Bird Watching in Japan & Asia

2011-12-18

Birdwatching in Sakawa River (18 December, 2011)

A male Scaly-sided Merganser had been seen between late October and late November this year. However, it was reported unseen for a week afterward. So, I was waiting for an updated record is heard. Last weekend, it was seen near Kaisei Area, about 3 km north of previously recorded area. I decided to go to the spot, though I thought it is bit risky.

After arriving in Sagami-Kaneko Station of JR Gotemba Line, I walked toward west about 2km. Unfortunately, it wasn't the spot where it was seen last weekend. Then, I walked down toward Houtoku-bashi bridge over 30 minutes. After crossing the bridge, a local uncle told me it was seen about 500m down from the bridge in this morning. Yes, certainly it was there! Although it stays about 30 meter from the river side, it is quite tame and very relaxing. Previous individuals of which I saw was all wary and shy unlikely this individual.

The merganser is regarded as endangered in IUCN's Red Data Book while the population is estimated only 1,000 - 2,499 matured individuals. Personally, I have seen it three times before (and missed twice before). The last individual of which I saw was about 10 years ago in Gifu Prefecture. In Kanagawa Prefecture, one individual (possibly female) was seen last winter in Sagami River. As I understand the rarity with my previous birding years, I spent photographing and watching it without doing anything else. Finally, I took over 600 shots!

I enjoyed watching the merganser for three hours and beautiful Mt. Fuji behind the river.

Common Merganser (male)

Common Merganser (left) and Scaly-sided Merganser (right)

Scaly-sided Merganser (male)

Scaly-sided Merganser (left) & Common Merganser (right)

Scaly-sided Merganser (male)

Scaly-sided Merganser (left) & Common Merganser (right)

Scaly-sided Merganser (male)

Scaly-sided Merganser (left) & Common Merganser (right)

2011-12-11

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen, (11 December, 2011)

It already took one month since I visited there last time in November. As it was on Sunday, there are many photographers who visited the park for photographing birds. I enjoyed photographing a male Japanese Green Woodpecker and Common Kingfisher, though I wasn't able to see many winter migrant species. Two male Common Kingfishers were fighting for appealing their territory for over 30 minutes.

Observed species:
1. Grey Heron 1 2. Mallard 1 male 1 female 3. Spot-billed Duck 4. Chinese Bamboo Partridge (call) 5. Oriental Turtle Dove 6. Common Kingfisher 2 male 7. Japanese Green Woodpecker 1 male 8. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker 1 9. Wryneck 1 (call) 10. White Wagtail 2 11. Brown-eared Bulbul 12. Bull-headed Bulbul 13. Dusky Thrush 14. Japanese Bush Warbler (call) 15. Long-tailed Tit 16. Great Tit 17. Varied Tit 18. Japanese White-eye 19. Meadow Bunting 20. Black-faced Bunting 21. Tree Sparrow 22. Grey Starling 23. Large-billed Crow 24. Carrion Crow