Bird Watching in Japan & Asia

2025-11-13

Birdwatching around Mt. Fuji

During our two-day stay at the foot of Mount Fuji, we took our time visiting four drinking holes at the hill side and fifth station. Although the variety and numbers of summer migrants had declined, we still managed to encounter species unseen in Hokkaido, such as the Narcissus Flycatcher and the Blue-and-White Flycatcher. We also observed the Japanese Accentor, endemic to Japan, and the Asian Stubtail, which is extremely difficult to spot except when singing.

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Red-flanked Bluetail

Asian Stubtail

Spotted Nutcracker

Coal Tit

Japanese Paradise Flycatcher

Narcissus Flycatcher

Japanese Accentor

Blue-and-White Flycatcher

Eurasian Bullfinch

2025-11-12

Birdwatching in Eastern Hokkaido

Hokkaido in early September was very quiet, without the songs of summer migrants. Perhaps due to a late migration to their wintering grounds, only Amur Stonechat was noticeable, but most of the birds were in the middle of molting, and the bright breeding plumage was absent. Even the usually lively tits were hardly heard, and it was difficult to find them.