the mouth of Tone River.
We moved across the Tone River to Choshi on the other side of the river.
Despite it was a weekday, there were no fishing boats off-loading fish, and the number of seagulls on the embankments of the Tone River and the breakwater of the fishing port was lower than when we last visited in mid-February, perhaps because they were out to the offshore.
Nevertheless, many species of gulls could be observed.
We also saw an American Herring Gull, which regularly visits the field every winter, thanks to an enthusiastic birder who has been coming here for years.
The birds observed were;
- at Tone River;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Japanese Reed Bunting/Ochre-rumped Bunting (Japanese) (Emberiza yessoensis yessoensis/Schoeniclus yessoensis yessoensis)?
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
- at Hazaki Fishing Port;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Black Scoter (Melanitta americana),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Choshi Fishing Ports;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens),
Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus), Glaucous Gull (Point Barrow) (Larus hyperboreus barrovianus),
Iceland Gull/Thayer's Gull (Larus glaucoides thayeri), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus),
Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus), Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, クロガモ,
ウミアイサ,カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, ウミウ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, ノスリ,
オオバン, ウミネコ, カモメ, ワシカモメ, シロカモメ, アラスカシロカモメ, カナダカモメ, セグロカモメ, アメリカセグロカモメ,
モンゴルセグロカモメ, オオセグロカモメ, タイミールセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ミツユビカモメ, ハシブトガラス,
ヒバリ, ジョウビタキ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, コジュリン? オオジュリン
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus)
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica)
Once again I expected to see birds beginning to move at the first sign of spring.
The temperature had risen and I was sweating wearing the winter clothes I had been wearing.
Among the birds that wintered in this field, the Rustic Bunting was not confirmed.
The numbers of the Buff-bellied Pipits, the Dusky Thrushes, the Grey Herons and the Great White Egrets were also decreasing.
The Masked Buntings and the Grey-capped Greenfinches seemed to be still staying in the grassland.
The ducks also seemed to have decreased in numbers.
The flocks of Common Reed Bunting, probably on migration, seen last time were again observed.
Other species that seemed on the move, such as a Brown-headed Thrush, a Vega Gull and a Black-headed Gull, were also seen this time.
The number of Japanese Bush-Warbler singing was increasing and they became better singers than last time.
There was also an Eurasian Skylark singing in the sky.
Two Long-billed Plovers were also seen singing and flying around.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
トビ, オオタカ, クイナ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, セグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, ムクドリ,
アカハラ, ツグミ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Musashino Park & Sengen-yama Park (Tokyo)
武蔵野公園＆浅間山公園(東京)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus)
Naumann's Thrush (Turdus naumanni)
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus)
When I went to Nogawa River flowing on the north side of the park and found some birders on the open land of the regulating pond beyond the stream, looking enthusiastically at the bird.
I was lucky enough to see the target bird, so I moved on to Sengen-yama Park (Sengen-yama-Koen), located in the adjacent Tama Cemetery.
The mid-winter chill of the previous week was gone and the warmth of early spring came in.
Japanese Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, which had formed mixed flocks in mid-winter, were now separated and individually busy.
Two Ryukyu Minivets were seen heading north over the sky.
The birds observed are;
at Musashino Park;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Naumann's Thrush (Turdus naumanni), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
at Sengen-yama Park;
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
カルガモ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ, アオゲラ, リュウキュウサンショウクイ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ハチジョウツグミ, ツグミ, スズメ, シメ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
Once again I expected to see birds beginning to move at the first sign of spring.
It was calm without wind and it was getting warmer.
There was a flock of Common Reed Buntings foraging in the reeds of the grassland, which I did not see last time.
Meadow Buntings, Masked Buntings, Rustic Buntings, Grey-capped Greenfinches and Warbling White-eyes were also seen as well as last visit.
Japanese Bush-Warblers were singing in several places. This was my first time to hear them this year.
I also heard an Eurasian Wryneck.
Masked Laughingthrush and Chinese Hwamei were also calling.
There were still many ducks, Common Coots and Great Crested Grebes around the weir.
Dusky Thrushes, White Wagtails and Buff-bellied Pipits were found on the playgrounds, but their numbers had decreased since last time.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Eurasian Wryneck (Japan) (Jynx torquilla japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps) Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Masked Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus perspicillatus/Garrulax perspicillatus), Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ノスリ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, ドバト, キジバト,
カワセミ, アリスイ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, カオグロガビチョウ, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Ikuta Park (Kanagawa)
生田緑地 (神奈川)
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon)
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans)
The day of our visit was a holiday and there were many visitors to the park, but not only that, there were fewer birds than in ordinary winter.
No Dusky Thrush or Pale Thrush were seen this time. The only winter birds we saw were one Red-flanked Bluetail and several Masked Buntings. There was a bunting with breast pattern like Black-faced Bunting (Western) (E.s.spodocephala/S.s.spodocephala).
However, Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers and Japanese Green Woodpeckers were frequently seen.
The Japanese Bush Warblers also came out of the bushes frequently, as if feeling the signs of spring.
The birds observed are;
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Black-faced Bunting (Western) (Emberiza spodocephala spodocephala/Schoeniclus spodocephala spodocephala)?
トビ, キジバト, コゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ルリビタキ, アオジ, シベリアアオジ?
River Nogawa (Tokyo)
野川(東京)
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica)
There is a 10-20 m cliff line, known as Kokubunji-gaisen, in Musashino, Tokyo. River Nogawa flows along this cliff line. The slopes and the top of the cliff are dotted with copse and there is a spring at the base of the cliff. The spring water makes a small stream and flows in the urban area. Though the river is surrounded by the housing area, this provides a rich nature environment such as Musashino Park (Musashino-Koen) and Nogawa Park (Nogawa-Koen).
I walked from Musashino Park to Nogawa Park and further downstream to look for the Garganey, which was seen the last winter.
Furthermore, I looked for any rare species that had started to move and stopped by at the change of season.
Unfortunately the birds were few, and I didn't see any of the species I had expected.
Dusky Thrushes, which were late to come this winter, were standing here and there in the open spaces of the parks, in their unique pose of looking a bit upwards.
In the river I found ducks (Eastern Spot-billed, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler), Common Moorhen, Common Coot, herons (Grey Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret), Common Kingfishers, a Common Snipe, Japanese Bush-Warblers, etc.
The birds observed are;
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ,
オオタカ, バン, オオバン, タシギ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, アオゲラ,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ
Mine Park & Omuro Park (Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture)
嶺公園 & 大室公園(群馬)
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius)
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus)
Mistletoe at Omuro Park
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
& Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
& Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
There are ponds and forest, and nature is rich. We can meet various wild birds.
Until a few years ago, we could see many Yellow-throated Buntings (Yellow-headed) (Emberiza elegans elegantula/Schoeniclus elegans elegans) in this park, but last winter we could not. This year, we came here hoping to see them. Unfortunately, we could not meet them recently.
In the pond, there were Mallards, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks and Eurasian Teal, but no Mandarin Ducks.
It was just noon and perhaps the timing was not good, so it was hard to find any birds other than friendly Japanese Tits and Varied Tits in the hills and valleys.
The two introduced species; Chinese Hwamei and White-browed Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus sannio sannio/Garrulax sannio sannio), which we had seen every time we visited there, only Chinese Hwamei appeared this time.
We did not see Yellow-throated Bunting this time as well.
In the sky, several Black Kites were soaring, an Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a Northern Goshawk, as well as an Eastern Buzzard appeared.
We then moved on to Omuro Park. This park is a little lower in altitude than Mine Park and there are many ancient tombs scattered in the park. Some of the trees around the large pond are densely parasitic with mistletoe, and this is a famous spot for waxwings which stop by at the end of each winter. The previous year around this time, waxwings had been recorded, but this time they had not yet been confirmed.
There were many Northern Shovelers, Mallards and Eurasian Teals in the pond, and a Mandarin Duck was found amongst the flock of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks.
There were many Dusky Thrushes and White-cheeked Starlings on the lawn.
Woodpeckers (Japanese Pygmy, Great Spotted, Japanese Green) and Bramblings were seen in the trees.
A Northern Goshawk suddenly appeared and perched in a nearby tree, but without hunting it hid in the tree as it was chased by crows.
The birds observed are;
at Mine Park:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
at Omuro Park:
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
オシドリ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, カイツブリ, カワウ, トビ, ハイタカ, オオタカ, ノスリ,
オオバン, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, オナガ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ,
エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, イカル, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Oneyama Forest Park (Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture)
小根山森林公園(群馬)
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus)
In the roadside farm field near the park, there were many Rustic Buntings and some Bramblings foraging.
In the park, many Bramblings were resting on the trees in the parking lot in front of the park office.
Daurian Redstart was also flying around nearby.
At the feeders beside the office, there were only a few Japanese Tits and Varied Tits, probably having already finished their meal. In the past, many kinds of birds used to come to the feeders, but lately there seemed to be few.
The birds obseved are;
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
ノスリ, コゲラ, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ,
スズメ, アトリ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Primary Regulating Reservoir of Komoro Power Station & Saku-la-saku Park (Saku, Nagano)
東電小諸発電所第一調整池 & さくラさく公園 (佐久)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
& Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus)
When we arrived after noon, the light sun was shining and there were many walkers in the park enjoying their weekend stroll.
The pond was half frozen, and the number of ducks seemed smaller than on my previous visits.
There were a few Smews, but no Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser).
We saw Meadow Buntings, Japanese Tits, Brown-eared Bulbuls, Dusky Thrushes, Daurian Redstarts, Grey-capped Greenfinches, Hawfinch, White Wagtail, Bull-headed Shrike, Brambling and Japanese Wagtail on the riverbank.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ミコアイサ, アオサギ,
トビ, キジバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, シメ, ホオジロ
Karuizawa (Nagano)
軽井沢 (長野)
Mt. Asama viewed from Hocchi
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)
Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis)
The farmland and hilly villas of Hocchi were covered with deep snow.
A small number of birds such as Eurasian Tree Sparrows, Grey-capped Greenfinches, Meadow Buntings, Dusky Thrushes, Hawfinch, Daurian Redstart and Little Egret gathered in the irrigation canals running near the residential houses located at the edge of the farmland.
There were also Long-tailed Rosefinches in the groves in the fields and Rustic Buntings in the grasslands of abandoned farmland.
The Wild-bird Forest in Karuizawa, located in the Nagakura area, was also covered in deep snow, so we did not enter the forest this time, but checked the Kose Forest Road along the Yukawa River.
Two Dusky Thrushes and an Eastern Buzzard were seen near the entrance to the Misosazi trail, but there were no Japanese Waxwings (Bombycilla japonica) in the mistletoes.
In the small pond at the entrance to the forest road to Senga-taki Fall, there were a few ducks (Eurasian Wigeon, Mallards, Eurasian Teals).
In the surrounding trees we saw woodpeckers (Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Japanese Green Woodpeckers), Japanese Tits, Warbling White-eyes, Wood Nuthatch, Daurian Redstart and Bramblings.
Copper Pheasant (Scintillating) (Syrmaticus soemmerringii scintillans) did not appear.
There were a number of mistletoes on the precincts of the shrine in Nagakura Park, but there were no waxwings.
A few bramblings were foraging on the ground.
At Lake Shiozawa, in addition to the Eastern Spot-billed Duck, a small flock of Eurasian Teal and a Mandarin Duck among the flock were seen.
Opera-Karuizawa, where we stayed, is an inn with a national forest behind it, and a bird feeder has been set up, so we could observe the tits (Japanese, Coal, Varied, Willow), Wood Nuthatch, Brambling, Grey-capped Greenfinch, Hawfinch, Japanese Grosbeak, etc. that come there from our warm room.
The birds observed are;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
キジバト, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ゴジュウカラ,
シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, イカル, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Middle-reaches of Sagami River (Atsugi, Kanagawa)
相模川中流域(厚木,神奈川)
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser)
Brown-headed Thrush (orii) (Turdus chrysolaus orii)
I started the birding from Sakai Sport Playground and walked towards Hon-atugi Station along Sagami River.
The weather was fine and calm witout wind, and a Japanese Tit was singing somewhere nearby.
Buff-bellied Pipits and Duskt Thrushes were foraging on the lawns of several baseball/soccer grounds.
A small flock of three Eurasian Skylarks were also seen foraging.
A Common Coot was in the narrow water channel beside the ground.
Along the channel, Masked Buntings, Dusky Thrushes and a Brown-headed Thrush appeared on the path and grassland, and red Long-tailed Rosefinches, Daurian Redstarts and Meadow Buntings appeared one after another on the small trees.
At the weir (Sagami Ozeki), there were some ducks (Falcated, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Tufted), herons (Little Egret, Grey) and Common Mergansers/Goosanders.
Some of the ducks were showing courtship behavior, and I saw one pair of Falcate Ducks mating.
Five Common Merganser/Goosander were resting on a small sandbar, and one more flew from upstream and joined the flock.
Birds of prey were few, only two Common Kestrels, a Western Osprey, and a few Black-eared Kites.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Brown-headed Thrush (orii) (Turdus chrysolaus orii), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カワアイサ, カイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, オオバン, イソシギ, キジバト,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ,
オオアカハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Fishing ports at Choshi (Chiba Prefecturei)
銚子漁港(千葉)
Seagulls in Choshi Port
Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris)
& Black-tailed Gulls (Larus crassirostris)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
& Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)
Glaucous Gull (Point Barrow) (Larus hyperboreus barrovianus)?
& Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae)
& Black-tailed Gulls (Larus crassirostris)
This time, since it was the peak time of the seagull watching here and a weekday when the fishery was in operation, there were far more seagulls in the harbor than last time on week-end of the middle of January. When we arrived at the port near noon, the unloading of fish from the fishing boats was already finished, so we didn't see seagulls flocking around the boats, and many of them were resting on the breakwaters or flying in the sky.
It felt like the normal winter scenery of Choshi fishing port had returned again.
However, the typical tough birding routine of identification of the species of seagull in great numbers while shivering in the cold has also been revived.
About half of those resting on the breakwater were Black-tailed Gulls, followed by Black-headed Gulls, Vega Gulls and Slaty-backed Gulls.
A few Glaucous-winged Gulls, Glaucous Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Mew Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwakes were found among them. One of the Glaucous Gull was small in size and looked like "Point Barrow" (L.h.barrovianus).
Thayer's Gull was found in the evening by one of us who stayed until the next day.
We did not have time to observe other seabirds, and saw sea-ducks such as Common Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Greater Scaups and a Black Scoter, grebes such as Red-necked Grebes and Great Crested Grebes, herons such as Grey Herons and a Pacific Reef Heron, and cormorants such as Japanese Cormorants and Great Cormorants.
Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans/Branta nigricans nigricans), loons/divers, or Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus antiquus) were not be observed this time.
The birds observed were;
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Black Scoter (Melanitta americana),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens), Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus),
Glaucous Gull (Point Barrow) (Larus hyperboreus barrovianus)? Iceland Gull/Thayer's Gull (Larus glaucoides thayeri),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus)? Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, クロガモ, アカエリカイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, クロサギ, カワウ, ウミウ,
ミサゴ, トビ, オオバン, ウミネコ, カモメ, ワシカモメ, シロカモメ, アラスカシロカモメ, カナダカモメ, セグロカモメ, モンゴルセグロカモメ?
オオセグロカモメ, タイミールセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ミツユビカモメ, ハシブトガラス, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ
Natsume-no-Seki Pond (Chiba Prefecturei)
夏目の堰(千葉)
Ducks & Swans in Natsume-no-Seki Pond
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata)
Natsume-no-Seki is an agricultural reservoir with a circumference of about one kilometer. It was known for the wintering ducks. There are around 10,000 ducks at the most. The dominant species are six to eight thousand Northern Pintails and about two thousand Mallards.
Only a few swans occasionally stayed for a few days before, but in January 2006, a large flock of swans suddenly arrived. Since then, the number of swans has increased, and in February 2015, 1,600 swans were counted. Over 1000 swans have been migrating to the area every winter regularly. They feed on the fallen or second ears of rice in the rice fields a few kilometers away from the pond.
When we arrived at the pond, some of the swans had already started to leave their roosts and were flying around the pond.
There were huge number of ducks covering the surface of the water and many swans still in the pond.
Among the many Northern Pintails and Mallards, there were also many Baikal Teals and Eurasian Wigeons, and a few Eurasian Teals, Northern Shovelers and Eastern Spot-billed Ducks.
There was also a Whistling Swan together with Bewick's Swans.
Looking carefully checking one by one, we also found an American Wigeon, a hybrid between an Eurasian Wigeon and an American Wigeon, a hybrid between a Baikal Teal and another species, and a Green-winged Teal.
We looked for the Cackling Goose (minima) (Branta hutchinsii minima), which was said to be roosting here this winter, but unfortunately we could not find it in the pond and in the surrounding rice paddies.
In the surrounding rice paddies, there were many flocks of swans foraging.
We also saw a large flock of Northern Lapwing flying above the paddy fields.
In the abandoned field beside the pond, despite its small area, there were some meadow birds such as Chestnut-eared Buntings, Common Reed Buntings and Japanese Bush-Warbler.
