Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (December 5, 2010)

A beautiful sunny day.  Mt. Fuji was clearly seen from my house.  Still too warm for some winter visitors, such as Red-flanked Bluetail.

Many Dusky Thrushes were seen together with Howfinch.  A flock of Japanese Grosbeak was flying above the park but didn't come down to trees.

It seems Eurasian Woodcock or Solitary Snipe have already in the marsh but wasn't seen today. 

I spent most of my time to take picture of Common Kingfisher, which was really cheerful today.

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (September 26, 2010)

After two days rain, finally autumn comes.  According to weather forecast, it is still fine today.  As I obtained a new lens (SIGMA 150-500mm f 5-6.3), I went to Maioka-koen for testing the lens.

Although there were few signs of autumn migration, I heard a call of Narcissus Flycatcher while I saw a Cuculus sp. (probably Lesser Cuckoo).

Despite the reasonable price (90,000 YEN - 100,000 YEN), quality is certainly not so bad.  However, in poor light conditions, such as the 2nd shot, it doesn't perform well as Nikon's original lens.

male Common Kingfisher, probably juvenile

same individual with above, with poor light condition



juvenile Chinese Bamboo Partridge: looks really odd!




same individual with above



Short Birding in Bhutan (August 6-11, 2010)

I had a short visit in Thimphu and Phobjikha in Bhutan between 6 and 11 August.

Bhutan, a retired country, is probably one of the most attractive countries for birdwatchers.  As my purpose was for attending meetings, I was able to spent for birding only in my free time. 

Following species are quite common: Oriental Turtle Dove, Hoopoe, Grey-backed Shrike, Black Bulbul, Green-backed Tit, Large-billed Crow, Red-billed Chough, 3 sparrows (House, Tree & Russet).

Birdwatching and Insect watching in Maioka-koen (July 3, 2010)

In the middle of wet season, birding in Japan is not normally attractive.  It is almost same in Maioka-koen.  Many bird photographers were just sitting nearby a pond to photograph Common Kingfisher while many kids were exciting to look for frogs and dragonflies. 

A House Swift, a local resident, was flying among a flock of Barn Swallow.  Some young individuals of Long-tailed Tit and Great Tit are tame as they are busy for feeding. 

Japanese Bush Warbler and Lesser Cuckoo were still vocal.  Particularly, Lesser Cuckoo was calling very vocally. 

A family of Bamboo Partridge suddenly appeared from bush.  Two chicks are already fairly large.

Rather than birds, I enjoyed photographing flowers and insects. 

Birdwatching in Ulu Langat (June 5, 2010)

In my business trip to S.E. Asia in early June, I had an opportunity to transit in Kuala Lumpur.  During my short visit in Kuala Lumpur, I contacted my old friend, Ooi Chin Hock for going out birdwatching together. 

It was a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur.  So, although we originally scheduled to do spot lighting for searching owls & frogmouth, we decided leaving the place earlier when we arrived there due to many tourists.

Chin Hock is a professional birding tour guide, though his interests are broader now including flowers and insects. 

Although we were surrounded by loud noise caused by picnicers & hikers, we were lucky to see a some good birds. 

A highlight of the day was doubtlessly a male Rufous-chested Flycatcher.  I had seen it long time ago in Templer Park.  The tiny flycatcher reminds me a Snowy-browed Flycatcher with Mugimaki Flycatcher's pattern.  A group of Malaysian and Singaporean photographers were using tape to attract the male.  We just approched to the bird after they left.  As it was singing from a same branch for long time, we wondered it might have a nest nearby. 

Ulu Langat is a classic birding spot for KL birdwatchers.  I also used to visited there when I lived in KL around 15 years ago.  It was so nice to see not so many big changes there while some good birds, such as Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Banded Broadbill and Yellow-crowned Barbet are still there.

On the way to go back, we stopped at a view point toward Anpang.  We were lucky to see a pair of Rhinoceros Hornbill in the end of the day.  

Bird List

1. Peaceful Dove 2. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot 3. Violet Cuckoo (call) 4. Plaintive Cuckoo 1 5. Fork-tailed Drongo Cuckoo (call) 6. Grey-rumped Treeswift 7. Whiskered Treeswift 8. Silver-rumped Spinetail 9. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (call) 10. Rhinoceros Hornbill 11. Gold-whiskered Barbet 12 Yellow-crowned Barbet (call) 13. Black-and-yellow Broadbill 14. Banded Broadbill 15. Greater Green Leafbird 16. Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike 17. Asian Fairy-Bluebird 18. Pacific Swallow 19. Black-headed Bulbul 20. Yellow-vented Bulbul 21. Streaked Bulbul 22. Striped Tit-Babbler 23. Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler 24. Brown Fulvetta 25. Oriental Mapie Robin 26. Rufous-chested Flycatcher 1 male 27. Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher 28. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 29. Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker 30. Plain Sunbird

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (May 9, 2010)

I went to Maioka-koen for early birdwatching, again in this Sunday.

