Bird Watching in Japan & Asia

2011-05-04

Birdwatching in Morito River (May 4, 2011)

Morito River is located in Zushi, near Kamakura. The river stream flows along hills in Futago-yama area. Although I knew the place since long time ago, it was first time for me to visit the area. There is a flat and well-maintained trail along the river. The scenery reminds me lower mountain forest in western Japan. It's so pleasure to hear many calls, such as Blue-and-White Flycatcher (quite common), Eastern Crowned Warbler and Japanese Bush Warbler while some passage migrants were also vocal.

Recorded Species

1. Great Cormorant 2. Spot-billed Duck 3. Black-eared Kite 4. Chinese Bamboo Partridge (call) 5. Oriental Turtle Dove 6. Common Kingfisher 7. Japanese Woodpecker 8. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker 9. Barn Swallow 10. Brown-eared Bulbul 11. Siberian Blue Robin (call) 12. Asian Stubtail (call) 13. Japanese Bush Warbler 14. Eastern Crowned Warbler 15. Pale-legged Warbler (call) 16. Narcissus Flycatcher (call) 17. Blue-and-White Flycatcher 19. (Japanese Paradise Flycatcher) 20. Grey Wagtail 21. Long-tailed Tit 22. Varied Tit 23. Great Tit 24. Meadow Bunting 25. Grey Bunting ? (call) 26. Oriental Greenfinch 27. Large-billed Crow

Eastern Crowned Warbler

Blue-and-White Flycatcher

Grey Wagtail (male)

Grey Wagtail (female)

Papilio macilentus

Atrophaneura alcinous

Davidius nanus

Hydrangea paniculata

Deutzia crenata

Kerria japonica

Anemone nikoensis Anemone

Ranunculus japonicus Ranunculus

2011-05-03

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (May 3, 2011)

Cloudy and cool day. Although it is in the middle of migration season, there were few migrants.

Violet keiskei

unknown flower

possibly Violet japonica

unknown flower

Chinese Bamboo Partridge

Erigeron philadelphicus

Phialodes rufipennis

2011-04-29

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (April 29, 2011)

A cool and windy day. Although a Narcissus Flycatcher was singing, nothing else much was seen.

Japanese Bush Warbler

Meadow Bunting

Brown-headed Thrush

2011-04-24

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (April 24, 2011)

Spring migration has started. A few Asian Stubtail were calling vocally while an Eastern Crowned Warbler was singing in the oak forest. A few Brown-headed Thrush has also arrived and was singing time to time. Although I wasn't able to focus, a male Blue-and-White Flycatcher's call was also heard.

Winter migrants have also singing in the forest. Beautiful songs of Black-faced Bunting and Dusky Thrush were heard while Siskin was calling, too.

Other interesting birds seen were a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, a male Grey Bunting and a Water Rail.

1. Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1 2. Chinese Bamboo Partridge 3. Water Rail 1 4. Oriental Turtle-Dove 5. Common Kingfisher 6. Japanese Woodpecker 7. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker 8. Barn Swallow 9. Olive-backed Pipit 10. Brown-eared Bulbul 11. Dusky Thrush 12. Brown-headed Thrush 2 13. Asian Stubtail 14. Eastern Crowned Warbler 15. Japanese Bush Warbler 16. Blue-and-White Flycatcher 1 17. Long-tailed Tit 18. Varied Tit 19. Great Tit 20. Japanese White-eye 21. Meadow Bunting 22. Black-faced Bunting 23. Grey Bunting 1 male 24. Siskin 25. Oriental Greenfinch 26. Hawfinch 27. Tree Sparrow 28. White-cheeked Starling 29. Large-billed Crow