The birds observed were;
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), American Wigeon (Mareca americana), Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon (M.penelope x M.americana),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), Baikal Teal x ?? (S.formosa x ??),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Eurasian Teal/Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca/Anas carolinensis),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
コハクチョウ, アメリカコハクチョウ, ヒドリガモ, アメリカヒドリ, ヒドリガモxアメリカヒドリ(雑種), マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ,
トモエガモ, トモエガモx??(雑種), コガモ, アメリカコガモ, カンムリカイツブリ, トビ, チュウヒ, ノスリ, オオバン, タゲリ, モズ, ハシボソガラス,
ウグイス, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ヒバリ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオアカ, オオジュリン
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
& Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera)
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica)
I hoped to see some of the birds that had started to move at the first sign of spring, but a cold north wind was blowing even though the weather was fine, and the birds were not very active.
There were fewer birds to be seen than on my previous visit about a month ago.
There were a few flocks of Grey-capped Greenfinch and Warbling White-eyes flying around the meadows at the river bed.
The Masked Bunting was nervous, popping out of the meadow when approached and then quickly hiding again.
However, this time I had some good results of a glimpse of Brown-cheeked Rail and finding of a few Falcated Ducks among the ducks flocking at the opposite shore avoiding the wind.
On the gravel sandbank, there were still two Long-billed Plovers.
In the playground, Eurasian Skylarks, Buff-bellied Pipits and White Wagtails were foraging on the grass as before.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ,
クイナ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, セグロカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ,
セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Lake Inba-numa (Chiba) & Inashiki Area (Ibaraki)
印旛沼(千葉)&稲敷方面(茨城)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa)
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina), Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis)
First, we visited Lake North Inba-numa.
The last time we visited at the end of October last year, the ducks were still in their Eclipse plumage, but they had completely changed into breeding plumage, especially Falcated Duck had become very beautiful.
Baikal Teals, which were too far away to be identified last time, could be identified and see its huge flock somehow from the north eastern point of the lake.
We were also able to see Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and Smew, which we had not seen last time.
While watching Baikal Teals, over thirty Tundra Bean Geese flew over and landed on the surface of the lake at a distance. This species is uncommon here, probably moved here from the usual wintering place due to freezing in the recent colder weather.
The number of buntings increased in grassland along the shore of the lake with the addition of Common Reed Bunting and Masked Bunting.
Long-tailed Rosefinches were also seen.
Meadow Buntings started to sing.
In the surrounding farmland, Northern Lapwings were widely dispersed. They will soon be leaving for the North Country.
On the way to Inashiki, we stopped at Sakata-ga-ike Pond and Boso-no-Mura Park near Inba-Numa.
The number and species of ducks had increased in the pond. Several Baikal Teals and Smews were seen closely.
In the forest of the hill of Boso-no-mura, the activity of the birds was poor due to the time of day at noon, and only a few were seen or heard.
In Inashiki, we first stopped at Amada Reclaimed Land.
On the wide open grass field in the reed beds, there were some Northern Lapwings and occasionally some Common Snipes flew up and hid in the grass at a glance.
An Eastern Buzzard was perched on a pile.
In the reeds, Common Reed Buntings were foraging for stem worms.
Eastern Marsh-Harrier and Hen Harrier glided low over the reed bed.
Next we headed for Nishinosu Reclaimed Land.
On the way, we saw a flock of over fifty Dunlins in a lotus field.
The paddy fields, where we saw some shorebirds at the end of October the previous year, were dry and there were no shorebirds except for one Northern Lapwing.
There were many dead ducks hanging from the bird netting, which has recently increased in the area, making us feel sad.
In the lotus fields in the Ukishima area, Common Snipes were seen here and there.
In a dried field, a flock of Pacific Golden-Plover was seen.
At one lotus field in the Motoshin area, many birds were gathered, such as shorebirds (Northern Lapwings, Pacific Golden-Plovers, Common Snipes, Green Sandpipers, Wood Sandpipers, Ruff), Dusky Thrushes, White Wagtails and Buff-bellied Pipits were observed.
While we were watching them, a large flock of starlings gathered nearby. The flock disappeared before taking a closer look at them after the birds in the lotus field. A flock of White-cheeked Starlings, including five Common Starlings (Siberian) (Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskyi), was seen the previous week.
Finally, we visited the reedbeds of Ukijima at sunset, and observed more than ten Eastern Marsh-Harriers and Hen Harriers roosting there.
We did not have time to look for Peregrine Falcon (Peale's) (Falco peregrinus pealei), which has recently been observed in the Inashiki area.
The birds observed are;
- at Lake Inba-numa:
Bean Goose (Anser fabalis),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
- at Sakata-ga-ike Pond & Boso-no-Mura Park:
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Inashiki area:
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina), Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
コジュケイ, ヒシクイ, コハクチョウ, ヨシガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, トモエガモ, コガモ,
ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ,
モモイロペリカン, カワウ, コチョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ノスリ, クイナ, オオバン,
タゲリ, ムナグロ, コチドリ, タシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, イソシギ, ハマシギ, エリマキシギ, セグロカモメ,
ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Tatsumi-ike Pond in Nagano city (Nagano Prefecture)
辰巳池(長野市)
Bikal Teal (Anas formosa)
Northern Shoveler (Spatura clypeata) foraging
Tatsumi-Ike
: All photos by T.Endo
Tatsumi-ike Pond is a small water reservoir near JR Kita-nagano station in eastern bed town of Nagano City. This pond is known as a site for watching Baikal Teals (Anas Formosa).
I observed 2 male and one female Baikal Teals among other common waterfowls.
Dominant species were; Eastern Spot-billed Ducks (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeons (Mareca penelope) and Northern Pintails (Anas acuta).
Pairs or several individuals of Northern Shovelers (Spatura clypeata) foraged in circle, turning round and round, a specific style of foraging exclusively observed in this species. Formation of spiral water streams is said to accumulate planktons to be fed.
List of species:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)，Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca), Bikal Teal (Anas formosa), Gadwall (Anas strepera),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Northern Shoveler (Spatura clypeata),
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo),
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
カルガモ，マガモ，コガモ，トモエガモ，オカヨシガモ，ヒドリガモ，オナガガモ，ハシビロガモ，カワウ, ハシボソガラス，ヒヨドリ, ツグミ
Saitama area (Saitama Prefecture)
埼玉方面(埼玉)
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
& Masked Buntings/Black-faced Buntings (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Yellow-throated Bunting (Yellow-headed) (Emberiza elegans elegantula/Schoeniclus elegans elegans)
Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus)
We visited Sakuraso Pakr and Akigase Park (Akigase-Koen) first.
The temperature was 0 degrees Celsius and it was still cold, but it was the first day of spring (Risshun) on the Japanese calendar, and Japanese Tits in the forests and Meadow Buntings in the farm field were singing very well.
Since my visit a week ago, the birds had become more active and we saw more.
In the forest, there were many Hawfinch, Rustic Bunting, Dusky Thrush, and Japanese Tit as in the last time, plus White's Thrush, Azure-winged Magpies, and Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
In the ponds, there were Northern Shovelers in addition to Eastern Spot-billed Ducks.
In the abandoned meadows in the farmland, there were Chestnut-eared Buntings and Zitting Cisticolas in addition to Meadow Buntings and Masked Buntings.
In the irrigation canals in the farmland, we observed not only Meadow Buntings, Daurian Redstarts and Long-tailed Rosefinches, but also Eurasian Teals and a warbler that seemed to be Dusky Warbler.
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica), which had come to the mistletoes the previous year at this time, had not yet arrived. I wondered if this fickle bird would come this year as well?
Next we visited Kitamoto Nature Observation Park (Kitamoto Shizen-Kansatsu Koen).
Kitamoto Nature Observation Park, which extends over 30ha, is designed as the Urban Ecology Park in Saitama Prefecture.
It is also the studying field for the Saitama Nature Study Center.
It is playing an important role as the vital base of the ecological network to protect endangered species and effectively conserve nature in Saitama prefecture, as well as creating a place for the residents of the prefecture to relax.
The park covers various scenery like woodlands, wetlands and grasslands, where there are habitats for many wild animals, birds, frogs, insects etc.
Approximately 1,700 species of insects and 160 species of wild birds can be found in this park. For birding the winter is the best season.
The birds in this park were very friendly.
On the surface of the frozen pond, White Wagtail and Japanese Wagtail were acting like dancers.
In the central marsh, a Common Snipe was foraging nearby.
Many Rustic Buntings were foraging on the grassland at the western side.
A Yellow-throated Bunting had been observed in this area recently, and we waited for a while looking for it, but could not find it easily. However, we were lucky enough to see it when we almost gave up.
As we passed by the wetland nearby, we heard a Brown-cheeked Rail calling loudly and managed to see it through the crowded grass.
We did not see Eurasian Wryneck (Japan) (Jynx torquilla japonica), which is often observed in this park during the winter.
Lastly, we revisited the area around confluence of Wadayoshino River and Ara-kawa River in Kumagaya, which I had visited about three weeks ago.
The Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus), which I saw last time, had recently become more active spreading its range wider area, so we did not encounter it this time.
Instead, we saw Short-eared Owls at two locations very well, one of which hunted a mouse right in front of us.
We stayed until after sunset waiting for possible Long-eared Owls (Asio otus otus) to come to the trees, but they did not appear, perhaps because they were nervous of us.
As it got darker, Green Pheasants and Long-billed Plovers, which had been quiet until then, started to call.
The birds observed are;
at Sakuraso Park & Akigase Park:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Dusky Warbler (Common) (Phylloscopus fuscatus fuscatus)?
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
at Kitamoto Park:
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Yellow-throated Bunting (Yellow-headed) (Emberiza elegans elegantula/Schoeniclus elegans elegans),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
In the area around confluence of Wadayoshino River and Ara-kawa River:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
キジ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, チュウダイサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, トビ, ハイタカ, ノスリ, クイナ, オオバン, タゲリ, イカルチドリ, タシギ, キジバト, コミミズク,
コゲラ, アカゲラ, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, ムジセッカ? ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, トラツグミ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ,
キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, ホオアカ,
カシラダカ, ミヤマホオジロ, アオジ
Winter birds in mountain area in Suzaka City (Nagano Prefecture)
須坂市里山(長野)
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida)
Japanese Serow (Capricornis crispus)
Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus)
Sakata-Yama mountain
White’s Thrush (Zoothera aurea)
Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans
: All photos by T.Endo
I visited Sakata-Yama Natural Trail and Garyu-Zan Mountain Park to look for winter birds several times during this winter.
In Sakata-Yama, I found regular winter birds, such as Yellow-throated Buntings (Emberiza elegans), White's Thrushes (Zoothera aurea), Long-tailed Rosefinches (Uragus sibiricus) and Red-flanked bluetails (Tarsiger cyanurus) while I missed rare winter visitors which we saw last year, such as Eurasian Bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Asian Rose Finches (Leucosticte arctoa) and Pallas's Rosefinches (Carpodacus roseus).
Strangely, regular winter visitors, Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Coal Tit (Parus ater) and Willow Tit (Parus montanus) seemed to be absent in this winter.
One of joyful surprises while strolling along the trail of Sakata-Yama is to encounter a Japanese Serow (Capricornis crispus), which seems to happen once a year for me. On December 22, I saw one.
In Garyu-zan area I observed flocks of Olive-backed Pipits (Anthus hodgsoni) for the first time in this area.
An invading species, Chinese Hwameis (Garrulax canorus) seemed to stay whole year in Garyu-Zan area, for this couple of years.
Fortunately, I found Japanese Accentors (Prunella rubida) which breed only at high mountains such as Japanese Alps area, in both Sakata-Yama and Garyu-Zan area in this winter.
List of species:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea),
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis),
Black Kite (Milvus Migrans), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus),
Carrion Crow(Corvus corone), Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Jay (Garrulus glandarius),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor), Varied Tit (Poecile varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul(Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphone),
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes),
White-cheeked Starling (Sturnus cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart(Phoenicurus auroreus), Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus),
White's Thrush (Zoothera aurea), Pale Thurush (Turdus obcurus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus), Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Oriental Greenfinch(Carduelis sinica), Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes Coccothraustes), Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibiricus),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), Gray Wagtail (Mitacilla cinerea),
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni),
Siberian Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides)，Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans), Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala)
マガモ，カルガモ，アオサギ，キジバト，トビ，ハイタカ，ノスリ，コゲラ，モズ，ハシボソガラス，ハシブトガラス，カケス，
シジュウカラ，ヤマガラ，ヒヨドリ，ウグイス，エナガ，ガビチョウ，ミソサザイ，ムクドリ，ジョウビタキ，ルリビタキ，
トラツグミ，シロハラ，ツグミ，スズメ，カヤクグリ，カワラヒワ，アトリ，イカル，ベニマシコ，
セグロセキレイ，ハクセキレイ，キセキレイ, ホオジロ，ミヤマホオジロ，アオジ
Area around Watarase Retarding Basin (Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki)
渡良瀬遊水地周辺(群馬,栃木,茨城)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)
Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Eurasian Bittern/Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris stellaris)
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii)
& Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus)
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
We first visited the rice fields of Itakura in Gunma Prefecture. A small flock of Rooks welcomed us on the power lines at the roadside near the farm field. This is the spot where the Rooks usually gather at sunset, just before roosting.
On the path in the meadow along the small ditch, we saw Rustic Buntings, Grey-capped Greenfinches, Oriental Turtle-Doves, Dusky Thrushes etc. Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus) did not appear.
In the field, Eastern Buzzards and flocks of White-cheeked Starlings, Rooks, Buff-bellied Pipits and Eurasian Tree Sparrows were seen in many places on wires and poles. A Merlin was seen on a power line. The Russet Sparrow, seen regularly each winter, was not found this time.
In the rice fields that had not yet been ground broken, a flock of Rooks was seen. There were also a few Daurian Jackdaws among them. Two Grey-headed Lapwings were also found. In the past, large flocks of Rooks wintered in this field that looked like clouds, but recently such large flocks are no longer seen, probably because they have spread to neighbouring areas.
Then we moved to Watarase Retarding Basin (Watarase-Yusuichi).
On the roadside in the reed fields, Meadow Buntings and Rustic Buntings were foraging, as the scene always repeated in winter.
In the ponds located between the golf course and Shin-kawa River at Retarding Basin No.1, there were no anglers yet and there were Falcated Ducks, Mallards and Northern Shovelers as well as one Smew and one Eurasian Bittern. The Eurasian Bittern is a year-round resident in this field, but is very difficult to see, so we were very lucky to be able to see it this time.
A pair of kingfishers were perched facing each other on the reeds, perhaps at the start of the breeding season.
The Shin-kawa River was frozen in the shallows.
Two Common Snipes, Great White Egrets and Carrion Crows were seen on the river sides, and small flocks of Smew, Eastern Spot-billed Duck and Mallard were seen in the river.
The adjacent reed field had been burned widely by a fire in mid-December the previous year. On this burnt ground, Masked Buntings, Meadow Buntings and Eurasian Skylarks were foraging. Common Reed Buntings were pecking at the stems of the remaining reeds.
At the historic site of the former village hall, many Hawfinch were seen.
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus) was not seen there this time.
Then we left Watarase Retarding Basin and headed for Mikamo-yama Park.
On the way, we saw a flock of Northern Lapwing, Long-billed Plover and Common Snipe on the muddy bank of the Watarase River at the edge of the basin area.
At Mikamo-yama Park, there were many visitors walking around.
The Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus) was not seen, possibly because it is still early or because the number of birds wintering in Japan this winter was low.
There were many Eastern Spot-billed Ducks in the pond, but few other birds in the park.
In the afternoon we visited Tatara Marsh (Tatara-Numa).
There were a lot of swans there this winter as well.
Whooper and Tundra Swans and many Northern Pintails gathered at the feeding area in the Gaba Marsh.
There were also many Swans, Eurasian Wigeons and Great Cormorants in the Tatara Marsh.
Ten Greater White-fronted Geese, rare here, were seen on the shore. They seemed to have become used to people and were not at all afraid of them.
Smew and Great Crested Grebe were swimming in the distance in the marsh.
A Vega Gull was seen in the flock of Great Cormorants.
Then we went back to Itakura.
There were also swans and ducks in the irrigation reservoir at Itakura.
The swans were Tundra Swan (Bewick's Swan) (C.c.bewickii), and one Tundra Swan (Whistling Swan) (C.c.columbianus) was found among them.
Once again, we returned to Watarase Retarding Basin. Many photographers were already waiting on the bank overlooking Retarding Basin No.1 for taking pictures of harriers which roosting there.
Retarding Basin No.2 used to be the main roosting area for harriers, but due to the long term construction work of soil and sand extraction, the roosting area has been deserted.
There were not many birders or photographers there, but there were a few Eastern Marsh-Harriers flying over the reed fields, even though it was still early before sunset when they were roosting. It seems that they might be coming back to the site again for their roosts after the end the most of the construction works.
One of the birds was white from head to shoulders, probably due to partial albescence.
An artificial nesting tower for Oriental Storks was built in Retarding Basin No.2 and has been successfully breeding there for several years. In the distance, a Stork was seen making a nest on top of this tower.
We returned to Retarding Basin No.1 and waited for the harriers to return.
Until sunset, Eastern Marsh-Harrier were occasionally seen, but few in number.
Near sunset, Eastern Marsh-Harriers and Hen Harriers increased.
The birds found were;
At Itakura paddy field:
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Daurian Jackdaw (Coloeus dauuricus/Corvus dauuricus), Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
At Watarase Retarding Basin:
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana),
Eurasian Bittern/Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris stellaris),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba), Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
At Mikamoyama Park:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)?
