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

Black-faced Bunting

Black-faced Bunting

Black-faced Bunting

Black-faced Bunting

Black-faced Bunting

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Ruddy Crake

Ruddy Crake

Ruddy Crake

Ruddy Crake

Japanese Whtite-eye