Birdwatching in Yokohama Shizen Kansatsu no Mori (December 23, 2010)

A fine and warm day.  Due to warm temperature, Orange-flanked Bush-Robin was singing in the bush.  Luckily, a female Grey Bunting was seen in a small flock of Black-faced Bunting. 

Black-eared Kite, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown-eared Bulbul, Orange-flanked Bush-Robin male 1, Daurian Redstart female 1, Brown-headed Thrush, Dusky Thrush, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Varied Tit, Japanese White-eye, Black-faced Bunting, Grey Bunting female 1, Oriental Greenfinch (call), Bullfinch (call), Howfinch, Jay

Black-eared Kite

Black-faced Bunting (male)

Grey Bunting (female)

Long-tailed Tit

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (December 5, 2010)

A beautiful sunny day.  Mt. Fuji was clearly seen from my house.  Still too warm for some winter visitors, such as Red-flanked Bluetail.

Many Dusky Thrushes were seen together with Howfinch.  A flock of Japanese Grosbeak was flying above the park but didn't come down to trees.

It seems Eurasian Woodcock or Solitary Snipe have already in the marsh but wasn't seen today. 

I spent most of my time to take picture of Common Kingfisher, which was really cheerful today.

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (September 26, 2010)

After two days rain, finally autumn comes.  According to weather forecast, it is still fine today.  As I obtained a new lens (SIGMA 150-500mm f 5-6.3), I went to Maioka-koen for testing the lens.

Although there were few signs of autumn migration, I heard a call of Narcissus Flycatcher while I saw a Cuculus sp. (probably Lesser Cuckoo).

Despite the reasonable price (90,000 YEN - 100,000 YEN), quality is certainly not so bad.  However, in poor light conditions, such as the 2nd shot, it doesn't perform well as Nikon's original lens.

male Common Kingfisher, probably juvenile

same individual with above, with poor light condition



juvenile Chinese Bamboo Partridge: looks really odd!




same individual with above



Short Birding in Bhutan (August 6-11, 2010)

I had a short visit in Thimphu and Phobjikha in Bhutan between 6 and 11 August.

Bhutan, a retired country, is probably one of the most attractive countries for birdwatchers.  As my purpose was for attending meetings, I was able to spent for birding only in my free time. 

Following species are quite common: Oriental Turtle Dove, Hoopoe, Grey-backed Shrike, Black Bulbul, Green-backed Tit, Large-billed Crow, Red-billed Chough, 3 sparrows (House, Tree & Russet).

Birdwatching and Insect watching in Maioka-koen (July 3, 2010)

In the middle of wet season, birding in Japan is not normally attractive.  It is almost same in Maioka-koen.  Many bird photographers were just sitting nearby a pond to photograph Common Kingfisher while many kids were exciting to look for frogs and dragonflies. 

A House Swift, a local resident, was flying among a flock of Barn Swallow.  Some young individuals of Long-tailed Tit and Great Tit are tame as they are busy for feeding. 

Japanese Bush Warbler and Lesser Cuckoo were still vocal.  Particularly, Lesser Cuckoo was calling very vocally. 

A family of Bamboo Partridge suddenly appeared from bush.  Two chicks are already fairly large.

Rather than birds, I enjoyed photographing flowers and insects. 

Birdwatching in Ulu Langat (June 5, 2010)

In my business trip to S.E. Asia in early June, I had an opportunity to transit in Kuala Lumpur.  During my short visit in Kuala Lumpur, I contacted my old friend, Ooi Chin Hock for going out birdwatching together. 

It was a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur.  So, although we originally scheduled to do spot lighting for searching owls & frogmouth, we decided leaving the place earlier when we arrived there due to many tourists.

Chin Hock is a professional birding tour guide, though his interests are broader now including flowers and insects. 

Although we were surrounded by loud noise caused by picnicers & hikers, we were lucky to see a some good birds. 

A highlight of the day was doubtlessly a male Rufous-chested Flycatcher.  I had seen it long time ago in Templer Park.  The tiny flycatcher reminds me a Snowy-browed Flycatcher with Mugimaki Flycatcher's pattern.  A group of Malaysian and Singaporean photographers were using tape to attract the male.  We just approched to the bird after they left.  As it was singing from a same branch for long time, we wondered it might have a nest nearby. 

Ulu Langat is a classic birding spot for KL birdwatchers.  I also used to visited there when I lived in KL around 15 years ago.  It was so nice to see not so many big changes there while some good birds, such as Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Banded Broadbill and Yellow-crowned Barbet are still there.

On the way to go back, we stopped at a view point toward Anpang.  We were lucky to see a pair of Rhinoceros Hornbill in the end of the day.  

Bird List

1. Peaceful Dove 2. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot 3. Violet Cuckoo (call) 4. Plaintive Cuckoo 1 5. Fork-tailed Drongo Cuckoo (call) 6. Grey-rumped Treeswift 7. Whiskered Treeswift 8. Silver-rumped Spinetail 9. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (call) 10. Rhinoceros Hornbill 11. Gold-whiskered Barbet 12 Yellow-crowned Barbet (call) 13. Black-and-yellow Broadbill 14. Banded Broadbill 15. Greater Green Leafbird 16. Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike 17. Asian Fairy-Bluebird 18. Pacific Swallow 19. Black-headed Bulbul 20. Yellow-vented Bulbul 21. Streaked Bulbul 22. Striped Tit-Babbler 23. Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler 24. Brown Fulvetta 25. Oriental Mapie Robin 26. Rufous-chested Flycatcher 1 male 27. Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher 28. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 29. Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker 30. Plain Sunbird