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
At Tatara Marsh:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Ringed Plover (Eastern) (Charadrius hiaticula tundrae),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
マガン, オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ, アメリカコハクチョウ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ,
ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, コウノトリ, サンカノゴイ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, コチョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ノスリ, オオバン, タゲリ, ケリ,
ハジロコチドリ, イカルチドリ, タシギ, クサシギ, セグロカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, アカゲラ? モズ,
コクマルガラス, ミヤマガラス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒバリ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ,
シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ,
シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Yatoyama Park (Zama, Kanagawa)
谷戸山公園 (座間, 神奈川)
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi)
Various environments, such as coppices, conifers, a rice field and a wetland, are conserved in the park.
As I had not seen a White's Thrush yet this winter, I visited this site where there were many reports.
While waiting and birding around the spot with many sightings, I observed a male and female Japanese Green Woodpecker, Pale Thrushes and Dusky Thrushes.
After ten o'clock, a Red-flanked Bluetail appeared at the point, then finally a target White's Thrush. This bird was not afraid of us and continued to forage on the slope.
Usually in winter there are many ducks in the pond in the park, but probably because it was frozen in the cold this winter there was neither of ducks nor waterfowl there.
There was a report of Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae), so I looked for it around the park, but did not encounter it.
The birds observed are;
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オオタカ, キジバト, コゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, メジロ, トラツグミ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, イカル, アオジ
Akigase Park & Sakuraso Park & Lake Sai(Saitama)
秋ヶ瀬公園&桜草公園&彩湖(埼玉)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus)
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Akigase Park is located at a section of flood plain of the Arakawa River flowing the western edge of Saitama City.
In 1971, former Urawa City established the park as a measure to manage the rising issue of insufficient park availability stemmed from rapid urban expansion.
There is the forest of the wild bird leaving nature and the exercise facilities such as a baseball field, the tennis ground in this park.
Due to its variety in environment, this field is providing good habitats for various kinds of birds which prefer forest, grass field, and marsh.
This winter the number of Dusky Thrush and Hawfinch, which are usually common winter birds, was very small wherever we visited so far, but this time these birds were relatively many in this site. Is this environment here suitable for these birds, or had their numbers become normalized by the end of January?
There were many Masked Buntings and Rustic Buntings in the meadows.
As for the thrushes, Dusky and Pale were seen a lot, but White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi) was not encountered.
The ponds in the site were not frozen over, but there were no ducks other than Eastern Spot-billed Duck.
Bull-headed Shrikes were seen here and there, but no hawks were seen this time.
In Sakuraso Park, the grassland where Japanese primrose grows was burned, and Dusky Thrush and White-cheeked Starling were foraging there.
In the past, Eurasian Wryneck (Japan) (Jynx torquilla japonica) was seen in this burned grassland, but it was not seen this time.
In this park, Bull-headed Shrikes were seen here and there, but no hawks were seen as well.
There were many Masked Buntings in the surrounding reed field adjacent to the lake. The only other buntings seen were a few Meadow Buntings in flight.
There were no hawks perched on the trees.
In the lake, there were very large flocks of Common Pochards and Tufted Ducks. Other waterfowl found were some Great Cormorants, some Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe and a Smew.
No Seagulls were present.
The birds observed are;
at Akigase Park:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)?
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
at Sakuraso Park:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
at Lake Sai:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
マガモ, カルガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ミコアイサ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, カワウ, オオバン,
ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ? モズ, カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ,
セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Fishing ports at Hazaki & Choshi (Ibaraki, Chiba Prefecturei)
波崎・銚子漁港(茨城,千葉)
Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis)
Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis
& Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris)
Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus)
& Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
; photo by S.Niwa
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica)
& Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra)
On the way to the fishing ports of Hasaki and Choshi, we stopped at Hasaki Seaside Park to look for loons/divers in the sea of Kashimanada Coast, but we could not find any.
At the fishing ports of Hazaki and Choshi, last time there were very few gulls because it was the beginning of the gull watching season and the fishery was off on Sunday, so there were no boats unloading fishes.
This time, after a month, we were expecting to see more gulls. However, the number of gulls and other seabirds in the ports was still lower than the usual winters, and there were no fishing boats unloading on Saturday, so the gulls were not active. Nevertheless, there were three spots on the breakwaters where gulls and cormorants were gathering. Fortunately, two of them were close enough to observe with spotting scope.
On the breakwater in the Hasaki side, one of them, Black-headed Gulls, Black-tailed Gulls, Vega Gulls, Slaty-backed Gulls and Japanese Cormorants were resting. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Mew Gull and two Pelagic Cormorants were found among them.
On another breakwater in the Hasaki side, there were also Black-headed Gulls, Black-tailed Gulls, Vega Gulls, Slaty-backed Gulls and Japanese Cormorants. And we found a Black-legged Kittiwake, a Glaucous-winged Gull, a Glaucous Gull, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Thayer's Gull among them.
The third gathering point, the breakwater at the Choshi side, was too far away to have precise identification, but we were able to see one Black-legged Kittiwake and five Pelagic Cormorants among the flock.
In front of it, in the port, many ducks were seen. Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Scaup and Common Pochard were dominant, but one Lesser Scaup was seen. In other ports, ducks such as; Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Scaup, Common Pochard, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler, and Tufted Duck, grebes such as; Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe and other grebes, and a few Red-breasted Merganser were seen. Neither of Harlequin Duck (Pacific) (Histrionicus histrionicus pacificus) nor Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) were seen this time.
There were a few herons such as Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Pacific Reef Herons. Pacific Reef Herons, which we missed last time, were observed well, which were flying and chasing each other.
On the way back we stopped at a sandproof forest at Kimigahama, but only saw a few small birds, like Masked Bunting.
The birds observed were;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus), Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis),
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens), Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus),
Iceland Gull/Thayer's Gull (Larus glaucoides thayeri), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus)?
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus), Lesser Black-backed Gull/Siberian Gull (Larus fuscus/Larus heuglini taimyrensis),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus), Black-legged Kittiwake (Pacific) (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, コスズガモ,
ウミアイサ, アカエリカイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, コサギ, クロサギ, ウミウ, ヒメウ,
トビ, ノスリ, オオバン, シロチドリ, イソシギ, ウミネコ, カモメ, ワシカモメ, シロカモメ, カナダカモメ,
セグロカモメ, モンゴルセグロカモメ? オオセグロカモメ, タイミールセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ミツユビカモメ,
ドバト, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, アカハラ, ツグミ, イソヒヨドリ,
スズメ, ハクセキレイ, タヒバリ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Maioka Park (Totsuka, Kanagawa)
舞岡公園(戸塚,神奈川)
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus)
The Maioka Park is located in the suberbs of Yokohama city.
There are ponds, rice fields and forests, providing the good habitats for the wintering birds such as snipes, finches, etc.
This site is famous for the regular wintering of Eurasian Woodcock and Common Snipe, and is providing good opportunities for their observation. They did come again this year.
There was also Ruddy-breasted Crake, who had been there the year before.
Chinese Bamboo-Partridges were calling loudly in several spots.
Masked Buntings were seen closely, as they are familiar with visitors.
Dusky Thrushes are scarce this winter, and only one was seen here.
Instead, there was only one, but Brown-headed Thrush, which made frequent appearances at the visible places.
The birds we observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Ruddy-breasted Crake (erythrothorax) (Porzana fusca erythrothorax/Zapornia fusca erythrothorax),
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コジュケイ, ヒクイナ, ヤマシギ, タシギ, キジバト, コゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, アカハラ, ツグミ,
ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, アオジ
Kai-Oizumi, Daimon Dum (Yamanashi) & Nobeyama (Nagano)
甲斐大泉&大門ダム(山梨)＆野辺山(長野)
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca)
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida)
Nobeyama
Driving south along the western foot of Mt. Yatsugatake and entering Kobuchizawa, the snow on the road disappeared.
The first site we visited was Tobisawa Reservoir (Tobisawa-Ike) in the area of villas at Kai-Oizumi Highland in Hokuto City.
There is a small birding spot, with a short trail along with a small stream through a Japanese larch forest and a trail around a reservoir.
There was no snow on the field at all, but most of the surface of the reservoir was frozen due to the cold, and Eurasian Teals were walking on the ice.
When we visited at the end of November, there were still few winter birds, but this time we saw many Rustic Buntings, a small flock of Grey-capped Greenfinch, some Bull-headed Shrikes and Hawfinch etc.
We looked for Yellow-throated Bunting (Yellow-headed) (Emberiza elegans elegantula/Schoeniclus elegans elegans), which used to be seen here frequently, but could not find it.
Then we visited Daimon Dam in Kiyosato.
There was almost no snow here either, but most of the dam lake was frozen, there were Mallards and Common Pochards in the open water on the upstream side, but no Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) which seemed to have moved elsewhere.
In the meadows there were as many Rustic Buntings as at the end of November. A Japanese Accentor was also seen again.
There were also some Long-tailed Rosefinches, which were not seen last time.
When we were in the farm fields of Nobeyama, the conditions had changed drastically and it was covered with snow. There were snow piles and puddles on the road in many places. Part of the roads were closed due to the heavy snow.
Also a chilly wind was blowing from Mt Yatsugatake, though not so strong.
We looked for flock of Asian Rosy-Finch (brunneonucha) (Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha) in the fields covered by snow but found none, only a few Dusky Thrushes, Meadow Buntings and Green Pheasants.
We made several rounds of the wide field to expect the appearance of Ural Owl at sunset, but did not encounter it.
On the way home after dark, a silhouette of an Ural Owl glided over our car on the road near the Daimon Dam.
The birds observed are;
at Kai-Oizumi:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
at Daimon Dam;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
at Nobeyama;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
キジ, マガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, カヤクグリ,
オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Around Tateshina Highland (Nagano)
蓼科高原周辺(長野)
Ryujin Pond
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris)
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis)
On the way, we stopped by Togariishi historical Site in Chino City and Yatsugatake Nature & Culture Park in Hara Village.
Here also covered with snow.
A Solitary Snipe visits here every winter, and we expected to observe this bird. However, we could not find it.
Then we moved to the area of Ryujin Pond.
The renovation work was finished last year and Ryujin Pond was full of water and almost frozen. There was one open spot where water was springing up, and ducks were gathering there.
In the forest where there were wooden walks before, all the wood boards had been removed and new walking paths had been made. There were only a few tits and woodpeckers, perhaps due to the construction work that had been taking place for the long time and the change in circumstances.
When we arrived at a small cottage (Bergcot) at the south foot of Tateshina Mountain at an altitude of 1,500 meters, the owner of the house soon put a lot of sunflower seeds on the feeders on the veranda. Immediately, Willow Tits, Japanese Tits and Wood Nuthatches came. But Asian Rosy-Finch (brunneonucha) (Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha), many of them were observed here the last winter, did not appear.
The next morning at dawn, we took a walk on the roads around the inn. I looked for Copper Pheasant (Sommerring's) (Syrmaticus soemmerringii soemmerringii), but could not find any tracks on the snow. Goldcrest (japonensis) (Regulus regulus japonensis) was also not found.
When we returned to the inn, the owner had put seeds on the feeders on the veranda. When we entered the inn, a lot of Japanese Grosbeaks came and occupied the feeder.
Flocks of Eurasian Bullfinch, Grey-capped Greenfinch and Brambling were also visiting.
After a good breakfast watching a lot of birds, we headed to the Togariishi historic site again.
After searching for the Solitary Snipe we had missed the previous day, we found this bird in a tiny stream, hiding in the grass and foraging.
We were happy to be able to see it again this year.
The birds we observed are;
at Togariishi Historic Site:
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Solitary Snipe (japonica) (Gallinago solitaria japonica),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
at Tateshina:
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
オカヨシガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, トビ, ノスリ, オオバン, アオシギ, キジバト,
コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス, オナガ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ,
ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ミソサザイ, ゴジュウカラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ,
アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, ウソ, シメ, イカル, ホオジロ
Around Lake Suwa (Nagano)
諏訪湖周辺(長野)
A view from Enrei: Japanese Northern Alps
Pallas's Rosefinch (portenkoi) (Carpodacus roseus portenkoi)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus)
Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula)
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus)
& Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii)
This field is located on a plateau 1,000m above sea level and is also known as the home of over 100 varieties of wild birds.
The field was covered with snow due to a lot of snowfall, which has not happened in recent winters.
We arrived just as the sun was rising, and the distant peaks of the Japanese Northern Alps were beautifully coloured with Morgenroth.
As soon as we started walking on the fresh snow, a flock of about ten red birds flew into a small tree nearby. They were Pallas's Rosefinches, one of our main targets here. After this we encountered this red bird at several points.
We saw another red bird, Long-tailed Rosefinch, at several points too.
We also saw Red-flanked Bluetails, Daurian Redstarts and mixed flocks of tits (Coal, Willow, Varied and Japanese).
Woodpeckers (Japanese Pygmy, Great Spotted and Japanese Green) were also seen and heard.
Just as we were about to give up on the Red Crossbill, which was our other target here, a small flock of about four birds flew over our heads.
This time, the weather was fine, but the temperature was so low that the camera did not work due to the extremely low temperature, so I had to use it while warming up the camera battery.
The next destination was the north side of Lake Suwa.
In the past, the lake used to be entirely frozen every winter, but not recently. However, due to the cold weather this winter, the lake was almost entirely frozen.
A small flock of Smew's, Common Coots and a Common Goldeneye were seen near the river gate at the point where the Tenryu River flows out from Lake Suwa.
At this point, waxwings visit in late winter, but at the time of our visit they had not yet arrived.
Near the mouth of the Yokogawa River, where the surface of the lake was not frozen, there were flocks of ducks and Bewick's Swan. The ducks were mostly Eurasian Wigeons, Mallards and Common Pochards, with Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Northern Pintails, Tufted Ducks and a Baikal Teal. All the swans had their heads buried in their bodies and we could not see their faces, but one of them that did show its face happened to be a Whistling Swan.
In the distance at the centre of the lake, on the unfrozen water, a few Common Mergansers/Goosanders were spotted.
The birds we observed are;
at Enrei
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Pallas's Rosefinch (portenkoi) (Carpodacus roseus portenkoi),
Red Crossbill (Japanese) (Loxia curvirostra japonica),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
at Suwa Lake
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan/Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Smew (Mergellus albellus), Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
コハクチョウ, アメリカコハクチョウ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, トモエガモ,
ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, ホオジロガモ, ミコアイサ, カワアイサ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, トビ, オオバン, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ,
ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, ベニマシコ, オオマシコ, イスカ, シメ, ホオジロ
Cemetery Tama (Fuchu, Tokyo)
多磨霊園(府中,東京)
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis)
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor)
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus)
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
In the forest, the leaves had fallen and it was bright and I could see through the forest.
At the slope where White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi) was often seen in the past, the trees had been logged and the undergrowth had been cut down as if it had been shaved with clippers for the vegetation of the day‐lilies, and no birds besides Brown-eared Bulbuls were seen there.
However, in areas where day-lilies do not grow, the trees and underbrush remained, providing a good habitat for birds, such as Japanese Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Warbling White-eyes, Japanese Bush-Warblers, Pale Thrushes, Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Masked Buntings, Red-flanked Bluetail, Chinese Hwameis, Chinese Bamboo- Partridge were seen and heard.
An Eastern Buzzard was also appeared and circled overhead for a while.
At the park in the cemetery, a Rose-ringed Parakeet, a Pale Thrush, a Dusky Thrush and Bramblings were observed.
The birds observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Indian) (Psittacula krameri manillensis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コジュケイ, ノスリ, キジバト, ワカケホンセイインコ, コゲラ, アオゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ,
ハクセキレイ, アトリ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera)
& Common Coot (Fulica atra atra)
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica)
I visited the Tamagawa river again after three weeks.
Although it was beginning to snow heavily in northern Japan and on the Sea of Japan side due to a strong low pressure, it was cold but sunny and calm at this field.
I could see Dusky Thrushes and Rustic Buntings which were not seen last time. The number of them seemed to be normal as usual for winter.
So, it became like the usual winter. Besides a Western Osprey, no birds of prey were present this time, so the little birds appeared more at ease.
An early Meadow Bunting was singing.
Many Great White Egrets were in flocks, resting on or flying over the river.
Upstream of the weir, a dredging work was taking place and most of the ducks, such as Eurasian Teals and Eurasian Wigeons, were gathering below the weir.
Gadwalls and Common Coots were seen in large numbers up the weir, as if they didn't matter so much.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, クイナ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, セグロカモメ,
ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Area around confluence of Wadayoshino River and Ara-kawa River (Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture)
和田吉野川と荒川の合流点付近(熊谷)
Rough-legged Buzzard/Rough-legged Hawk (Siberian) (Buteo lagopus menzbieri)
Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus)
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus)
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus)
A Rough-legged Buzzard, a rarity in the Tokyo area, had been observed at this point just a few days ago, and Short-eared Owls were also observed as in every winter.
Since it was the last day of a three-day holiday, we were worried that we might not reach the site before sunset due to the traffic jams on the way, but we managed to arrive half an hour early and were able to see the Rough-legged Buzzard first, followed by two Short-eared Owls.
