Bird Watching in Japan & Asia: 2021/11

2021-11-29

Birdwatching in Oike Koen (November 26, 2021)

Winter migrants started arriving. Pale and Dusky Thrushes were observed while Red-flanked Bluetails are vocal in the dense bush. A female Ring-necked Duck came back again with Tufted Duck.

Black-faced Bunting male

Black-faced Bunting female

Long-tailed Tit

Spot-billed Duck

Tufted Duck male

Ring-necked Duck female

Dusky Thrush

Red-flanked Bluetail

hybrid duck?

2021-11-28

Birdwatching in Kabukuri-numa and Sendai Plain (13-15 November 2021)

Northern parts of Sendai Plain (often called as Senboku Plain) is the largest wintering ground of goose in Japan. The number has been increasing in the recent years. The number is now estimated over 200,000 annually. Majority of the goose is White-fronted Goose (about 90%) while Cackling Goose has been increasing rapidly. There are also Bean, Lesser White-fronted and Snow Goose though the number is less than 1,000 for each.

During the stay, I was able to see roughly 30 species including four goose species (White-fronted, Lesser White-fronted, Bean and Cackling).

Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, Common Merganser, Oriental Turtle Dove, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Coot, Black-eared Kite, Hen Harrier, Japanese Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Bull-headed Shrike, Carrion Crow, Large-billed Crow, Skylark, White-cheeked Starling, White Wagtail, Buff-bellied Pipit