Although spring migration season, somehow, very little voice is heard in the park.  Howfinch is still heard, though it sits behind leaves.  A thrush was seeen along the trail but hid into the bush quickly.

A male Narcissus Flycatcher was calling loudly but is nervous and sit high near the canopy while Great Tit looks busy for taking care of the chicks.

Although several Chinese Bamboo Partridge were seen last week, there were only voices in this morning.

A male Japanese (Green) Woodpecker was seen well in a trail while I was waiting for the Narcissus Flycatcher.  It seems the woodpecker is nesting as the male was carrying worms to somewhere.

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (May 2, 2010)

A beautiful sunny day. 

I woke up at 5:00 AM and visited Maioka Koen park in the morning. 

Some Brown-headed Thrush, at least one Pale-legged Warbler and Eastern Crowned Warbler were singinng, though they did not show nice view. 

A male Narcissus Flycatcher was also singing in the dense forest.

Chinese Bamboo Partridge was very active and allowed to take some pictures.

Birdwatching in Yambaru, Okinawa Day 2 (April 18, 2010)

As I was able to see all three target species yesterday, I decided to spend most of my time to look for Okinawa Rail in the morning and photograph Ryukyu Robin afterward.

I woke up at 5:00 AM as yesterday and drove northword from Nago City.  Ryukyu Robin and Light-vented Bulbul sometimes crossed the road.  Although I was carefully watching roadside, I did not have good luck to see any rail.  Once I found a pair of rail, it was White-breasted Waterhen, which is common in Okinawa.

A Okinawa Rail was found in the forest edge in northern Kunigami Village.  Luckily, it did not run into the bush and kept feeding roadside.  The stripe body with red beak is so distinctive and more hundsome than my thought.

After the encounter, I drove into a forest trail.  Although I was able to hear some Okinawa Rail's call, there was no more luck to see the rare rail. 

Okinawa Woodpecker was sometimes seen along the trail though it was normally very shy and kept in the lower dense vegetation.

In the hill station of the forest, I heard a Japanese Paradise Flycatcher and Narcissus Flycatcher were singing.  Although I waited for a while, they kept in the dense bush.

As I needed to go back to the Naha International Airport by 3:30 PM, I needed to leave Kunigami Village around 11:00 AM..  I decided to drop off Hiji Waterfall once again.

When I arrived in the waterfall, there were already some tourists.  Although I did not expect good encounter of Ryukyu Robin and Okinawa Woodpecker, I saw the two species once again.

Ryukyu Robin is generally tame bird and often comes closer to people.  I was so happy to take some nice pictures of the robin in the end of my trip.

Birds seen during the two days are as below.

1. Grey-faced Buzzard 2. Little Eagret 3. Great Egret 4. Cattle Egret 5. Okinawa Rail 6. White-breasted Waterhen 7. Oriental Turtle Dove 8. Whistling Green Pigeon 9. Okinawa Woodpecker 10. Japanese Pygmy Woodpekcer 11. Light-vented Bulbul 12. Brown-eared Bulbul 13. Ryukyu Minivet 14. Pacific Swallow 15. Barn Swallow 16. Ryukyu Robin 17. Blue Rockthrush 18. Pale Thrush 19. Brown-headed Thrush 20. Japanese Bush Warbler 21. Zitting Cisticola 22. Narcissus Flycatcher 23. Japanese Paradise Flycatcher 24. Varied Tit 25. Great Tit 26. Japanese White-eye 27. Eurasian Tree Sparrow28. Nutmeg Mannikin 29. Large-billed Crow

Birdwatching in Yambaru, Okinawa Day 1 (April 17, 2010)

I hadn't been able to go birding due to too much work for a while.

As I had a mission in Naha, Okinawa on 16 April and free days in the weekend, I decided to go to Yambaru, where I had never been before.

I hired a car in Naha in the Friday evening and left Naha around 5:30 AM in the morning.  Driving to Nago City was confortable without heavy traffic.  After Nago City, I followed route 58 toward Kunigami Village.  Accordingly my friend, northern tip of Okinawa island is a good point to see 3 target species.

Before going to the northern end, I dropped off at Hiji Waterfall (Hiji-no-Otaki).  Immediately after getting off the car at the car park, I heard several calls of Ryukyu Robins.  Yes, the Robin was found at the camp site! 

In the camp site, I was also very lucky to see  a male Okinawa Woodpecker.  The woodpecker reminds me Maroon Woodpecker or Orange-backed Woodpecker of Southeast Asia.

Hiji Waterfall is a famous site for Ryukyu Robin.  I saw at least 10 individuals (both male and female) within 2 hours.

During day time, although I visited northern Kunigami Village, I did not have a chance to see anything noteworthy. 

In Cape Hedo, I enjoyed watching several Blue Rock Thrushes.  The rock thrush is very common in Okinawa and is found even in downtown. 

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker is common in forest in the village while Great and Varied Tits are frequently seen. 

In the late afternoon, I spent my time for looking for Okinawa Rail in northern parts of the village.  Around 5:30 p.m., I finally found an individual of rail nearby the road. 

Ryuku Robin (male)