We watched two Common Kestrels and four Eastern Buzzards as well.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Rough-legged Buzzard/Rough-legged Hawk (Siberian) (Buteo lagopus menzbieri),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Short-eared Owl (Northern) (Asio flammeus flammeus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
コガモ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ノスリ, ケアシノスリ, キジバト, コミミズク, モズ,
ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ムクドリ, ツグミ, オオジュリン
Miyagase, Kanagawa
宮ヶ瀬(相模原,神奈川)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
The day before, Tokyo had snowfall of 10cm for the first time in four years.
In this field, there was snow on the forest roads and trees as well. However, there was no snow on the forest floor.
The birds seemed to have moved deeper into the forest, as they could not get food on the snow-covered roads and grass slopes.
However, it was a good result to see a very red Long-tailed Rosefinch this time.
Masked Buntings and Red-flanked Bluetails also appeared nearby in several points.
Daurian Redstart could not be seen in the morning, but as it got warmer near noon, they appeared in several points.
The birds observed were;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オシドリ, マガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, カワウ, トビ, オオバン, キジバト,
コゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, メジロ,
シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, カヤクグリ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, アオジ
Higashi-Takane Forest Park (Kawasaki, Kanagawa)
東高根森林公園(川崎)
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor)
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius)
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis)
This park is ones of few area which preserves the nature of ancient Musashino field.
The day we visited was the first day of the midwinter, sunny but cold with a strong north wind.
We looked for White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi) on the hillside, but did not find even Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus) or Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus). The number of thrushes is unusually very few this winter.
In the dip of the slope, where there were water and seeds for food, Japanese Tits, Varied Tits and Masked Buntings gathered.
In the wet plant area, a Common Kingfisher suddenly flew away with a shrill call, at the same time a Japanese Sparrowhawk appeared to follow it. The Japanese Sparrowhawk then perched on a nearby tree and then flew away.
In the ponds of the wet plant area, there were many Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, and a Grey Wagtail.
At the spot where the photographers had gathered, a Red-flanked Bluetail was seen.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
カルガモ, ツミ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, ルリビタキ, キセキレイ, アオジ
Miyagase, Kanagawa
宮ヶ瀬(相模原,神奈川)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
; photo by S.Niwa
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus)
Last time only Daurian Redstart was seen, but this time most of the regular wintering members were observed except Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus).
Red-flanked Bluetail were seen in several places, one was a beautiful male with a strong blue colour.
The Japanese Accentors were seen together at one location. We were able to observe them foraging on the slope.
The Eurasian Bullfinches were heard at several points, but were in the upper parts of the forest out of sight from the trail, and only once, for a very short time, we saw the underparts of a few flying birds.
Bramblings were flying forming in flocks of about 20 birds.
Masked Buntings were also seen and heard along the trail in several places.
A single Eurasian Siskin was seen alone, not forming a flock.
There were few birds in the lake, such as one Western Osprey, a few Mandarin Ducks on the far shore, two Great Crested Grebes and two Mallards, and a few Great Cormorants.
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris lugubris) was not found this time either.
This time there were many snow monkeys (Japanese macaque) near the trail.
The birds observed were;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great Egret (Ardea alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オシドリ, マガモ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, オオバン,
キジバト, コゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ミソサザイ, シロハラ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, カヤクグリ,
アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, マヒワ, ウソ, アオジ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis)
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus)
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis)
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus)
Birds on the river meadows appeared few due to the slightly strong north wind. The appearance of Japanese Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon might have affected as well.
The ducks around the weir were difficult to identify as they were far away near the opposite bank, avoiding the wind.
However, the Great Crested Grebes were more noticeable with their white appearance and confirmed that their number had increased since a month ago.
There were also nearly 20 Little Egrets gathered together at one spot.
On a pebble sandbar, nine Long-billed Plovers were resting together.
The birds observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, トビ, ツミ,
オオバン, イカルチドリ, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, ヒメアマツバメ, カワセミ, モズ,
ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ジョウビタキ,
スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, アオジ
Tone River, Yotaura & Lake Kasumigaura (Ibaraki Prefecturei)
利根川、与田浦＆霞ケ浦(茨城)
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
& Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii)
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina), Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus)
On the way, from the road along the Tone River, we saw raptors such as Common Kestrels, Western Osprey, Black Kites, Eastern Marsh-Harrier, Eastern Buzzards, and Northern Lapwings.
We also drove around the farmlands of Yotaura, where a Cackling Goose (Aleutian) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia) had been seen in the recent past, but although there was a flock of swans, there was no Cackling Goose among them.
At Kasumigaura, we saw shorebirds wintering there, as well as three Pied Avocets, which were seen in many places this season.
The birds observed were;
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus), Horned Grebe/Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus auritus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Common Ringed Plover (Eastern) (Charadrius hiaticula tundrae), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)? Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta),
Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina), Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ, ヒドリガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ,
カンムリカイツブリ, ミミカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ,
チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, ノスリ, オオバン, ソリハシセイタカシギ, タゲリ,
ハジロコチドリ, コチドリ, タシギ, タカブシギ, イソシギ, ヨーロッパトウネン? オジロトウネン, ヒバリシギ, ハマシギ, エリマキシギ,
キジバト, モズ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, オオジュリン
Fishing ports at Hazaki & Choshi (Ibaraki, Chiba Prefecturei)
波崎・銚子漁港(茨城,千葉)
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus)
& Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus)? at centre
& Vega Gulls (Larus vegae vegae) at right
Harlequin Duck (Pacific) (Histrionicus histrionicus pacificus)
It was the coldest morning in that December, but the site was calm and warmer than expected, as there was no wind, so it was not hard to make observations outside the car.
However, there were very few gulls to observe. As there was no fishing boat unloading at the weekend holiday, the gulls did not gather near the harbor.
But we saw the basic species; Black-tailed Gull, Vega Gull, Slaty-headed Gull, Black-headed Gull, except for Mew Gull (Kamchatka)/Common Gull (Larus canus kamtschatschensis/Larus kamtschatschensis).
In addition, we saw Glaucous Gulls, and Vega Gull which seems to be Mongolian.
Other than Gulls, Cormorants (Japanese, Common and Pelagic), various species of Ducks, grebes (Great Crested, Black-necked, Red-necked), Red-breasted Mergansers and herons/egrets (Grey, Little) were observed. Pelagic Cormorant, Harlequin Duck and Red-necked Grebe were scarce.
The birds observed were;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Greater Scaup (American) (Aythya marila nearctica), Harlequin Duck (Pacific) (Histrionicus histrionicus pacificus),
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator),
Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's) (Podiceps grisegena holbollii), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae), Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Glaucous Gull (pallidissimus) (Larus hyperboreus pallidissimus), Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Vega Gull (Mongolian) (Larus vegae mongolicus)? Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, スズガモ, シノリガモ,
ウミアイサ, アカエリカイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, ハジロカイツブリ, アオサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ウミウ, ヒメウ,
トビ, オオバン, イソシギ, ウミネコ, シロカモメ, セグロカモメ, モンゴルセグロカモメ (キアシセグロカモメ)?
オオセグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ドバト, ハシブトガラス, メジロ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, ホオジロ
Jike Hometown-village Area (Yokohama)
寺家ふるさと村エリア(横浜)
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
We started Fujigaoka station of the Denen-toshisen Line heading Jike Hometown-village via Moegino Park, Mitake-dai Park and walking path along Tsurumi River.
Moegino Park is a small park located in a new residential area with a pond at the centre.
In this pond, we saw ducks (Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Common Pochard, Tufted) and Common Moorhens.
Mitake-dai Park is also a small park surrounded by new residential areas on a hill.
Here we saw a Hawfinch etc.
We walked on the Tsurumi River walking path for about 2km and saw many birds such as ducks (Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Eurasian Teal), wagtails (especially many Grey Wagtails), Bull-headed Shrikes, Common Kingfisher and White-cheeked Starlings.
I looked for Brown-headed Thrushes (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus), which had been observed by the birder I met, but could not find any. We did not see any thrushes at all, which made me feel how few thrushes there were in this winter.
At Jike Hometown-village (Jike Furusato-mura), several flocks of Rustic Buntings were seen in the rice paddies and in the groves beside them, which had not been seen a week ago.
In the puddles in the rice paddies formed by the previous day's rain, we saw a few wagtails (White, Grey).
We did not encounter any Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus).
The birds observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis)?
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コジュケイ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, コサギ,
トビ, ツミ? バン, オオバン, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ,
オナガ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ,
メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ,
シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Okutama area (Tokyo)
奥多摩エリア(東京)
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus)
Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis)
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus)
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus)
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus)
At first, we visited Hibara Forest of Tokyo Citizen (Hibara Tomin-no-Mori).
On the way, we saw a Japanese black bear beside the road.
There were few birds inside the site, but most were seen near the entrance.
A friendly Eurasian Wren was moving busily in the small stream running through the site.
A flock of about fifty Bramblings flew over the mountain and White-bellied Green-Pigeons was heard.
Eurasian Jay, tits (Japanese, Coal, Varied, Long-tailed), Warbling White-eye, Red-flanked Bluetail, Daurian Redstart and Brambling were seen in the forest along the adjacent road.
Then we moved to "Hometown Village of Mountain (Yama no Furusato Mura)", a park located on the shore of Lake Okutama.
A Red-flanked Bluetail was seen near the visitor's centre.
Then we walked on the lakeside trail. We looked for Copper Pheasant (Scintillating) (Syrmaticus soemmerringii scintillans) and Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida) which were seen two years ago in January, but did not encounter them.
Instead, we saw flocks of tits (Japanese, Coal, Varied, Willow and Long-tailed), Red-flanked Bluetails, Daurian Redstart, Eurasian Wren and Eurasian Tree-Creeper.
In the lake there were flocks of Mandarin Ducks and Mallards, and Little Grebes.
A Crested Kingfisher suddenly flew out from under our feet and flew away very fast.
The birds we observed are;
- at Hibara Forest of Tokyo Citizen (Hibara Tomin-no-Mori)
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
- at Hometown Village of Mountain (Yama no Furusato Mura)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris lugubris),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
White-backed Woodpecker (stejnegeri) (Dendrocopos leucotos stejnegeri),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis),
Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Eurasian Tree-Creeper (japonica) (Certhia familiaris japonica),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
オシドリ, マガモ, カイツブリ, カワウ, アオバト, ヤマセミ, コゲラ, オオアカゲラ, カケス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ミソサザイ, キバシリ,
ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, キセキレイ, アトリ, イカル, ホオジロ
Jike Hometown-village (Yokohama)
寺家ふるさと村(横浜)
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae)
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon)
The trees on the hill were in full autumn color and the rice fields had already been harvested. Eurasian Tree Sparrows, which were abundant in the rice fields three weeks ago, were flocking in the bamboo grasses at the edge of the hill forest. A Northern Goshawk appeared in the harvested rice fields, but was soon chased away by crows. Masked Buntings and Chinese Hwameis were seen in the bushes in a small valley. An Ural Owl was heard from the deeper parts of a valley. I expected to see more winter birds but no Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus), Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus) or Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius) seemed to have arrived yet. The maples turning to red were flocked with tits (Japanese, Varied, Long-tailed), Warbling White-eyes and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers.
The birds observed are;
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Ural Owl (momiyamae) (Strix uralensis momiyamae),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
カイツブリ, オオタカ, キジバト, フクロウ, カワセミ, コゲラ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, アオジ
Kinko Bay (Kirishima City & Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture)
錦江湾(霧島市、鹿児島市)
Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor)
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax)
These tidal flats and reclaimed land are geographically important as stopover and wintering sites for migratory birds, so many migratory birds use these sites and precious species such as Black-faced Spoonbill can be seen.
It was around noon when we visited, but we could see many Waterfowl. In the pond, there were Black-faced Spoonbills, Eurasian Spoonbills, herons, and many Great Cormorants hunting fishes actively grouped together.
In another pond surrounded by reeds, there were Black-crowned Night Herons, Brown-cheeked Rail, Common Moorhen, Common Coots and ducks (Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal and Tufted Duck).
There were also many ducks and Great Cormorants on the mudflats that spread the the mouth of the river.
A few Little Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpipers were also seen.
Next we visited Taniyama Port in Kagoshima City.
This is a site where Brown Booby (Forster's) (Sula leucogaster plotus) are often seen in autumn and winter, but we didn't have time to look for them.
The birds obserbed are;
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Eurasian Spoonbill (major) (Platalea leucorodia major), Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
ツクシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ,
ヘラサギ, クロツラヘラサギ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, クイナ, バン, オオバン,
コチドリ, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ヒヨドリ,
ムクドリ, ジョウビタキ, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
National Miike Wild Bird Forest (Miike Yacho-no-Mori) (Miyazaki)
御池野鳥の森(宮崎)
Camp site in Miike Wild Bird Forest
Long-tailed Tit (kiusiuensis) (Aegithalos caudatus kiusiuensis)
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), American Wigeon (Mareca americana) & Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
This park is located in Kirishima mountain range on the border of Kagoshima Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture. The biggest eruption in the history of Mts. Kirishima occurred about 4,200 years ago. The intense eruption and explosion created a large crater, which was filled with water and became a lake, current Lake Miike. The area of about 115 ha including a part of Lake Miike, its surrounding forest and Lake Koike is "the National Miike Wild Bird Forest", which was designated as the Japan's first national wild bird forest in 1973. A large part of the trees in the Wild Bird Forest are forested ones, and a sizable forested land from around the end of Edo Era still remains. The forest is almost natural one with little artificial work carried out. So far, at least 18 fish species, at least 18 species of mammals and 147 species of wild birds have been observed there.
In the forest behind the campsite, we can see Fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), Ruddy Kingfisher (major) (Halcyon coromanda major), and Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana) in summer, but in winter, when we visited, the leaves of the broad-leaved trees had fallen and the ground and streams were dry, so it was quiet.
However, around the entrance of the woodland trail we saw and heard Wood Nuthatch, tits (Japanese, Varied, Long-tailed), Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown-eared Bulbul, Warbling White-eye, Eurasian Wren, Red-flanked Bluetail and White-bellied Green-Pigeon.
At the campsite, we observed Daurian Redstart, wagtails (Grey, White), Olive-backed Pipit and Pale Thrush.
In the crater lake, there were many Eurasian Wigeons. An American Wigeon was also found.
The birds obserbed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), American Wigeon (Mareca americana),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki kizuki/Dendrocopos kizuki kizuki),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (kiusiuensis) (Aegithalos caudatus kiusiuensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Wood Nuthatch (roseilia) (Sitta europaea roseilia),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni)
ヒドリガモ, アメリカヒドリ, カルガモ, アオサギ, カワウ, オオバン, キジバト, アオバト,
キュウシュウコゲラ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, キュウシュウエナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
メジロ, ミソサザイ, キュウシュウゴジュウカラ, シロハラ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ビンズイ
Kogawa Dam (Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture)
高川ダム(出水市,鹿児島県)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Mountain Hawk-Eagle (orientalis) (Nisaetus nipalensis orientalis)
There were a lot of ducks of a variety of species in the dam lake.
The number of Mandarin Ducks was particularly remarkable.
The forest road had been washed out at the upper stream flowing into the dam lake, so we had to walk a long way where we normally drive.
The thrushes, which were seen well at the end of December when we visited the previous year, were very few, with only one each of Dusky and Pale this time.
We saw the usual members such as Japanese, Varied and Long-tailed tits, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Red-flanked Bluetail, Daurian Redstart, Grey Wagtail, Grey-capped Greenfinch and Masked Bunting as well.
Unusual sightings were a Pacific Reef Heron in the river under the dam and a Mountain Hawk-Eagle flying over the mountains.
The birds obserbed are;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Pacific Reef Heron/Pacific Reef-Egret (Egretta sacra sacra),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Mountain Hawk-Eagle (orientalis) (Nisaetus nipalensis orientalis),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki kizuki/Dendrocopos kizuki kizuki),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (horii) (Picus awokera horii),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (kiusiuensis) (Aegithalos caudatus kiusiuensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus), >
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
オシドリ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, クロサギ, カワウ, トビ, クマタカ, オオバン, キジバト, カワセミ,
キュウシュウコゲラ, カゴシマアオゲラ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ツバメ, キュウシュウエナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ルリビタキ, ジョウビタキ, キセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ, アオジ
Izumi (Kagoashima Prefecture)
出水(鹿児島)
Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus)
Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus), White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio) & Hooded Crane (Grus monacha)
Sandhill Crane (Lesser) (Antigone canadensis canadensis)
Eurasian Spoonbill (major) (Platalea leucorodia major) & Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor)
Here is designated as a special monument, since more than 10,000 cranes from Siberia and China winter in Izumi. This site is the Japan's largest migratory ground for cranes.
As of the record on 04 December, 2021, the number of cranes are;
Hooded Crane (Grus monacha): 15,145
White-naped Crane (Grus vipio): 1,546
Common Crane (Grus grus): 8
Hooded Crane x White-naped Crane: 2
Arctic Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis canadensis): 5
Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus): 1
_____________________________________________
Total: 16,706
On the afternoon of the first day we arrived at the East Reclamation site (Higashi Kantaku).
Small flocks of Hooded Cranes and White-naped Cranes were scattered over the general farmland near the entrance to the reclaimed area.
One Common Crane was found in one of the flocks.
A Eurasian Spoonbill was also present in a water channel.
There were plenty of cranes on the farmlands in the vast protected area surrounded by fences and nets.
A few Common Shelducks were found in the flooded rice fields where the cranes and ducks roost at night.
