Bird Watching in Japan & Asia

2026-01-12

Birdwatching in Igashira-Koen (December 5 & 15, 2025)

By December, I was finally able to see Falcated Ducks and Smews. Neither had yet fully changed into their beautiful breeding plumage, but I still observed their plumage to be sufficiently splendid.

In the park's copse, I was fortunate enough to encounter a male Long-tailed Tit.

Falcated Duck

Smew

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Hybrid: Baikal Teal x Northern Pintail

Daurian Redstart

Hawfinch

2026-01-11

Birdwatching in Yutaki, Oku-Nikko (November 26, 2025)

Having come across records of Solitary Snipe sightings this season, I made my way to Yudaki Falls. Initially unable to find any, I gave up once and spent some time birding around Senjōgahara. A fellow birdwatcher I met there mentioned spotting a Solitary Snipe at Yudaki Falls around half past seven, so I returned to Yudaki. After searching for a while, I came across a Solitary Snipe sitting motionless near a fallen tree.It's a very plain bird, but I'm always delighted to encounter it.