Birdwatching in Enrei, Nara and Yamato River (January 26-27, 2026)

 At Enrei, the snow and cold temperatures made it difficult to spot birds, but I was lucky enough to come across a Pallas’s Rosefinch. In Nara, I spotted a male Baer’s Pochard—a species classified as ‘Endangered’—and a female Ferruginous Duck, whilst on the Yamato River I saw a Scaly-sided Merganser, a rare sighting.

Baer's Pochard

Baer's Pochard

Baer's Pochard

Baer's Pochard

Baer's Pochard

Baer's Pochard

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Scaly-sided Merganser

Scaly-sided Merganser

Scaly-sided Merganser

Scaly-sided Merganser

Scaly-sided Merganser

Smew

Smew

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Birdwatching in Kyoto (December 18, 2025)

 Hearing that there were two Ferruginous Ducks in Kyoto City, I visited the area with a friend. We went to the location we had heard about and quickly spotted the target birds. Afterward, we observed Common Mergansers and other species along the Kamo River in Kyoto City.

Gadwall

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Hybrid: Ferruginous x Tufted Duck

Hybrid: Ferruginous x Tufted Duck

Little Egret

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Bull-headed Shrike

Baikal Teal

Baikal Teal

Baikal Teal

Baikal Teal