We were lucky to see a Siberian Crane, one of our targets, foraging near the observation hut. It was easy to identify it from its almost white appearance.
There are two breeding populations of this species in the Arctic tundra of western and eastern Russia. The eastern populations migrate during winter to China, while the western population winters in Iran.
Among the cranes, they make the longest distance migrations. Their populations, particularly those in the western range, have declined drastically in the 20th century due to hunting along their migration routes and habitat degradation. The world population was estimated in 2010 at about 3,200 birds, mostly belonging to the eastern population with about 95% of them wintering in the Poyang Lake basin in China, a habitat that may be altered by the Three Gorges Dam.
Occasionally it overwinters in Japan. This is the record for the first time in nine years at Izumi. Two birds were seen here for a while, but unfortunately one of them died.
An Arctic Sandhill Crane was also seen closely by the road beside the protected area.
We also managed to see a small flock of Tundra Bean Goose and a Leser White-fronted Goose among them which were almost obscured by the grass.
We visited Fukunoe Agricultural Park (Fukunoe Noson Koen) located east of Higashi Kantaku. In the pond there were Black-faced Spoonbills, Eurasian Spoonbills, herons and ducks resting.
There was a flock of White-cheeked Starlings with a Common Starling in the flock.
At sunset, we watched the flocks of cranes and ducks flying back to their roosts in the evening sky from our room at Shin-Tsurumi-tei, an inn right next to the roost protection area in West Reclamation site (Nishi Kantaku).
Even in the darkness after sunset, we heard the noisy calls of the cranes.
The next morning, when it became brighter, the cranes took off one after another from their roosts.
After 7 o'clock a car drove into the protected area and started feeding the cranes. In the latter half of December previous year, many cranes had flocked to the food, but this time there was no such behavior and the cranes did not crowd the feeding place. This may be because the second shoots were still present in the harvested rice fields and there was still enough food available without depending on the feeding.
A lot of crows gathered around the inn.
Most of them were Rooks and a few Daurian Jackdaws were found among them.
Lastly, we revisited Fukunoe Noson Koen.
Unlike the previous day's visit, the tide was lower and the water in the channels and ponds was shallower, and in addition to the members of the previous day's member we saw Green Sandpipers, a few Black-winged Stilts and a flock of about 40 Dunlins.
In the reeds around the pond, with no wind in contrast to the previous day, buntings (Masked, Common Reed) and Chinese Penduline-Tits were seen.
Olive-backed Pipits were also seen in the nearby pine trees.
The birds observed are;
Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris serrirostris), Leser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus),
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Eurasian Spoonbill (major) (Platalea leucorodia major), Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus), Sandhill Crane (Lesser) (Antigone canadensis canadensis), White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio),
Common Crane (Eastern) (Grus grus lilfordi), Hooded Crane (Grus monacha),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Daurian Jackdaw (Coloeus dauuricus/Corvus dauuricus), Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Chinese Penduline-Tit (Remiz consobrinus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus), Common Starling (Siberian) (Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskyi),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni), Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
ヒシクイ, カリガネ, ツクシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ,
カイツブリ, ヘラサギ, クロツラヘラサギ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ,
オオバン, ソデグロヅル, カナダヅル, マナヅル, クロヅル, ナベヅル, セイタカシギ, タゲリ, クサシギ, イソシギ, ハマシギ,
セグロカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, コクマルガラス, ミヤマガラス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
ツリスガラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, ホシムクドリ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ビンズイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, アオジ, オオジュリン
Sendai River (Satsuma Town, Kagoshima Prefecture)
川内川(さつま町,鹿児島県)
Sendai River
There were Barn Swallows flying over the river and many White Wagtails on the rocks of the riverbed.
There were many ducks and Common Coots in the river. Most of the ducks were Eastern Spot-billed Ducks and Mallards.
We expected to see Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris lugubris) but it did not appear.
The birds obserbed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
トビ, オオバン, イソシギ, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, ツバメ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ,
ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Tokyo)
新宿御苑(東京)
Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus thalassinus)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
Shinjuku Gyoen was constructed on the site of a private mansion belonging to Lord Naito, a "daimyo"(feudal lord) of the Edo era.
Completed in 1906 as an imperial garden, it was re-designated as a national garden after the Second World War and opened to the public.
With 58.3 ha (144 acres) in size and a circumference of 3.5 km, it blends three distinct styles, French Formal Garden, English Landscape Garden and Japanese Traditional Garden, and is considered to be one of the most important gardens from the Meiji era.
Among the 20,000 trees which grow in Shinjuku Gyoen, there are the first examples planted in Japan such plants as tulip trees, planes, Himalayan cedars and bald cypresses, whose distinctive crown shapes give the garden a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
Sinjuku Gyoen is an ideal place to get close to nature and enjoy the changing seasons, the oasis for not only metropolitan and short-term visitors but also birds.
An unexpectedly rare bird, Verditer Flycatcher, visited this garden.
Recently, there were some records of this species in western Japan, but I have never heard of it in eastern Japan. Is this an effect of global warming?
I was not sure if the bird would still be there as a few days had already passed since the day it was first announced, but when I arrived at the site, there were many photographers and birder watching the bird and I was able to see this rare bird!
In the same area, mixed flocks of Warbling White-eyes, Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, Japanese Tits and Long-tailed Tits were seen.
A few Masked Buntings were also moving around in the wet ground.
Later, I visited the pond in Japanese Traditional Garden where Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) are seen every winter, but I could not see them as they seemed to be hiding in the shade.
At the other ponds, Mallads, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Northern Shoveler, Little Grebes and Common Kingfisher were seen.
Thrushes were scarce at this site as well, only one each of Pale Thrush and Dusky Thrush were confirmed.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus), Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus thalassinus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, カイツブリ, ハイタカ, オオバン, ドバト, キジバト,
カワセミ, コゲラ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
メジロ, シロハラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, ロクショウビタキ, スズメ, オオカワラヒワ, シメ, アオジ
Kamo River (Kamo-gawa) & Kyoto Imperial Garden (Kyoto)
鴨川&京都御苑(京都)
On the way to the Imperial Palace, I saw a few herons and a few ducks resting in the Kamo River.
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser) seemed not to have arrived yet.
Many birds were gathered around the bird bath at the north east corner of the garden. A Pale Thursh was also heard.
Birds such as Warbling White-eyes, Japanese Tits, Varied Tits and Bramblings came to bathe in the bird bath.
I looked for White's Thrush (toratugumi) (Zoothera aurea toratugumi) and Olive-backed Pipit (Indian) (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni) in the meadow to the east of the palace, but could not find them, probably because the grass was mown lower than usual.
The area around Kujo Pond in the south of the Garden was not accessible due to the renovation of the bridge.
A flock of about 100 Japanese Grosbeaks flew over the woods at the southeast.
The birds observed were;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus),
Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, アオサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, ハイタカ, オオバン,
ドバト, キジバト, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス,
メジロ, ムクドリ, シロハラ, ルリビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ,
アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, イカル
Lake Biwa (Shiga)
琵琶湖(滋賀)
This long uninterrupted age has allowed for a notably diverse ecosystem to evolve in the lake.
This lake is an important place for water birds.
There are many rich birding spots.
First we went to the mouth of the Yasu River in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture.
Pied Avocets had been seen at many places in Japan this year and there were four birds at this site.
We started birding about 1km upstream from the mouth searching for this bird.
In the river Little Grebes, wagtails (White, Japanese), Great White Egrets and Western Osprey were seen, in the riverbank Meadow Buntings and Daurian Redstarts were seen, and Hen Harrier flew over the riverbank.
A Common Kestrel, Eurasian Skylarks, Bull-headed Shrikes and White-cheeked Starlings were seen in the surrounding agricultural fields.
Eventually, four Pied Avocets were found in Lake Biwa, a short distance from the mouth of the river. At that time, Lake Biwa was at its lowest water level in 14 years, and the place where the Pied Avocets were present was a bit far from the shore, but still shallow.
Ducks (Gadwall, Falcated, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Common Pochard, Tufted) and grebes (Little, Great Crested), Common Coots and one Vega Gull were also seen around.
Next we visited Karasuma Peninsula located on Lake Biwa's southeastern shore in Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture.
Usually many waterfowl are seen in this area, but this year, due to the unusually low water levels, only a few were observed nearby.
Two Long-billed Dowitchers were busily foraging on the mudflats that had appeared due to the low water levels.
The birds we observed are;
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata),
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta),
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
オカヨシガモ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハイイロチュウヒ,
オオバン, ソリハシセイタカシギ, オオハシシギ, イソシギ, セグロカモメ, ドバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
ヒバリ, ウグイス, ムクドリ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, ホオジロ
Nomura Pond (Inami-cho, Kako-gun, Hyogo Prefecture)
野村池(稲美町,兵庫)
A common species with a wide-ranging distribution in Eurasia, but a rare stray bird in Japan, Greylag Goose, was staying at this pond.
A variety of water birds were seen in the pond.
Among them, this bird was easily found.
The birds observed are;
Greylag Goose (Siberian) (Anser anser rubrirostris),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Smew (Mergellus albellus),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
ハイイロガン, オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, ミコアイサ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, オオバン,
ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, ホオジロ
Nakano-ike Pond (Takatsuki, Osaka)
中ノ池(大阪府高槻市)
Baer's Pochard is one of the rarest duck species, with a total global population estimated at only 250 to 1000 birds, and is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. It breeds in the area from north-eastern China to the Yangtze River basin, and winters mainly in China, with a few visitors in Japan during the wintering season.
Nevertheless, when I visited here, even on a Saturday, there was no birder there. This individual is a regular visitor to this pond every winter, so this species seems not to be rare for the local birders.
More strangely, there was only this duck and no other ducks in the pond.
The birds observed are;
Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi)
アカハジロ, アオサギ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
At the river grassland, where had been more birds three weeks ago, even no buntings appeared in sight.
A Eurasian Wryneck was calling in the bushes but did not appear.
Around the weir, ducks were increasing in species and numbers. This time Gadwall and Common Pochard joined in the numbers.
Vega Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were also visiting.
While I was watching the ducks, a Peregrine Falcon suddenly perched on a nearby sluice. This may have been the reason for the small birds being out of sight that day.
At the river bulkhead and riverside playgrounds, wagtails (White, Grey, Japanese), Buff-bellied Pipits and Eurasian Skylarks were seen, but their numbers were not many, probably due to the holiday crowds.
The birds observed are;
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis), Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Vega Gull (Larus vegae vegae), Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Eurasian Wryneck (Japan) (Jynx torquilla japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba)
キジ, オカヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, トビ,
オオバン, セグロカモメ, ユリカモメ, ドバト, キジバト, アリスイ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ,
タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ
Daimon Dum, Kai-Oizumi (Yamanashi) & Nobeyama (Nagano)
大門ダム&甲斐大泉(山梨)＆野辺山(長野)
At first, we visited Daimon Dam in Kiyosato.
There were Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Mallards, Mandarin Ducks and Grey herons in the dam lake. The number of Mandarin Ducks were few this time.
On the forest road around the dam site, we saw Rustic Buntings and Japanese Accentors.
Then we visited Tobisawa Reservoir (Tobisawa-Ike) in the area of villas at Kai-Oizumi Highland in Hokuto City.
There is a small birding spot, with a short trail along with a small stream through a Japanese larch forest and a trail around a reservoir.
There were a few tits, Brambling, Grey-capped Greenfinches, and Eurasian Siskins.
In the reservoir, there were Mallards, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks and Eurasian Teals.
We searched for Yellow-throated Bunting (Yellow-headed) (Emberiza elegans elegantula/Schoeniclus elegans elegans), bur could not find.
There was no snow at the farm fields of Nobeyama and only a little on the mountain.
Although it was recorded as the coldest day in Japan exceeding that of Hokkaido a short time ago, the day we visited it was not so cold without strong wind.
In the bushes around the vast farm fields, there were Long-tailed Rosefinches and Meadow Buntings.
Dusky Thrushes, which are usually there, were not seen.
The Long-tailed Shrike seemed not to have arrived yet.
In the woods we looked for Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica), Red Crossbill (Japanese) (Loxia curvirostra japonica) and Ural Owl (hondoensis) (Strix uralensis hondoensis) but did not find any, however a large flock of about 50 Dusky Thrush was seen. They seemed to be on the move or had just arrived. It seems that the thrushes are arriving late this year.
We waited until dark for the Ural Owl, which is expected to appear at sunset, but unfortunately it did not appear on the scene for us.
The birds observed are;
at Daimon Dam;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)?
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
at Kai-Oizumi:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis)?
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus)
at Nobeyama;
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius)
オシドリ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, トビ, ノスリ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ?
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, ゴジュウカラ, ツグミ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, カヤクグリ,
キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, アトリ, オオカワラヒワ, マヒワ, ベニマシコ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ
Narayama Park (Kanagawa)
奈良山公園(神奈川)
Many Mandarin Ducks winter here every year, and at about 3 o'clock when I arrived, they appeared in the open water.
I waited for a while, but the target bird did not appear. This species had been seen in the area for two consecutive years recently, three years ago and two years ago.
There were also Common Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night Herons, Long-tailed Tits and Brown-eared Bulbuls.
The birds observed are;
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis)
オシドリ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, カワセミ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ
Jike Hometown-village (Yokohama)
寺家ふるさと村(横浜)
Many Eurasian Tree Sparrows were perched on the power lines above the harvested rice fields.
Daurian Redstart, Warbling White-eyes, Japanese Tits and Chinese Hwameis were seen in trees on the sunny slopes of the hill where the Shrine is on.
In the bushes on the slopes in shade, I heard Japanese Bush-Warblers and Masked Buntings.
In the Kumano Pond a Tufted Duck was grooming its feathers, surrounded by anglers.
Nearby, a mixed flock of Japanese Tits, Varied Tits, Warbling White-eyes, Long-tailed Tits and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker were moving busily among the trees.
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius), common in winter here, had not yet arrived.
The birds observed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera)?
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
コジュケイ, キンクロハジロ, キジバト, コゲラ, アオゲラ? ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ,
エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, アオジ
Ura-Bandai Area (Fukushima Prefecture)
裏磐梯エリア(福島)
When we arrived near noon, there was a bit of a break in the clouds.
We walked the trail around Nakase Marsh (Nakase-Numa).
In the woods, we encountered a mixed flock of Tits (Japanese, Coal, Varied, Willow and Long-tailed), a flock of Eurasian Siskins, and a few Dusky Thrushes in the distance.
Only one Mallard was seen in the pond.
Next we started to search the area around the Kyukamura Hotel, but had to give up because of the starting rain.
The rain did not stop after that. In the rain, we birded near the Goshiki-numa Visitor Centre and the trail between Lake Yanagi-numa and Lake Ao-numa.
We had few results due to the rain, but tits (Japanese, Coal, Varied, Willow ), woodpeckers (Japanese Pygmy, Great Spotted, Japanese Green), Eurasian Jays, Brown-eared Bulbuls, Eurasian Wren, Dusky Thrushes and Red Crossbills were somehow seen.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus),
Red Crossbill (Japanese) (Loxia curvirostra japonica),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, カイツブリ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ, カケス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, ミソサザイ, ゴジュウカラ,
ツグミ, マヒワ, イスカ, アオジ
Lake Izu-Numa and Kabukuri-Numa Marsh (Miyagi Prefecture)
伊豆沼&蕪栗沼(宮城)
In Kabukuri Marsh, the first arrival of Greater White-fronted Goose was confirmed on 22 September, followed by the arrival of Cackling Goose on 27 September, and tens of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese, thousands of Cackling Geese and hundreds of Taiga Bean Geese were recorded in October.
As we approached the Furukawa interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, we saw flocks of geese flying nearby.
First, we headed for Lake Izu-Numa.
On the way we saw flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese foraging in the harvested rice fields at many places. In some of the flocks we also saw some Cackling Geese.
A Merlin was perched on a nearby wire.
Flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese and Whooper Swans were seen in the rice fields around Lake Izu-Numa.
In the lake, there was still plenty of lotus covering a large part of the surface.
Since It was noon and most of the geese roosting had left the lake, there were only a small number of Whooper Swans, Tundra Swans and Greater White-fronted Geese in the lake.
The number of ducks, Great Crested Grebes, Great White Egrets and Common Coots were not yet many.
The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla albicilla) had not yet arrived.
On the way from Lake Izu-Numa to Kabukuri-Num Marsh a few Leser White-fronted Geese were seen among a flock of Greater White-fronted Goose in a rice field.
At Kabukuri-Num Marsh, we walked on the trail until watching the geese roost at sunset.
Although it was still early before sunset, many flocks of Greater White-fronted Goose were already gathering around the marsh.
Many Taiga Bean Goose were seen in the swamp.
An Eastern Buzzard and an Eastern Marsh-Harrier were also seen.
Numbers and species of ducks were small here too, perhaps due to the delay in arrival because of the warm weather.
At sunset, a huge number of geese returned for their roosts from all the directions.
At the dawn of the second day, we visited Kabukuri-Num Marsh again.
Before dawn, as the eastern sky began to brighten, the geese and swans resting in the swamps began to increasingly make calls. Suddenly, with a roar of wings like a bomb bursting, a large flock of geese took off from the water. Some flew away, some flew around the marshes, and some landed on the marshes again, and for a long time the great spectacle of nature was played out before our eyes.
