Birdwatching in Kyoto (December 18, 2025)

 Hearing that there were two Ferruginous Ducks in Kyoto City, I visited the area with a friend. We went to the location we had heard about and quickly spotted the target birds. Afterward, we observed Common Mergansers and other species along the Kamo River in Kyoto City.

Gadwall

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Hybrid: Ferruginous x Tufted Duck

Hybrid: Ferruginous x Tufted Duck

Little Egret

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Baikal Teal

Baikal Teal

Baikal Teal

Baikal Teal

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

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Hybrid: Baikal Teal x Northern Pintail

Hybrid: Baikal Teal x Northern Pintail

Daurian Redstart

Daurian Redstart

Hawfinch