Birdwatching in Mae Nikko, Tochigi (20 May, 2025)

 When I lived in Osaka, I would hear its song every year in early April in the hills near my house, but I rarely saw it.

After moving to Tochigi, where the habitat is closer, I gradually came to understand the bird's lifestyle, and as a result, I have had more opportunities to encounter it.

Unlike the similar Siberian Blue Robin, this bird seems to prefer slightly damp environments with moss-covered rocks near streams, and the individual I encountered was in just such a habitat.

On the day, it was a clear, sunny day with high temperatures, and when I arrived, the bird was not singing, making it difficult to find. After searching for over 30 minutes, I finally spotted an individual perched on a rock.

Although I encounter this bird several times a year, each encounter remains a much-anticipated event.

Red Fox

Red Fox

Red Fox

Red Fox

Red Fox

Red Fox