After watching the impressive roost, we took a walk on the trail. Long-tailed Rosefinches, Grey-capped Greenfinches, Daurian Redstart, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, Hawfinch, Meadow Buntings and Bull-headed Shrike, and birds of prey such as the Eastern Marsh-Harrier, Northern Goshawk and Eastern Buzzard were seen.
The birds observed are;
- around Izu-numa Lake
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii), Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Leser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
- around Kabukuri-Numa Marsh
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii), Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Cackling Goose (Aleutian) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia),
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus),
Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera/Anas strepera strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
オオヒシクイ, マガン, カリガネ, シジュウカラガン, オオハクチョウ, コハクチョウ,
オカヨシガモ, マガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カワアイサ,
カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, カワウ, コチョウゲンボウ, トビ, チュウヒ, オオタカ, ノスリ,
オオバン, キジバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ムクドリ,
ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ
Katano Waterfowl Sanctuary (Katano KamoIke) & Reclaimed land of Shibayama Lagoon (Ishikawa Prefecture)
片野鴨池&柴山潟干拓地(石川)
Katano KamoIke is designated as part of the Ramsar Site. The area is only 10 hectares but it is a rare place despite its size. There are two reasons for this: one reason is that many kinds of waterfowl, such as Greater White-fronted Goose and Bean Goose use this pond as a resting place during winter. The other is the coexistence of the local people and the birds in the pond. The local populace follow strict rules: they stay away from the pond and they don't open their windows to watch the birds during autumn and winter.
At this pond, hunting of ducks, Sakaami-ryo, is conducted. Sakaami-ryo is a traditional method of catching wild ducks, which has been handed down for over 300 years. In the evening of winter, hunters wait for wild ducks to come, holding a net on the hill and catching them by throwing the net up when the wild ducks come flying directly overhead. Hunters catch wild ducks with the Sakaami-ryo method only and don't use hunting rifles in order to preserve the population of wild ducks.
Our visit was still too early for the peak of the waterfowl season here, but there was already a big flock of Taiga Bean Geese (Middendorff's) resting in the middle of the pond.
A Greater White-fronted Goose circled over the pond but was not landing on water quickly, probably due to the absence of its mates.
Mallards and Eurasian Teals were the predominant duck species, with other species such as Northern Shovelers and Mandarin Ducks.
Only a few Baikal Teals were present. According to the staff of the observatory, Mallads and Baikal Teals are the most abundant species in this pond during the peak season.
One Western Great Egret (Eurasian) from the continent was also seen.
High in the sky an Eastern Buzzard was circling.
Suddenly the waterfowl were in a panic. A large Mountain Hawk-Eagle appeared, but quickly disappeared into the trees around the pond.
Hearing that the swans that roost in this pond are found during the day in the reclaimed land of Shibayama Lagoon in the northern part of the pond, we visited there.
There were several flocks of swans in the rice fields after harvesting, about 200 in total. A flock of Tundra Swans was seen nearby.
The birds observed are;
Taiga Bean Goose (Middendorff's) (Anser fabalis middendorffii),
Greater White-fronted Goose (Tundra) (Anser albifrons frontalis),
Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii),
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus), Mountain Hawk-Eagle (orientalis) (Nisaetus nipalensis orientalis),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
オオヒシクイ, マガン, コハクチョウ, オシドリ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, トモエガモ, コガモ,
カイツブリ, ダイサギ, カワウ, ノスリ, クマタカ, ハクセキレイ
Kitasaga and Hirosawa Pond (Kyoto Prefecture) (Kyoto Prefecture)
北嵯峨&広沢池(京都)
When I arrived, it was sunny early afternoon and not many birds were apparent.
Even familiar Bull-headed Shrikes (Lanius bucephalus) were only distantly heard.
While walking in the region of rice paddies, there were a large number of Rock Doves foraging on the ground. Then, suddenly, they flew up and there was a raptor swooping on them. It was an adult Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). The bird almost caught up a dove, but the hunting failed. After this failed hunting, the goshawk returned to the direction of the mountain and perched there for a while.
There are usually Meadow Buntings (Emberiza cioides) foraging on the grassy fields, but this time they were entirely absent.
Wagtails were not seen where they should be.
This was probably due to human disturbances -- fine weather, warm and Sunday afternoon, there were a number of people strolling.
Grey-headed Lapwings (Vanellus cinereus) were foraging quite close to human paths. They must have been accustomed to human presence.
Since there were not many birds in the paddy fields, I moved to Hirosawa Pond.
There were some buntings. Black-faced Buntings (Emberiza spodocephala) were heard in several places and they might have just arrived.
In the pond, Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and Great Egrets (Ardea alba) were foraging on shallow water.
Some ducks were also present.
I could hear repeated notes of a Ruddy-breasted Crake (Zapornia fusca), but could not see the bird.
On distant poles, two Western Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) were resting. Despite favorably looking winds, they didn't show a sign of flight.
A Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) suddenly flew above and a hawk followed. It was an Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). Despite its own crisis, the wagtail sang paradoxically. The bird apparently did not became a victim of the hawk.
While watching this event and foraging waterbirds, a Western Osprey started flying and hovered on the pond, and swooped. The hunting was apparently not successful and the bird tried again. When leaving the pond, I heard the voice of a Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus).
List of species:
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca),
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo),
Rock Dove (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis),
Ruddy-breasted Crake (Zapornia fusca), Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus),
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus),
Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus),
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus),
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis),
Japanese Green Woodpecker (Picus awokera), Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), Japanese (Kamchatka) Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor),
Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Carrion Crow (Corvus corone),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus),
Japanese Bush Warbler (Horornis diphone),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala), Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica)
カイツブリ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, ホシハジロ, キンクロハジロ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ドバト, キジバト, ヒクイナ, クイナ, ケリ,
トビ, ミサゴ, オオタカ, ハイタカ, カワセミ, アオゲラ, コゲラ, セグロセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, モズ, シジュウカラ, ハシブトガラス, ハシボソガラス,
ジョウビタキ, ウグイス, ヒヨドリ, スズメ, カワラヒワ, アトリ, アオジ, カシラダカ
Kyoto Imperial Garden (Kyoto Prefecture)
京都御苑(京都)
I visited the northern half of Kyoto Imperial Garden.
It was a sunny day with many people and not so many birds were present.
The paths which were damaged by a typhoon three years ago were restored and I could hear Black-faced Buntings (Emberiza spodocephala) in several locations.
The pond, which had been dried up after the typhoon was being repaired, but I was not sure whether the original landscape would be restored.
The only location I could see birds were around the water bath.
There were initially only Warbling White-eyes (Zosterops japonicus), then some tits.
It was my surprise that photographer were waiting for Red-billed Leiothrixes (Leiothrix lutea) to come for foraging and bathing in the bath. This invasive exotic species is increasing in number, but they were usually forest birds. It was a surprise to see them in an urban park like here. The voice of this species was indeed heard in several locations in the Imperial Garden.
There were, however, several wintering species as used to be: Olive-backed Pipits (Anthus hodgsoni) and Bramblings (Fringilla montifringilla).
They were not yet many in number and probably due to the broad daylight, I couldn't hear the call of thrushes.
List of species:
Black Kite (Milvus migrans),
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus),
Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Carrion Crow (Corvus corone),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius),
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus),
Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), Japanese (Kamchatka) Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens)
, Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni),
Japanese Bush Warbler (Horornis diphone),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica),
Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala),
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea)
トビ, キジバト, コゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, ハシボソガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, スズメ, メジロ,
セグロセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ビンズイ, ウグイス, アトリ, イカル, カワラヒワ, アオジ, ソウシチョウ
Mount Inari (Kyoto)
稲荷山(京都)
This mountain is the sacred area covered with primeval forest protected since the ancient time and beautiful bamboo forest.
I did birding at Fushimi Inari Taisha and Fukakusa Cemetery.
There were many Brown-eared Bulbuls in the forest of the shrine, calling noisily.
There were not any signs of thrushes or buntings which winter in this field. However, I saw a few friendly Daurian Redstarts.
I saw Japanese Bush-Warblers in the bushes and tits (Japanese, Varied) in the trees.
Also a White-bellied Green-Pigeon flew nearby.
I also heard a Japanese Grosbeak. The number of this species will be increasing from now on.
The birds observed are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata)
マガモ, キジバト, アオバト, モズ, カケス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, イカル
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
A variety of species of birds were gathering in the river grassland.
In addition to Meadow Buntings, Eurasian Tree Sparrows and Grey-capped Greenfinches, there were also Daurian Redstart and Masked Buntings, both of which were new to the field this season. The Masked Buntings might be a flock on the move.
On the weir, many Great Cormorants and Little Egrets, and a few Great White Egrets and Grey Herons were resting.
Eurasian Wigeon were abundant, with Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teals and Tufted Ducks also seen.
Great Crested Grebe has also increased.
The number of Common Coots increased significantly.
At the riverside playgrounds, besides White Wagtails and Eurasian Skylarks, Buff-bellied Pipits which are also new for the season, were arriving.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
ヒドリガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
ミサゴ, トビ, オオタカ, クイナ, オオバン, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, , ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ,
オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, アオジ
Lake Inba-numa (Chiba) & Inashiki Area (Ibaraki)
印旛沼(千葉)&稲敷方面(茨城)
On the way to Lake North Inba-numa (Kita-Inba-numa, we stopped by the nearby Hakucho-no-Sato (Hometown of Swan) to check if the swans had arrived, but they had not. Soon many Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) and Tundra Swan/Bewick's Swans (Cygnus columbianus bewickii/Cygnus bewickii) will be arriving again this winter.
At the north-west area of Lake North Inba-numa (Kita-Inba-numa), we found the lovely old Great White Pelican named "Kanta-kun" who is living here more than twenty years.
A fair number of the ducks that winter here had arrived at the lake, and more numbers and species are expected to arrive soon.
At close range, Mallard were abundant, with a few Falcated Ducks, Eurasian Wigeons and Eurasian Teals. The ducks were still in the eclipse forms and the Falcated Ducks had not yet transformed into the beautiful appearance.
There was big flocks in the distance, but they were so far away that we were unable to identify the species such as Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa) or others except for Northern Pintails which we managed to identify with a spotting scope.
Diving ducks such as Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) and Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) were not also confirmed this time.
A small number of Great Crested Grebe were seen.
Smew (Mergellus albellus) was not arrived yet.
In the surrounding paddy fields, Chestnut-eared Bunting and Buff-bellied Pipits were seen.
Meadow Buntings were often found in the lake shore meadows.
Many Common Reed Buntings had returned for wintering.
However Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius), Masked Bunting/Black- faced Bunting faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus), and Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus) seemed not to have arrived yet.
On the small trees among them, Bull-headed Shrikes, Daurian Redstarts and Grey-capped Greenfinches were seen. Two Daurian Redstarts were chasing each other, perhaps in a territorial dispute.
A Brown-cheeked Rail was not seen but was heard.
Western Osprey, Eastern Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Black Kites were seen in the piles in the lake and in the sky. The Eurasian Sparrowhawk was persistently followed by a crow.
On the way to Inashiki, we stopped at Sakata-ga-ike pond near Inba-Numa.
In winter many ducks can be seen here.
Also here, the number and variety of ducks were less than in the peak time, but Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Teals were flocking to the bread given by visitors.
In the afternoon, we searched for shorebirds at Inashiki Area in Ibaraki Prefecture.
We drove and walked arround the rotus fields. At a rotus field, there was a mixed flock of shorebirds composed of Common Greenshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshanks, Marsh Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher,
At the other rotus fields, we found Black-winged Stilt, Green Sandpiper, Pacific Golden-Plover and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
This time we found only one Common Snipe and also no tiny shorebirds.
It was too early for the arrival of many Common Snipes and was already past the peak of the shorebirds' migration.
Instead, the number of birds of prey seemed to be increasing. We saw various species such as Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Marsh-Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Eastern Buzzard and Western Osprey.
Before sunset, at Ukishima, we saw Eastern Marsh-Harriers and Merlins returning to their roosts in the reed field here, including one Hen Harrier.
The birds observed are;
- at Lake Inba-numa:
Green Pheasant (kigis) (Phasianus versicolor robustipes/Phasianus versicolor kigis),
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata fucata),
Common Reed Bunting/Reed Bunting (pyrrhulinus) (Emberiza schoeniclus pyrrhulina/Schoeniclus schoeniclus pyrrhulinus)
- at Sakata-ga-ike Pond:
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at Inashiki area (*confirmed by other birders):
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta), Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Merlin (East Siberian) (Falco columbarius insignis),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
*Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis),
Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus),
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator)? Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Buff-bellied Pipit/American Pipit (Siberian) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
*は他のバーダーによる確認種
キジ, ヨシガモ, ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, オナガガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, カンムリカイツブリ,
アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, モモイロペリカン, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, コチョウゲンボウ,
ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, トビ, チュウヒ, ハイイロチュウヒ, ハイタカ, オオタカ, ノスリ, クイナ, バン, オオバン,
セイタカシギ, *タゲリ, ムナグロ, タシギ, オオハシシギ, ツルシギ, コアオアシシギ, アオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, ウズラシギ,
キジバト, カワセミ, コゲラ, モズ, ミヤマガラス? ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, ムクドリ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, タヒバリ, オオカワラヒワ, ホオジロ, ホオアカ, オオジュリン
Miyagase, Kanagawa
宮ヶ瀬(相模原,神奈川)
This time I wanted to check if the early winter birds had arrived.
The construction work after the typhoon of the year before last was still going on upstream on the other side of the river near the Hayato-gawa bridge, but there were no construction vehicles coming and going on the trail like last year. It was still earlier than the best season, so there were not many birders. Thanks to these, I was able to enjoy birding in a quiet setting.
At several points I heard and saw the Daurian Redstarts that had just arrived, but no other winter birds were seen.
At a few points I encountered mixed flocks consisting of Long-Tailed Tits accompanied by Japanese Tits, Varied Tits, Coal Tits, Warbling White-eyes and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker. Red-billed Leiothrix, Asian Brown Flycatcher and Ryukyu Minivet were also found in these flocks.
Eurasian Jays were also seen frequently.
In the lake, flocks of Mandarin Ducks were wading, calling like puppies.
A Western Osprey was perched on a dead tree on the other side of the lake.
I heard a few calls like Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris lugubris) but could not locate it. Instead I found a Common Kingfisher.
After another few weeks, the winter birds, such as; Red-flanked Bluetail/Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus cyanurus) or Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus), will be seen in this field.
The birds observed were;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea lutea),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Bunting sp.
コジュケイ, オシドリ, マガモ, アオサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ, キジバト, アオバト, アマツバメ, カワセミ,
コゲラ, リュウキュウサンショウクイ, モズ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ,
ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, ソウシチョウ, メジロ, ジョウビタキ, コサメビタキ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ, ホオジロSP
Tomakomai-Oarai Ferry (Hokkaido<->Ibaraki)
苫小牧-大洗航路(北海道>茨城)
From the morning of October 26th, we observed sea birds on the cruise route to Oarai.
During the morning it was raining.
We saw lots of Streaked Shearwaters, Laysan Albatrosses, Black-footed Albatrosses, Northern Fulmars and gulls.
The birds reported are;
Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes),
Northern Fulmar (Pacific) (Fulmarus glacialis rodgersii),
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Pomarine Jaeger/Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus), etc.
コアホウドリ, クロアシアホウドリ, フルマカモメ, オオミズナギドリ, ウミネコ, オオセグロカモメ, トウゾクカモメ, 他
Jike Hometown-village (Yokohama)
寺家ふるさと村(横浜)
There are several long narrow paddy fields, called as "Yatoda", which were made on small valleys sandwiched by hills of miscellaneous trees.
At the end of these small valleys, there are small tranquil reservoirs.
This area maintains the rural scenery of traditional Yokohama.
We started birding from the middle reaches of the Tsurumi River in Aoba Ward of Yokohama City. We walked upstream along the right bank of the river.
In the stream there were a few ducks (Mallads, Eurasian Teals, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks), Grey Heron, Common Moorhen and Common Sandpiper.
Bull-headed Shrikes, Azure-winged Magpies, White-cheeked Starlings and Eurasian Tree Sparrow were seen in the neighbor fields.
We also heard a Daurian Redstart, which probably had just arrived.
We left the river and walked along the irrigation canals in the fields of Jike Furusato-mura.
White Wagtails and Grey Wagtails were seen in the canal and Bull-headed Shrike and White-cheeked Starlings in the surrounding fields, but no winter birds were seen yet.
On the hills, tits and Chinese Hwameis were seen.
Chinese Bamboo-Partridges were also heard.
The birds observed were;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Grey Wagtail (robusta) (Motacilla cinerea robusta), White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
コジュケイ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, バン, イソシギ, ドバト, キジバト, コゲラ,
モズ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ,
ウグイス, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, ジョウビタキ, スズメ, キセキレイ, ハクセキレイ
Masuichi Beach, Mt. Sokuryo (Sokuryo-zan) & Mt. Onnasokuryo-zan (Muroran), Lake Poroto (Shiraoi), Tomakomai Experimental Forest (Tomakomai)
マスイチ浜,測量山,女測量山(室蘭),ポロト湖(白老)、北大苫小牧研究林(苫小牧)
On 24 October, we joined the morning birding at Mt. Sokuryo (Masuichi beach) organized by Muroran Chapter of WBSJ. We enjoyed many Eastern Buzzards (hundreds), Eurasian Sparrowhawks (dozens), Northern Goshawks, Japanese Sparrowhawks and Peregrine Falcons.
