Birdwatching in Yambaru, Okinawa Day 1 (April 17, 2010)

I hadn't been able to go birding due to too much work for a while.

As I had a mission in Naha, Okinawa on 16 April and free days in the weekend, I decided to go to Yambaru, where I had never been before.

I hired a car in Naha in the Friday evening and left Naha around 5:30 AM in the morning.  Driving to Nago City was confortable without heavy traffic.  After Nago City, I followed route 58 toward Kunigami Village.  Accordingly my friend, northern tip of Okinawa island is a good point to see 3 target species.

Before going to the northern end, I dropped off at Hiji Waterfall (Hiji-no-Otaki).  Immediately after getting off the car at the car park, I heard several calls of Ryukyu Robins.  Yes, the Robin was found at the camp site! 

In the camp site, I was also very lucky to see  a male Okinawa Woodpecker.  The woodpecker reminds me Maroon Woodpecker or Orange-backed Woodpecker of Southeast Asia.

Hiji Waterfall is a famous site for Ryukyu Robin.  I saw at least 10 individuals (both male and female) within 2 hours.

During day time, although I visited northern Kunigami Village, I did not have a chance to see anything noteworthy. 

In Cape Hedo, I enjoyed watching several Blue Rock Thrushes.  The rock thrush is very common in Okinawa and is found even in downtown. 

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker is common in forest in the village while Great and Varied Tits are frequently seen. 

In the late afternoon, I spent my time for looking for Okinawa Rail in northern parts of the village.  Around 5:30 p.m., I finally found an individual of rail nearby the road. 

Ryuku Robin (male)

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (February 14, 2010)

After raining for a few days, I visited the park again to take pictures of woodcock. 

There was no woodcock but a Solitary Snipe, though it was bit far away.....

Some good photos of common species likely Varied  Tits, Great Tits, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Hawfinch and Bull-headed Shrike were taken while a small flock of Chinese Bamboo Partridge was seen very well.

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen February 7, 2010)

A bit quiet day. 

There was no highlight of the day.

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (January 24, 2010)

Although a pair of Woodcock was seen likely a week before, they were too far to photograph.

Highlight of the day was a Water Rail.

A female Black-faced Bunting was so tame and allowed me to take photos within 2-3 meter.

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen (January 16, 2010)

Unlikely last time, there was no Solitary Snipe.

A pair of Eurasian Woodcock was doubtlessly highlight of the day.

While a Common Kingfisher was seen well.

Birdwatching in Maioka Koen

The first birding in 2010.  Although I knew arrival of Solitary Snipe and Eurasian Woodcocks through someone's web site a few days ago, I didn't want to go to the park.  The main reason why I don't like to go to the park is too many bird photographers.   Often, 30 or 40 people were just sitting in front of marsh to take a picture of Solitary Snipe or Wryneck....

Well, anyway, I left my house at 8:00 a.m. to go to the park.  It was bit hazy and less sunny comparing to the last few days.  Likely in this season, it was bit cold with some frost in the park.  Tits, such as Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit were seen together with Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker  on the way to go to the marsh. 

Yap, there was a Solitary Snipe in the marsh.  It was feeding just about 10 meter from me.  Although photographers were bit nuisance, probably, nowhere else Solitary Snipe is so tame and easily seen in Japan.  The snipe is never uncommon in middle of winter in Japan.  Actually, it is more often seen in western Japan in small streams in hill station.  However, it is normally quite wary.  So, we just see when it is flushed.

A Common Kingfisher was seen in a small pond while a Brown-headed Thrush (probably race orii) was feeding on the ground.  In this winter, number of small passerine, such as Daurian Redstart and Red-flanked Bluetail is less than usual winter.  Although I heard call of Red-flanked Bluetail, I wasn't able to focus in it in the bush.

Recently, number of  Hwamei, an introduced species, has been increasing.  Although it is ecologically not good to see the laughing thrush, I am bit curious how they establish well in Yokohama.