Bird Watching in Japan & Asia

2025-08-18

Birdwatching in Yambaru, Okinawa 1 (June 13, 2025)

I was able to encounter two beautiful species of terns: Roseate and Black-naped Terns. Both species are widely distributed in tropical regions around the world, but they are classified as endangered species in Japan and their habitats are unstable.

Black-naped tern was a lifer for me, and it was a very impressive bird with an almost pure white body and a black mask.

Roseate Tern

Black-naped Tern

2025-08-16

Birdwatching in Mt. Fuji (June 12, 2025)

There is a watering hole at Okuniwa-so, located at the 5th station of Mt. Fuji, where you can see subalpine birds up close. Eurasian Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Japanese Leaf Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, and other birds came to the watering hole one after another.

Red-flanked Bluetail (male)

Japanese Leaf Warbler

Goldcrest

Eurasian Bullfinch

2025-08-15

Birdwatching in Jokoji, Tochigi (June 9, 2025)

On the first day of WINGS Birding Tours, we went out to search for Northern Boobooks in Tochigi Prefecture. Immediately after arriving, we encountered Northern Boobooks in the grounds of a temple. Perhaps because breeding had not yet begun, or perhaps because they had not been there long after migrating, the males had their eyes open and were searching for insects such as grasshoppers and dragonflies.