A Steller's Sea-Eagle for the first time this season was also seen.
Many (thousands?) of small birds migrated, such as Long-tailed Rosefinches, Meadow Buntings, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, White-cheeked Starlings and Brown-eared Bulbuls.
After the morning birding at Mt. Sokuryo, we visited Mt. Onnasokuryo nearby.
Long-tailed Tits (Japan) and Russet Sparrows were seen.
There were also many Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Northern Goshawks and Eastern Buzzards.
Asian Wood Nuthatches were foraging for Japanese yew berries.
On 25 October we visited Masuichi beach before dawn.
The wind had calmed down and about 50 Eastern Buzzards formed a kettle and then were crossing the bay.
On the way back to Tomakomai, we stopped by Lake Poroto.
At the parking lot, a Goldcrest was seen very closely.
An Eurasian Tree-Creeper (daurica) was also close by, picking at tree trunks and moving around.
An Eurasian Magpie was perched on a power line on the side of the road.
In Tomakomai we visited the Tomakomai Experimental Forest. We observed Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser/Goosander, tits (Japanese, Varied, Marsh), Asian Wood Nuthatch, Eurasian Tree-Creeper ( daurica) etc...
The birds reported are;
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula clangula),
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Steller's Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus pelagicus), Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis),
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Siberian) (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (japonicus) (Dendrocopos major japonicus),
Eurasian Jay (Brandt's) (Garrulus glandarius brandtii), Eurasian Magpie (camtschatica) (Pica pica camtschatica),
Rook (pastinator) (Corvus frugilegus pastinator), Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Marsh Tit (hensoni) (Poecile palustris hensoni),
Long-tailed Tit (Japan) (Aegithalos caudatus caudatus/Aegithalos caudatus japonicus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Goldcrest (japonensis) (Regulus regulus japonensis),
Asian Wood Nuthatch/Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea asiatica),
Eurasian Tree-Creeper (daurica) (Certhia familiaris daurica),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Russet Sparrow (rutilans) (Passer cinnamomeus rutilans), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (kawarahiba) (Chloris sinica kawarahiba),
Long-tailed Rosefinch (sanguinolentus) (Carpodacus sibiricus sanguinolentus),
Hawfinch (japonicus) (Coccothraustes coccothraustes japonicus),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis), Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
マガモ, ホオジロガモ, カワアイサ, カイツブリ, ウミウ, ハヤブサ, トビ, オオワシ, ツミ, ハイタカ, オオタカ, ノスリ,
オオセグロカモメ, キジバト, エゾアカゲラ, ミヤマカケス, カササギ, ミヤマガラス, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, ハシブトガラ, シマエナガ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, メジロ, キクイタダキ,
シロハラゴジュウカラ, キタキバシリ, ムクドリ, ニュウナイスズメ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, オオカワラヒワ,
ベニマシコ, シメ, ホオジロ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Tatara Marsh (Gunma)
多々良沼(群馬)
A rare migrant or winter bird in the Tokyo area; Pied Avocet was seen. At first it was at a distance, but after a while it came close to us.
A Temminck's Stint was also observed.
Ducks were still few, and swans had not yet arrived.
The birds reported are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta),
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), etc.
カルガモ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, コサギ, トビ, ソリハシセイタカシギ, オジロトウネン,
ユリカモメ, ハシボソガラス, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, 他
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
The previous day it was cold and rainy as if the calendar had moved forward two months to Christmas time. On the day of the visit, although the north wind was a little stronger, it was warm with sunshine.
No summer bird was found this time.
The number of ducks had increased more and a new member; Mallard, had come.
The Great Crested Grebes had also arrived.
Many Little Egrets were still seen.
Suddenly, a flock of Large-billed Crow soared into the air. One Northern Goshawk was being challenged and chased by them.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus), Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カンムリカイツブリ, アオサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
トビ, オオタカ, バン, オオバン, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Oku-Nikko (Tochigi)
奥日光(栃木)
Due to the passage of the cold front, it snowed lightly at Yumoto in Oku-Nikko the night before, and the temperature dropped to -7 degree Celsius in the early morning of the day. This is the temperature of late November in this place, and the plain of Senjogahara was covered with white frost.
Perhaps because of the unusually warm weather of previous days, there were not yet many species or numbers of winter birds.
At Yunoko Lake, Eurasian Wigeons and Common Coots were seen.
At Senjyogahara Plateau, plenty of Malus sieboldii berries were ripening and several Brown-headed Thrushes were feeding on them.
In the stream, there were Mallards. One Solitary Snipe was seen, but it was very nervous and had flown away soon.
There was also a Brown Dipper, which was not afraid of us and was foraging for food in the stream.
Near Kotoku Farm, many photographers were attracted by a single Daurian Redstart.
A flock of Brambling and a flock of tits (Japanese, Willow and Coal) were seen near Kotoku Marsh.
At the farm field adjacent to Senjo-gahara, we saw some Rustic Buntings.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Solitary Snipe (japonica) (Gallinago solitaria japonica),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis) Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Kamchatka Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus examinandus/Seicercus examinandus),
Eurasian Wren (fumigatus) (Troglodytes troglodytes fumigatus),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus chrysolaus),
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus),
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii pallasii),
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica minor),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied) (Pyrrhula pyrrhula),
Rustic Bunting (latifascia) (Emberiza rustica/Schoeniclus rusticus latifascius),
Masked Bunting/Black-faced Bunting (personatus) (Emberiza personata/Schoeniclus spodocephala personatus)
ヒドリガモ, マガモ, カワウ, ノスリ, オオバン, アオシギ, キジバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, カケス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ウグイス, オオムシクイ, ミソサザイ, ゴジュウカラ, アカハラ, ジョウビタキ,
カワガラス, アトリ, カワラヒワ, ウソ, カシラダカ, アオジ
Daiza-hoshi Pond & Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden (Nagano Prefecture)
大座法師池&戸隠森林植物園(長野)
On the way we stopped by Daiza-hoshi Pond.
In the distance we saw flocks of Eurasian Wigeon and Common Coot on the opposite shore. Yet the species and numbers were not many.
At Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden (Togakushi Shinrin Shokubutu-En), probably due to the abnormally warm weather this year, the leaves have not changed much in the autumn colours, and the number of birds was very few for this time of year.
However, we encountered several mixed flocks mainly consisting of Willow Tits, Wood Nuthatches and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers.
Among these mixed flocks, Eurasian Tree-Creepers and Grey-streaked Flycatchers were also observed.
Usually in late October, Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus) and Mugimaki Flycatcher pass through this field, and on the first evening of this visit, when the park was quiet, a few Mugimaki Flycatchers were found pecking at the fruits of the Euonymus fortuneis.
As for the Eyebrowed Thrush, we saw a few thrushes, but could not identify the species.
Ashy Minivets and Blue-and-white Flycatchers were also seen, which is unusual for this time of year.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (N Honshu) (Dendrocopos major hondoensis), Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus),
Eurasian Jay (japonicus) (Garrulus glandarius japonicus), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Coal Tit (insularis) (Periparus ater insularis), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Willow Tit (restrictus) (Poecile montanus restrictus),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Wood Nuthatch (amurensis) (Sitta europaea amurensis),
Eurasian Tree-Creeper (japonica) (Certhia familiaris japonica),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki), Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Japanese) (Cyanoptila cyanomelana cyanomelana),
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus/Carduelis spinus),
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata personata),
thrush SP.,
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
ヒドリガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, オオバン, キジバト, アオバト, コゲラ, アカゲラ, アオゲラ,
サンショウクイ, カケス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヒガラ, ヤマガラ, コガラ, エナガ, ウグイス,
ゴジュウカラ, キバシリ, エゾビタキ, キビタキ, ムギマキ, オオルリ, マヒワ, イカル, ツグミSP, アトリ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki, Inagi)
多摩川中流(川崎,稲城)
The summer like heat until a few days ago had subsided, but the shine was still intense and hot.
The flock of Red-rumped Swallow seen a week ago was not seen this time.
The number of ducks had increased a little. Tufted Duck joined the group newly.
Many Little Egrets were still seen.
A Common Kingfisher was seen very close by, as if it was not afraid of people or was not in good condition.
The False acacia forest was lively with flocks of White-cheeked Starling, flocks of Brown-eared Bulbul, and a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker.
A Narcissus Flycatcher also stopped by.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Japanese Bush-Warbler (cantans) (Horornis diphone cantans),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, キンクロハジロ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
トビ, オオバン, ドバト, カワセミ,コゲラ,モズ,ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, エナガ,
ヒバリ, ヒヨドリ, ウグイス, ガビチョウ, ムクドリ, キビタキ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Mt. Gongen (Hadano, Kanagawa)
権現山(秦野,神奈川)
The migration of Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus) at this site had been almost over.
The weather forecast was false and it rained for two hours in the morning. The weather recovered after 11am and blue skies spread over us in the afternoon, but only Eastern Buzzards and Black Kites were observed.
Instead, Pacific Swifts and House Swifts flew closely by.
A flock of White-bellied Green-Pigeons also flew nearby.
As soon as the rain stopped, Grey-streaked Flycatchers, which had been sheltered until then, appeared in the treetops, and several flocks of Brown-eared Bulbul moved westwards, calling noisily.
Early in the morning a flock of about 10 Japanese Thrushes was observed by another birder, but I managed to find only one among the trees.
The birds obserbed are;
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis), White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi), House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Japanese Thrush (Turdus cardis cardis),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
コジュケイ, トビ, ノスリ, ドバト, キジバト, アオバト, アマツバメ, ヒメアマツバメ,
コゲラ, アオゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ,
メジロ, クロツグミ, エゾビタキ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
It was very hot on this day, as it was back in summer since the beginning of October.
The Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis), which I observed on my last visit on 29 September, was not heard. It must have migrated to the south even though the weather remained hot.
There was a flock of over 10 Red-rumped Swallows flying around on their migration.
Bull-headed Shrikes were singing here and there.
Many Little Egrets were also seen.
Ducks were still very few, but Eurasian Wigeon and Eurasian Teal had arrived newly.
A Northern Goshawk had also returned, perhaps due to an increase in the number of small birds for prey.
The birds observed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
トビ, オオタカ, オオバン, イカルチドリ, ドバト, キジバト, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, コシアカツバメ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ガビチョウ, メジロ, ムクドリ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Inashiki area (Ibaraki)
稲敷地区(茨城)
The harvesting of the lotus fields was in progress compared to our last visit, and the fields with open water had increased.
There, various species of freshwater shorebirds were seen.
In particular, flocks of Marsh Sandpiper were seen at the several fiels.
There was also a flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.
Other species seen were Black-winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshanks, Temminck's Stints, Common Greenshanks, Long-billed Dowitchers, Black-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Stints, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ruff, etc..
There were also many Sand Martins flying around.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Black-tailed Godwit (Siberian) (Limosa limosa melanuroides),
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii),
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Broad-billed Sandpiper (Eastern) (Calidris falcinellus sibirica/Limicola falcinellus sibirica),
Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Sand Martin (Kamchatka) (Riparia riparia ijimae), Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
カルガモ, ハシビロガモ, コガモ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, トビ, バン, セイタカシギ, コチドリ, タシギ, オオハシシギ, オグロシギ,
ツルシギ, コアオアシシギ, アオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, イソシギ, トウネン, オジロトウネン,
ウズラシギ, キリアイ, エリマキシギ, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
ショウドウツバメ, ツバメ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ, ホオジロ
Isa Marsh (Saitama)
伊佐沼(埼玉)
The water level of the marsh was down and the muddy shore was appeared, and shorebirds, such as Black-winged Stilts, Long-billed Plover, Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint and Temminck's Stint, were stopping by.
There were many herons and egrets resting on the stakes lining the edge of the marsh's middle island.
The species and numbers of ducks were still few, but we found one Garganey amongst a flock of Eurasian Teal.
A Peregrine Falcon appeared aiming at the ducks and persistently tried to hunt them, but failed.
In the sunflower field beside the marsh, there were many Grey-capped Greenfinchs gathering for the sunflower seeds.
The birds observed are;
Garganey (Spatula querquedula), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Western Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba alba),
Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
カルガモ, コガモ, シマアジ, カイツブリ, アオサギ, ダイサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
ハヤブサ, トビ, オオバン, セイタカシギ, イカルチドリ, コチドリ, イソシギ, トウネン, オジロトウネン,
ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, ツバメ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ, カワラヒワ
Downstream of Sakawa River (Kanagawa)
酒匂川下流(神奈川)
The Sakawa River runs through the Sakawa Lowland in the western region of Kanagawa Prefecture, between Hakone Volcano to the west and the Oiso Hills to the east and flows into Sagami Bay.
Fortunately, the large Typhoon Mindulle (No.16) did not hit Japan and passed by Tokyo on the Pacific Ocean the day before.
There was no typhoon disaster, but I did not expect any typhoon GIFT, but I visited to check just in case.
As I thought, I couldn't find anything special.
There were many Great Cormorants and herons/egrets (Grey, Great, Little) near the mouth of the river.
One Black-headed Gull was also seen.
As for shorebirds, many Common Sandpipers and one Long-billed Plover were found, but no other species were found.
Ducks gathered around the weir, but were still few in number and in species.
Three Common Mergansers (Goosanders) were resting approximately 4km from the mouth of the river.
Nearby, a few Red-rumped Swallows were still flying around.
Several flocks of Brown-eared Bulbul migrated westwards.
The birds obserbed are;
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Common Merganser/Goosander (Mergus merganser merganser),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Long-billed Plover (japonicus) (Charadrius placidus japonicus),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Black-headed Gull (Siberian) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus sibiricus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor)
ヒドリガモ, カルガモ, コガモ, カワアイサ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ,
チョウゲンボウ, トビ, サシバ, イカルチドリ, イソシギ, ユリカモメ, ドバト, カワセミ,
モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, コシアカツバメ, セッカ, ヒヨドリ, ムクドリ, スズメ,
ハクセキレイ, セグロセキレイ, カワラヒワ
Middle-reaches of Tama River (Kawasaki)
多摩川中流(川崎)
The weather was sunny and the cool breeze blew from the north.
So far this year there have been no typhoons hitting, and the riverbanks have not been devastated like the year before.
However, the numbers of birds were small.
There were still a few Barn Swallows flying around and I heard the call of an Oriental Reed Warbler from the bush.
There was no ducks except for the resident Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, which were seen this time last year, and only a single Common Coot was seen.
Several juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons were resting in the brush by the water, rather uncommon here.
Near the weir there was a flock of Little Egrets.
The birds observed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax),
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus), Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Coot (Fulica atra atra),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus dasypus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
カルガモ, ゴイサギ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, トビ,
オオバン, ドバト, キジバト, カワセミ, モズ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, ツバメ, イワツバメ, ヒヨドリ, オオヨシキリ, ガビチョウ, ムクドリ,
スズメ, セグロセキレイ
Mt. Gongen (Hadano, Kanagawa)
権現山(秦野,神奈川)
The end of September is usually the peak of the migration of Grey-faced Buzzards at this site, but until the day before the results had been very low.
However, the numbers of hawks observed in the surrounding sites were increasing, so I expected to see more this time. When I arrived at Hadano station, I saw a Crested Honey Buzzard soaring in the sky, which gave me a good sign of good day.
From the observation tower at Mt. Gongen, we could see Mt. Fuji with snow on the top in the west, but there were clouds over Tokyo and eastern Kanagawa in the east and Tanzawa in the north, and a strong north wind was blowing which made us feel a little chilly.
In the morning there were only a Crested Honey Buzzard and a few Grey-faced Buzzards, but near noon two flocks of Grey-faced Buzzards appeared and formed small kettles.
This was the first time this season that we were able to observe the typical hawk migration.
A Common Kestrel attacked a Peregrine Falcon, and the air battle was exciting.
The birds obserbed are;
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus), Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Crested Honey Buzzard/Oriental Honey-buzzard (Northern) (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis),
Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae), Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus),
Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi), House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Red-rumped Swallow/Lesser Striated Swallow (japonica) (Cecropis daurica japonica),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
アオサギ, チョウゲンボウ, ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, ハチクマ, トビ, ツミ, オオタカ, サシバ, ノスリ,
ドバト, キジバト, アオバト, アマツバメ, ヒメアマツバメ, アオゲラ, モズ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ,
コシアカツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, エゾビタキ, キビタキ
Mt. Inoko (Higashi-omi city, Shiga Prefecture)
猪子山(滋賀)
Several fine days had passed since my last visit, and many hawks apparently passed already, the prospect to see many hawks did not look very high. Nearly 80% of annual number of Grey-faced Buzzards (Butastur indicus) had already passed Shirakaba-toge Pass in Nagano Prefecture.
As expected, we could not see many hawks especially in the morning.
A juvenile Grey-faced Buzzard passed very close to us at 8:25 a.m., but there were not many other birds.
At 9:39, we had a call from the other side of the observing site that a kettle was present. There were a number of Grey-faced Buzzards forming a kettle. This was the only sizable kettle of this species seen relatively close on this day.
There was at least one Crested honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis) among them. I hadn't seen this species until this time, in contrast to the previous days. It initially looked like the prospect to have a close look at this species was not high.
