Birdwatching in Amami (February 11-13, 2026)

February on Amami Ōshima is a little early in the season for observing endemic species, and at the Amami Nature Observation Forest—which I visit regularly—there were still few birdsong to be heard. It was just the time when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and I could see small, deep pink cherry blossoms—slightly different from those on Honshū—here and there. A Varied Tit with an unusually long beak, a rather odd-looking specimen, was visiting the cherry blossoms.

The breeding season for resident birds had already begun, and I was able to observe the nests of Lidth’s Jay and Ryukyu Green-pigeon.

Lidth's Jay

Lidth's Jay

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Ryukyu Green-pigeon

Amami Woodpecker

Amami Woodpecker

Amami Woodpecker

Amami Woodpecker

Ryukyu Robin

Ryukyu Robin

Lidth's Jay

 

Ryukyu Scops-owl

Ryukyu Scops-owl

Ryukyu Scops-owl

Birdwatching in Lake Kussharo and Tsurui (February 9-10, 2026)

 The temperature at Lake Kussharo dropped to nearly –20 °C, and with a cold wind blowing off the lake, it felt colder than at any other point during the tour. The weather was fine, with a beautiful blue sky stretching out above us, and we were able to enjoy sightings of the Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker and the Grey-headed Woodpecker.

In the Kushiro Marshes, we spotted the Greater Spotted Woodpecker and the White-backed Woodpecker in the wintry woodland.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Shika Deer

Shika Deer

Shika Deer

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Grey-headed Woodpecker

Grey-headed Woodpecker