Bird Watching in Japan & Asia

2011-01-21

Birdwatching in downtown Tokyo (January 21, 2011)

Can you believe all photos below were taken in Tokyo metropolitan area!

Certainly, I'm satisfied with photographing Orange-flanked Bush-Robin and Grey Bunting. However, I was bit worrying about by products of artificial feeding of birds. Photographers in Japan often feed birds artificially. Both Orange-flanked Bush-Robin and Grey Bunting are so tame due to the feeding. It's so a good opportunity to see Grey Bunting very well as it is generally very shy and secretive. But, too much feeding may change behaviour of birds....

Orange-flanked Bush-Robin

Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (female?)

Varied Tit

Japanese Bush-Warbler

Grey Bunting (male immature)

Grey Bunting (female)

Grey Bunting (male)

Grey Bunting (male immature)

Grey Bunting (male)

Smew (male) & Tufted Ducks

Little Grebe

2011-01-16

Birdwatching in Samukawa Town (January 16, 2011)

Before attending a meeting, I visited a small park, nearby Miyayama station, Samukawa Town. My target was Long-eared Owl, what I missed a few weeks ago. It's so strange to see a group of Long-eared Owl (totally seven) was roosting in a camphor tree in such a small children's playground. The owls didn't wake up unless an owl was preening shortly.

Long-eared Owl, after preening

Looks smiling...

then, sleeping again likely a rugby ball

2011-01-09

Birdwatching in Oike Koen (January 9, 2011)

Very cold in the morning but warm and beautiful sunny day. I visited Oike-koen park, where I was able to see Orange-flanked Bush Robin last week. Highlight of the day was White's Thrush. According to local birdwatchers, it has been seen since last week. A male Orange-flanked Bush-Robin was not so friendly today, though a female was able to see very well.

Observed Species

1. Little Grebe 2. Spot-billed Duck 3. Tufted Duck 4. Oriental Turtle-Dove 5. Common Kingfisher 6. Japanese Woodpecker (call) 7. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker 8. Brown-eared Bulbul 9. Orange-flanked Bush Robin (male 1, female 1) 10. Dusky Thrush 11. Pale Thrush 12. White's Thrush 1 13. Japanese Bush-Warbler 14. Long-tailed Tit 15. Varied Tit 16. Great Tit 17. Japanese White-eye 18. Black-faced Bunting 19. Tree Sparrow 20. Jay 21. Carrion Crow 22. Large-billed Crow 23. Chinese Bamboo Partridge 24. Siskin

Great Tit

White's Thrush

Pale Thrush (female) & Dusky Thrush (male)

Pale Thrush (male)

Chinese Bamboo Partridge

Common Kingfisher

Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (female)

Birdwatching in Inba-numa and Ukishima (January 8, 2011)

Together with my friend, we went to see Desert Wheatear, firstly. The wheatear was found very easily as it was feeded by photographers. The individual is not an adult individual but is still striking. After photographing the tame Desert Wheatear, we stopped at lakeside of Inba-numa. Among hundreds of Pintail and other ducks, we found 5 Bean Geese. Although my friend saw a Dusky Warbler in the morning, we didn't hear at the time. Then, we went to Ukishima marsh to look for Long-billed Dowitcher. Somehow, we didn't find the flock, though we saw rest of highlights, such as Marsh Sandpiper and Ruff. In the sunset time, we saw several Eastern Marsh Harrier and a male Hen Harrier.

Recorded Species

1. Bean Goose 2. Eurasian Wigeon 3. Mallard 4. Spot-billed Duck 5. Northern Pintail 6. Little Grebe 7. Grey Heron 8. Great Egret 9. Little Egret 10. Great Cormorant 11. Eurasian Kestrel 12. Peregrine Falcon 1 imm. 13. Osprey 14. Black-eared Kite 15. Eastern Marsh Harrier 16. Hen Harrier male 1 17. Japanese Sparrowhawk female 1 18. Northern Goshawk imm. 1 19. Common Buzzard 20. Common Moorhen 21. Coot 22. Northern Lapwing 23. Common Snipe 24. Marsh Sandpiper 25. Green Sandpiper 26. Wood Sandpiper 27. Dunlin 28. Ruff 29. Vega Gull 30. Oriental Tuttle Dove 31. Bull-headed Shrike 32. Carrion Crow 33. Large-billed Crow 34.Skylark 35. Brown-eared Bulbul 36. Japanese Bush-Warbler 37. White-cheeked Starling 38. Common Starling 39. Dusky Thrush 40. Daurian Redstart 41. Desert Wheatear 1 male 1st yr 42. Blue Rock Thrush 1 female 43. Tree Sparrow 44. White Wagtail 45. Japanese Wagtail 46. Buff-bellied Pipit 47. Oriental Greenfinch 48. Meadow Bunting 49. Black-faced Bunting 50. Common Reed Bunting