The situation changes after 10 a.m. when the number of passing hawks increased. A Grey-faced Buzzard attacked a Crested Honey Buzzard on the air. It initially looked to ignore the attack, but suddenly flew upside down and went on the counterattack. It may have been a rare sighting since the Crested Honey Buzzard is temperate and often dismiss attacks.
On Sep. 20, I reported that the fraction of juvenile birds among Crested Honey Buzzards apparently increased.
After five days since the last observation, I expected that most Crested Honey Buzzards would be juveniles. However, many adult birds passed during this peak until sometime after 12 a.m. It was pleasant to see various colors and shapes of this species again.
Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus) had significantly increased.
Grey-faced Buzzards also flew, but not formed a large flock.
Around the peak, we saw a mixture of these three species.
At 12:27, there was a kettle only composed of crested honey buzzards. They flew long above us.
The movement of individual birds was slower than in kettles mainly composed of Grey-faced Buzzards, and we could enjoy slow movement of these large birds.
After 1 p.m. low clouds arrived and some rain droplets fell. Under this condition, hawks flew low and were sometimes seen against the landscape below us.
At that time, the majority of birds became Eastern Buzzards.
The final show was seen just before 2 p.m.
There was a kettle of more than 30 birds and about half of them were Eastern Buzzards, but both Crested Honey Buzzards and Grey-faced Buzzards were also present.
This was the largest kettle observed on this day, but was somewhat distant and the transparency had become very low due to the very moist air.
This time, I could hear more passerine birds.
I heard calls of Muscicapa species, and once there was a conflict on the air. From the behavior, they looked like Grey-streaked Flycatchers (Muscicapa griseisticta) but I was not sure.
I also heard Kamchatka Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopus examinandus) and at least two individuals lurked around us.
List of species:
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis), Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus),
Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major),
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus),
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica), Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)?
Japanese Bush Warbler (Horornis diphone),
Kamchatka Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus examinandus),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius),
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus),
Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
サシバ, ハチクマ, ノスリ, ミサゴ, トビ, ハヤブサ, アカゲラ, ツバメ, コシアカツバメ, イワツバメ, キセキレイ,
コサメビタキ, エゾビタキ, ウグイス, オオムシクイ, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ハシブトガラス, ハシボソガラス
Mt. Inoko (Higashi-omi city, Shiga Prefecture)
猪子山(滋賀)
After watching a large number of Crested Honey Buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis) on Sep. 19 and following the report of a large number of hawks reported in Shirakaba-toge Pass in Nagano Prefecture on the same day, I visited Mt. Inoko again.
On the contrary to Sep. 19, it was a hot, humid day.
In the morning, passing hawks were much less than we expected and we talked about the close encounter with Crested Honey Buzzards on the preceding day.
It even seemed hopeless despite the large number recorded in Shirakaba-toge Pass.
There were sporadic kettles of Grey-faced Buzzards (Butastur indicus) distantly, but they were almost invisible to small binoculars.
However, Crested Honey Buzzards occasionally passed (much less frequent than on the preceding day).
There was a big difference in age distribution.
We saw juvenile birds frequently in contrast to adults on the preceding day. It meant that new groups of birds which started after the passage of the typhoon. I picked up interesting individuals among them. One of the bird had two distinct tail bars resembling an adult male, but the other features indicated a juvenile. The other bird also had relatively distinct tail bars. Birds with these features challenge age identification and we wondered whether distinct tail bars could be an indication of juvenile males (sex identification in juvenile Crested Honey Buzzards has not yet been established).
I considered that the appearance of these newly appearing juvenile Crested Honey Buzzards might be a precursor of coming Grey-faced Buzzards, which might have started slightly slower than Crested Honey Buzzards.
This expectation turned to be right. After 11 a.m., there appeared relatively close kettles of Grey-faced Buzzards. They became even more abundant and some of the passed just above us.
Although they were not a continuous flow as expected, we could see hawks most of the time passing here and there between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
After then, the number suddenly decreased.
We could see, however, Crested Honey Buzzards sporadically passing and sometimes forming small kettles.
Probably due to the hot weather, migrant passerine birds were not remarkable.
Loud cicada voice wiped out otherwise audible delicate sounds of flycatchers.
List of species:
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis), Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki),
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), * Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) (seen by other observers),
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus),
Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
サシバ, ハチクマ, ノスリ, ツミ, トビ, ハヤブサ, コゲラ, ツバメ, コシアカツバメ, ショウドウツバメ, キセキレイ,
コサメビタキ, シジュウカラ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ハシブトガラス, ハシボソガラス
Mt. Inoko (Higashi-omi city, Shiga Prefecture)
猪子山(滋賀)
I visited one of the "hawk mountains" to see migratory raptors.
There was the first major peak of migration of Crested Honey Buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis) on Sep. 15. After then, a typhoon passed near us and I expected that there would be a big wave after the passage of the typhoon.
Hawks arrived as I expected. There were a large number of Crested Honey Buzzards with various colors and shapes and we enjoyed them. Most birds were adults, and this was indeed an indication that these birds (adults arrive earlier) were forced to stop migration due to rain and that they all started moving soon after the weather improved.
There was also a flock of Pacific Swifts (Apus pacificus), which appeared when the clouds passed.
It was a relatively windy day and the condition was probably not very favorable for Grey-faced Buzzards (Butastur indicus), less powerful in flight compared to Crested Honey Buzzards. There were not so many Grey-faced Buzzards and kettles I saw were mainly composed of Crested Honey Buzzards.
A small number of Eastern Buzzards (Buteo japonicus) and Japanese Sparrowhawks (Accipiter gularis) also passed.
List of species:
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis), Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus),
Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis), Black Kite (Milvus migrans),
Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus),
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis),
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica), Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus),
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea),
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica),
Japanese Tit (Parus minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus),
Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos),
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
サシバ, ハチクマ, ノスリ, ミサゴ, ツミ, トビ, アマツバメ, キジバト, ツバメ, コシアカツバメ, イワツバメ, キセキレイ,
コサメビタキ, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, ハシブトガラス, イソヒヨドリ, スズメ
Mt. Gongen (Hadano, Kanagawa)
権現山(秦野,神奈川)
Since migrations of Grey-faced Buzzards were increasing at many of the observation sites, and it was expected at this site as well. However, perhaps due to the cloudy weather in the east and the rather strong wind from the north-east, the number of hawks passing close to us was not many.
A few Grey-streaked Flycatchers were seen this time.
Japanese Paradise-Flycatchers and Narcissus Flycatchers were found in mixed flocks of tits (Japanese, Varied, Long-tailed) and Warbling White-eyes.
At the watering place, Warbling White-eyes and Japanese Tit were seen bathing.
The birds obserbed are;
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis), Northern Goshawk (fujiyamae) (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Pacific Swift (kanoi) (Apus pacificus kanoi), House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Green Woodpecker/Japanese Woodpecker (Picus awokera awokera),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica),
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
トビ, ツミ, オオタカ, サシバ, ノスリ, アオバト, アマツバメ, ヒメアマツバメ,
コゲラ, アオゲラ, サンコウチョウ, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ,
ツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ, エゾビタキ, コサメビタキ, キビタキ
Cemetery Tama, Fuchu, Tokyo
多磨霊園 (府中, 東京)
Migrating birds visit in this season every year.
There were few birds in the field and few birders or photographers.
When we were about to give up, we found a mixed flock of Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits and Pygmy Woodpecker in the canopy of the forest on the hill. Among them was a slightly larger bird, which turned out to be a Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher.
At a different location, Grey-streaked Flycatchers and Asian Brown Flycatchers were found in the treetops of a dead tree.
The birds found are;
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica dauurica)
キジバト, コゲラ, サンコウチョウ, オナガ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス,
シジュウカラ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, エゾビタキ, コサメビタキ
Sanbanze Tidal Flat (Chiba)
三番瀬(千葉)
This site is very important stopover point for the migrating birds flying to/from the North (Siberia) from/to the South (Australia and Southeast Asia).
Now is the later half of the season of the migration birds to the South/West.
On the day of our visit, it was mid-tide and we arrived at 5.30am, about three hours after low tide, when the water level was rising and the mudflats were gradually being flooded. We were able to observe the shorebirds closely as they moved closer to the shore, pushed by the rising tide.
Sanderlings were the dominant shorebird species observed, with Dunlins, Grey Plovers and Terek Sandpipers also abundant.
There was a flock of about 15 Great Knots, with one Red Knot among them.
There were also small flocks of Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey-tailed Tattler.
A Kentish Plover, a Pacific Golden-Plover, and a few Lesser Sand-Plovers and Red-necked Stints were also seen.
On the beach and on the breakwater, there were large numbers of Eurasian Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Gulls.
There were also flocks of Great White Egrets and Grey Herons.
Large flocks of Great Cormorants were flying about and fishing at the sea.
The birds observed were;
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Kamtchatka) (Haematopus ostralegus osculans),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola squatarola),
Kentish Plover (nihonensis) (Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis), Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Bar-tailed Godwit (Eastern) (Limosa lapponica baueri), Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes), Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus),
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Red Knot (rogersi) (Calidris canutus rogersi), Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Dunlin (Siberian) (Calidris alpina sakhalina),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Azure-winged Magpie (japonica) (Cyanopica cyanus japonica),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, カワウ, ミサゴ, ミヤコドリ, ムナグロ, ダイゼン, シロチドリ, メダイチドリ,
オオソリハシシギ, キアシシギ, ソリハシシギ, オバシギ, コオバシギ, ミユビシギ, トウネン, ハマシギ,
ウミネコ, オオセグロカモメ, ドバト, オナガ, シジュウカラ, ツバメ, セッカ, ムクドリ, スズメ, ハクセキレイ
Mikawa Bay (Aichi)
三河湾(豊橋,愛知)
We arrived at the site before 6 am and there were already several photographers and birders waiting for their target, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a very rare bird in Japan, although in recent years it has been seen somewhere during the seasonal migration of spring and autumn.
Although a few Red-necked Stints were found in the surf, the desired bird was not among them.
After some waiting we were finally able to see it in a small flock of Red-necked Stints as it was spotted at another point some distance away by another birder.
Other species seen were a few Lesser Sand-Plovers, many herons (Great White, Little, Grey) and Great Cormorants.
Next we visited Makusa Bay in Tahara City.
Here the Great Crested-Tern is observed every year in the period August to September.
When we arrived, we only saw Black-tailed Gulls and Great Cormorants, but a birder who had arrived before us had seen one, so we waited for a while.
After waiting for about half an hour, we saw one flying in from offshore towards the piles where it usually rests, but it didn't stop at the pile and flew off at this time, but we managed to see it flying.
The birds obserbed are;
- at mouth of the Toyokawa River;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), duck sp,
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Lesser Sand-Plover (stegmanni) (Charadrius mongolus stegmanni),
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus),
Sanderling (rubida) (Calidris alba rubida), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus)
- at MakusaBay;
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris),
Great Crested-Tern (cristatus) (Thalasseus bergii cristatus)
カルガモ, カモsp, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, コサギ, カワウ, トビ, メダイチドリ, ソリハシシギ, イソシギ,
ミユビシギ, トウネン, ヘラシギ, ウミネコ, オオアジサシ, ドバト, キジバト, ツバメ, セッカ, スズメ
Paddy field of Hiratsuka (Kanagawa)
平塚の田んぼ(神奈川)
We drove round some fallow fields in the rice paddies that extend to the north of the Tokaido Shinkansen line.
Due to the continuous rain last week, the water had become too deep to expect any small shorebirds.
Many birders gathered in one fallow field looking at and photographing a Ruff. This was a juvenile female, who was not afraid of people and could be seen from a distance of several meters.
At the next fallow field, there were ducks. One of the ducks was a Eurasian Teal that seemed to have just migrated from the north.
In another fallow field there was a snipe, but it was difficult to identify the species.
In the last fallow field we stopped at, there were a few Little Egrets, but their feet were black, which could be young.
The birds obserbed are;
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), Eurasian Teal/Common Teal (Anas crecca crecca),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Swinhoe's Snipe (Gallinago megala)?
Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Blue Rock Thrush/Blue Rock-Thrush (Red-bellied) (Monticola solitarius philippensis),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens)
カルガモ, コガモ, チュウサギ, コサギ, チュウジシギ? エリマキシギ, ドバト, ツバメ, ムクドリ, イソヒヨドリ, ハクセキレイ
Mt. Gongen (Hadano, Kanagawa)
権現山(秦野,神奈川)
It was still earlier for the peak of the migration of hawks. It was rainy and cloudy since the beginning of September in the area around Tokyo, with almost no sunshine and a lower temperature for this time of year of around 20 degrees Celsius. On the day of our visit, we saw the sun after a number of days. The temperature was still low though raised up to 22 degrees Celsius at noon. The first snow cap was observed on Mt Fuji, 25 days earlier than the average year.
There were only a few hawks that migrated across. but we were able to observe many kinds of hawks (Peregrine Falcon 1, Western Osprey 2, Black Kite 1, Japanese Sparrowhawk 3, Grey-faced Buzzard 6, Eastern Buzzard 1).
There were some hawks that didn't migrate (Western Osprey 1, Japanese Sparrowhawk 2, Grey-faced Buzzard 5, Eastern Buzzard 2) as if they were still hesitant to go across.
There were also many House Swifts flying over the sky.
Several flocks of White-bellied Green-Pigeons were seen flying between the coast and the mountains to drink the seawater.
There were a mix flock of Warbling White-eyes, Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, Japanese Tits, Varied Tits including one Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher.
The birds obserbed are;
Peregrine Falcon (Eastern) (Falco peregrinus japonensis),
Western Osprey/Osprey (Eurasian) (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus), Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis gularis),
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus), Eastern Buzzard (japonicus) (Buteo japonicus japonicus),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
White-bellied Green-Pigeon (Treron sieboldii sieboldii),
Oriental Cuckoo/Horsfield's Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)?
House Swift (subfurcatus) (Apus nipalensis subfurcatus),
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker/Pygmy Woodpecker (nippon) (Yungipicus kizuki nippon/Dendrocopos kizuki nippon),
Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher (Black) (Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis), Large-billed Crow (Japanese) (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis),
Japanese Tit (minor) (Parus minor minor), Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius varius),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Long-tailed Tit (trivirgatus) (Aegithalos caudatus trivirgatus),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Warbling White-eye/Japanese White-eye (Honshu) (Zosterops japonicus japonicus)
ハヤブサ, ミサゴ, トビ, ツミ, サシバ, ノスリ, ドバト, キジバト, アオバト, ツツドリ,
ヒメアマツバメ, コゲラ, サンコウチョウ, ハシボソガラス, ハシブトガラス, シジュウカラ, ヤマガラ,
ツバメ, エナガ, ヒヨドリ, メジロ
Birding Trip to find shorebirds in the suburbs of Tokyo (Ibaraki)
東京近郊でシギチドリ探鳥旅行(茨城)
This time, we visited the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture.
We started birding from Tonemachi, located on the left bank of the Tone River.
No fallow fields were found in this area, and in Ryugasaki City, the next site, as well.
As we entered Inashiki City and looked around the harvested lotus fields, we found shorebirds there.
Little Ringed Plover and Wood Sandpiper were abundant here again, but a variety of other species were also seen.
Snipe were relatively well observed as well.
Some Bull-headed Shrikes had already started their high-pitched calls, signs of autumn.
The birds observed are (*observed by other birders);
Little Grebe (poggei) (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei).
Grey Heron (jouyi) (Ardea cinerea jouyi), Great White Egret/Eastern Great Egret (Eurasian) (Ardea alba modesta/Ardea modesta),
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia intermedia), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta),
Great Cormorant (hanedae) (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae),
Common Kestrel (interstinctus) (Falco tinnunculus interstinctus),
Black Kite/Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus/Milvus lineatus lineatus),
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus),
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himantopus),
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Little Ringed Plover (Northern) (Charadrius dubius curonicus),
Snipe sp., Swinhoe's Snipe (Gallinago megala), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago),
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Common Greenshank (glottoides) (Tringa nebularia glottoides),
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos),
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii), Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta),
*Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Broad-billed Sandpiper (Eastern) (Calidris falcinellus sibirica/Limicola falcinellus sibirica),
Ruff (Calidris pugnax),
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Oriental Turtle-Dove (Eastern) (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis),
Common Kingfisher (japonica) (Alcedo atthis japonica),
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus bucephalus),
Carrion Crow (South Asian) (Corvus corone orientalis),
Barn Swallow (gutturalis) (Hirundo rustica gutturalis),
Eurasian Skylark/Japanese Skylark (japonica) (Alauda arvensis japonica/Alauda japonica japonica),
Zitting Cisticola (brunniceps)/Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis brunniceps),
Brown-eared Bulbul (Japanese) (Hypsipetes amaurotis amaurotis),
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis),
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus),
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (saturatus) (Passer montanus saturatus),
White Wagtail/Pied Wagtail/Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens/Motacilla lugens), Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis),
Grey-capped Greenfinch (minor) (Chloris sinica minor),
Meadow Bunting (ciopsis) (Emberiza cioides ciopsis)
カイツブリ, アオサギ, チュウダイサギ, チュウサギ, コサギ, カワウ, チョウゲンボウ, トビ,
バン, セイタカシギ, ムナグロ, コチドリ, オオジシギ, チュウジシギ, タシギ,
コアオアシシギ, アオアシシギ, クサシギ, タカブシギ, イソシギ, トウネン, オジロトウネン,
ヒバリシギ, キリアイ, エリ