Birdwatching in eastern Hokkaido (January 12-15, 2026) 1

 I led a week-long tour of eastern Hokkaido for guests from Australia.

In addition to seeing popular birds, such as the Steller's Sea-eagle, Red-crowned Crane, and Blakiston's Fish-owl, we were also able to spot Solitary Snipe, Ancient Murrelet and Asian Rosyfinch.

Solitary Snipe

Solitary Snipe

Red-necked Grebe

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Sika Deer

Hokkaido Squirrel

Hokkaido Squirrel

Steller's Eagle

Steller's Eagle

Steller's Eagle

Steller's Eagle

Steller's Eagle

Steller's Eagle

Steller's Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

Eurasian Jay

Eurasian Nuthatch

Eurasian Nuthatch

Harlequin Duck

Harlequin Duck

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Blakiston's Fish-owl

Glaucous Gull

Birdwatching in Saitama Prefectural Forest Park (January 5, 2026)

 

I heard that the Pallas’s Rosefinch had arrived for the first time in two years, so I went to Saitama, partly to carry out a recce for a guided tour. The roads were narrow and still covered in snow, so I had to drive very carefully. Two beautiful males had arrived this season, but there weren’t many other birds to be seen.

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Pallas's Rosefinch

Willow Tit

Asian Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit

Varied Tit