Bird Watching in Japan & Asia: 2025

2025-08-21

Birdwatching in Amami Oshima (June 15-16, 2025)

Perhaps because the rainy season had ended, we were blessed with two days of fine weather. Personally, the most memorable encounter was with the unexpected Chinese Egret, but it was also nice to encounter the relatively unguarded Amami Woodcock during night-time birdwatching. The Ryukyu Robin and Lidth's Jay were hardly seen, perhaps because it was the breeding season.

Chinese Egret

Amami Woodpecker

Amami Rabbit

Amami Woodcock

2025-08-20

Birdwatching in Yambaru, Okinawa (June 14, 2025)

Perhaps because it was the middle of the rainy season in June, there were few sunny spells in Yanbaru, and the sky was overcast with heavy clouds. I had heard that the Okinawa Rail could often be seen on cloudy days, but unfortunately, although I heard its call, I hardly saw it during my stay.

On the other hand, the Okinawa Woodpecker seemed to have finished raising its young and I saw it moving around actively several times.

Ryukyu Minivet

Okinawa Rail

Varied Tit

Okinawa Woodpecker

2025-08-18

Birdwatching in Yambaru, Okinawa 1 (June 13, 2025)

I was able to encounter two beautiful species of terns: Roseate and Black-naped Terns. Both species are widely distributed in tropical regions around the world, but they are classified as endangered species in Japan and their habitats are unstable.

Black-naped tern was a lifer for me, and it was a very impressive bird with an almost pure white body and a black mask.