Bird Watching in Japan & Asia: Golden-crowned Sparrow

Showing posts with label Golden-crowned Sparrow. Show all posts

2011-03-27

Birdwatching in Matsudo (March 27, 2011)

As I found a Golden-crowned Sparrow has started changing the plumage, I re-visited Matsudo City. There were only less than five birdwatchers when I arrived at 7:15 a.m.. The sparrow was singing with unfamilar call, which reminded me Yellow-breasted Bunting, White-throated Sparrow and Blue-and-Whte Flycatcher, but was different from all.
It was often singing in middle storey of willow tree while it sometimes sang from reedbed. It probably takes another two or three weeks to be full breeding plumage.
When it was feeding on the ground, it sometimes dig on the ground by its legs unlikely buntings.
Taiga (or Red-breasted Flycatcher) was still in the same reedbed. It was agile but much easier than the sparrow to see. So, I enjoyed photographing it for 1 hour after photographing the Golden-crowned Sparrow

Oriental Greenfinch (female)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (singing)

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Black-faced Bunting (female)

Eurasian Wigeon

Oriental Turtle Dove

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Daurian Redstart (female)

2011-02-27

Birdwatching in Matsudo & Abiko (February 27, 2011)

Finally, I visited Matsudo to see a Golden-crowned Sparrow and Red-breasted Flycatcher. As I missed one train in Totsuka station, I needed to wait for nearly 2 hours untill the American sparrow appears from bush. Although more than 1.5 month has passed after the individual was firstly seen there, approx. 20 birdwatchers were still waiting for it. Accordingly one of the birdwatchers, it was firstly found by an American birdwatcher. He or she heard something familiar call for him/her. Otherwise, it wouldn't be surrounded by thousands of photographers during the stay in Japan.

A Red-breasted Flycatcher was much easier to see. It was immediately found after photographing the sparrow. The flycatcher is relatively tame and easy to photograph. Well, this is more enjoyable.

Then, I visited Abiko to see a Pallas's Leaf-Warbler. The warbler was spotted within 15 minutes after I arrived but was so restless!! I took a few shots but none was so good.... Additionally, there were still more than 50 birdwatchers who were chasing around such a tiny warbler. I gave up for photographing it and dropped in taking photos of a male Orange-flanked Bush-Robin, which stayed on a nice plum branch.