Bird Watching in Japan & Asia: Black-faced Bunting

Showing posts with label Black-faced Bunting. Show all posts

2023-02-24

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (February 18, 2023)

As some birders posted "Black-faced Bunting", I went to the park to check whether it is "Masked" Bunting, which is a common altitudinal migrant throughout Japan or "Black-faced" Bunting, which is an uncommon passage migrant. The individual is actually pale and greyer than the ordinary male Masked Bunting. However, as the throat is yellowish, it is not Black-faced. After asking several birders, I concluded it is a male Masked Bunting, a sub-species (or sometimes treated as a full species) of Black-faced Bunting.

Besides the bunting, I was happy to see Ruddy Crake, though the light was poor to take good photos.

Black-faced Bunting

Long-tailed Tit

Ruddy Crake

Japanese Whtite-eye

2023-02-22

Birdwatching in Oike Koen (February 15, 2023)

There was a news of Pallas's Leaf Warbler. However, I wasn't able to see it during my stay in the park. A local birder saw the warbler on last Saturday, though he saw only once. A female Ring-necked Duck came back after her absence of 1.5 months.

Black-faced Bunting

Long-tailed Tit

Tufted Duck

Ring-necked Duck

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker

Great Tit

2023-02-06

Birdwatching in Takarazuka (January 28, 2023)

Heavy snowfall in the evening of 27 January. My birding friend took me inland Takarazuka as he found a male Red-crested Pochard. Although we missed another target, Solitary Snipe, we enjoyed birding in the snow field.