Bird Watching in Japan & Asia

2012-01-29

Birdwatching in Yatoyama Koen, Zama (29 January 2012)

After missing Long-eared Owl in Samukawa Town in Kanagawa, I visited Yatoyama Koen in Zama City. I have visited the park before when I lived in Fujisawa City. Although many local residents were taking a walk, I enjoyed watching a pair of Japanese (Green) Woodpecker with good light condition. Two racoon dogs were also obeserved nearbly a pond in the park.

racoon dog

Mallard (male)

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (male)

Daurian Redstart (female)

Japanese (Green) Woodpekcer (male)

Pale Thrush (male)

2012-01-23

Birdwatching in Maioka-Koen (23 January, 2012)

Very few birds even after two days raining. An immature Northern Goshawk was sometimes seen as crows were chasing it in the forest.

Japanese (Green) Woodpecker (male)

2012-01-15

Birdwatching in downtown Meiji-jingu Shrine (15 January, 2012)

Who injured the bush-robin? Due to one selfish photographer, this male Orange-flanked Bush Robin may not be able to survive for so long....

Mandarin Duck (male)

Orange-flanked Bush Robin (male)

2012-01-09

Birdwatching in Inzai City, Motono Village and Abiko City

It is the first record on Siberian White Crane in southeastern Honshu. Although I had seen a few times before, I visited there to see my friend. Weather was fine and calm. We immediately found the crane after arriving the feeding point. There were about 50 people who were photographing the crane. We joined with them and photographed it for 30 minutes. Then, we visited several locations for watching open country birds. Another highlight was Japanese Reed Buntings which are not so easy to see in winter.

Recorded species
1. Little Grebe 2. Great Cormorant 3. Whooper Swan 4. "Tundra Swan" 2 5. Bewick's Swan 6. Bean Goose 7. Mallard 8. Spot-billed Duck 9. Teal 10. Pintail 11. Little Egret 12. Great Egret 13. Grey Heron 14. Siberian White Crane 1 (2nd year imm.) 15. Coot 16. Moorhen 17. Common Snipe 18. Black-eared Kite 19. Common Buzzard 20. Common Kestrel 1 21. Peregrine Falcon 1 (imm.) 22. Green Pheasant 1 (female) 23. Oriental Turtle Dove 24. Skylark 25. White Wagtail 26. Buff-bellied Pipit 27. Brown-eared Bulbul 28. Bull-headed Shrike 29. Daurian Redstart 30. Dusky Thrush 31. Japanese Bush Warbler 32. Zitting Cisticola 33. Meadow Bunting 34. Rustic Bunting 35. Chestnut-eared Bunting 36. Japanese Reed Bunting 37. Common Reed Bunting 38. Black-faced Bunting 39. Oriental Greenfinch 40. Long-tailed Rosefinch (call) 41. Tree Sparrow 42. Grey Starling 43. Carrion Crow 44. Large-billed Crow