Bird Watching in Japan & Asia: Birdwatching in Kita-Kanto region (May 26, 2025)

2025-08-13

Birdwatching in Kita-Kanto region (May 26, 2025)

I decided to go with a friend who lives in Tokyo to see the Ural Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Boobook, and Peregrine Falcon in one day.

Since the chicks were just leaving the nest or about to leave, I thought that if we were lucky, we might be able to see them all, but I was worried about the Northern Boobook because it had just arrived and I wasn't sure if we would be able to see it. After visiting a shrine where we saw two chicks of Ural Owl, we visited a roosting spot for Long-eared Owl. The chicks were very active, yawning and spreading their wings. Although it was only a short observation, we were able to watch them without getting bored.

Long-eared Owls have surprisingly long wings, and I was surprised by the length of their wings when they spread them out.

This site must be very suitable for breeding, or perhaps the pair is very good at raising their young, because last year several chicks successfully left the nest.

On the grassy riverbank, a male green pheasant was persistently displaying to a female. The female seemed uninterested, or perhaps teasing him, as she paid no attention to him and walked away at a brisk pace.

Neither the male nor the female seemed to be aware of their surroundings, as they showed no signs of caution even though we were observing them nearby.

When we arrived at the site for Northern Boobook, the owl was nowhere to be seen at its usual roosting spot. We searched the area and were about to give up and head back when we spotted something resembling a raptor flying by. We went to investigate the spot where it had landed and found the Northern Boobook, opened his eyes and active despite it being daytime.

Its appearance was quite different from when it was resting, giving off a much more rugged and fierce impression, offering a glimpse into its hunter side.