Birdwatching in Igashira-Koen (December 5 & 15, 2025)

 

By December, I was finally able to see Falcated Ducks and Smews. Neither had yet fully changed into their beautiful breeding plumage, but I still observed their plumage to be sufficiently splendid.

In the park's copse, I was fortunate enough to encounter a male Long-tailed Tit.

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Falcated Duck

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Smew

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Hybrid: Baikal Teal x Northern Pintail

Hybrid: Baikal Teal x Northern Pintail

Daurian Redstart

Daurian Redstart

Hawfinch

Birdwatching in Eastern Hokkaido

 Hokkaido in early September was very quiet, without the songs of summer migrants. Perhaps due to a late migration to their wintering grounds, only Amur Stonechat was noticeable, but most of the birds were in the middle of molting, and the bright breeding plumage was absent. Even the usually lively tits were hardly heard, and it was difficult to find them.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Hawfinch

Hawfinch

Hawfinch

Hawfinch

Hawfinch

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned Crane

Amur Stonechat

Amur Stonechat

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Crested Kingfisher