Japan tour 2007
Tour leader: Chris Cook
Bird list, with notes on selected species
Itinerary:
Jan. 22 -- Manko/Nago/Hentona/Hiji Falls/Yanbaru
Jan. 23 -- Yanbaru/Cape Hedo
Jan. 24 -- Sankaku-ike/Amami-Oshima
Jan. 25 -- Amami-Oshima/Kagoshima
Jan. 26 -- Arasaki/Kogawa Dam
Jan. 27 -- Arasaki/Miike
Jan. 28 -- Miike/Hyuga
Jan. 29 -- Tsuruimura
Jan. 30 -- Tsuruimura/Rausu
Jan. 31 -- Rausu/Notsuke Peninsula
Feb. 1 -- Odaito-ko/Akkeshi/Cape Kiritappu
Feb. 2 -- Shunkunitai/Lake Onneto/Cape Nosappu
Feb. 3 -- Shunkunitai/Tancho no Sato
Feb. 4 -- Tomakomai-Oarai ferry
White-billed Diver （Gavia adamsii）A winter-plumaged bird in Akkeshi Harbour on Feb. 1.
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) A few birds noted in Hokkaido, e.g. at least six off Cape Kiritappu on Feb. 1.
Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) A single bird seen from the Tomakomai-Oarai ferry on Feb. 4.
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Recorded in several places, and common in the bay off Arasaki.
Temminck´s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) Birds seen around Amami-Oshima Island.
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) Good numbers seen in Hokkaido, e.g. a pre-roost flock at Cape Nosappu on Feb. 1 contained about 500 birds.
Cattle Egret (Bulbulcus ibis) One bird noted on the roof of a pig farm near Ada in northern Okinawa on Feb. 22.
Eastern Reef Egret (Egretta sacra) Both birds, both dark and white phase, noted on Okinawa, Amami-Oshima and at Cape Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia) One bird at the Manko in Naha, Okinawa, on Feb. 22, and three roosting in trees at Ose Beach on Amami-Oshima on Jan. 25.
Great White Egret (Egretta alba) Noted at the Manko in Okinawa and at Ose Beach in Amami-Oshima as well as at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Seen at several places, especially in the south.
Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) Three birds at the Manko in Naha, Okinawa, on Feb. 22, and two birds at Sankaku-ike near the airport on Feb. 24.
Whooper Swan (Cygnus Cygnus) Commonly seen at selected sites in Hokkaido, e.g. at Lake Kussharo, Odaito-ko and on the Setsurui River near Tsuruimura.
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) Four birds at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 26.
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) A large flock of at least 150 birds at Kogawa Dam, near Izumi, on Feb. 26, and about 40 birds at a small pond at Higashi-Aoki on Route 447 near Okuchi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Feb. 27.
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) Large numbers seen, especially around Arasaki. Also noted in east Hokkaido.
Falcated Duck (Anas falcata) Two males at a small pond at Higashi-Aoki on Route 447 near Okuchi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Feb. 27.
Gadwall (Anas strepera) Four birds at Mimitsu Port in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 28.
Baikal Teal (Anas formosa) Five males and five females at Mi-ike in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 27.
Common Teal (Anas crecca) Recorded at Arasaki.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Common Pochard (Anas ferina)
Tufted Duck (Anas fuligula) Seen at Lake Miike in Miyazaki Prefecture on Feb. 27.
Greater Scaup (Anas marila)
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) Good numbers along rocky coasts in east Hokkaido.
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) Good numbers seen in east Hokkaido, especially off headlands. Displaying males calling and belly-flopping into the water at Habomai harbour, east of Nemuro, on Feb. 2.
Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) A female with Black Scoter in Akkeshi harbour on Feb. 1, and 20 birds off Cape Kirtappu the same day.
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Goosander (Mergus merganser) A male at Setsurui River near Tsuruimura on Jan. 29, and two flying downriver at Tancho no Sato on Feb. 3.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Several birds seen along the coast in Okinawa, Amami-Oshima and in south Kyushu.
Black-eared Kite (Milvus lineatus)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) Seen in many parts of east Hokkaido, but fewer than in previous years.
Steller´s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) Birds seen around east Hokkaido in many places but few along the Shiretoko Peninsula than in previous years. A gathering of about 200 eagles on the ice at Lake Furen on Feb. 2 was mostly composed of this species, but the makeup of the flock was not specifically noted.
Northern Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) A male at Arasaki on Jan. 26.
Northern Goshawk （Accipiter gentilis)
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus) Commonly seen in Okinawa and Amami-Oshima.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Seen in several places. A confiding bird at Cape Kiritappu on Feb. 1. At sea, a large falcon was seen flying toward the north from the ferry on Feb. 4.
Hazel Grouse (Bonasa bonasia) One bird heard calling and later seen in flight at Lake Onneto near Nemuro on Feb. 2.
Okinawa Rail (Rallus okinawae) Two birds seen and several heard in the Yanbaru area of northern Okinawa. Very vocal, and heard calling often, especially in the east and north of Yanbaru region, and also heard calling late one night in the forest.
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) One in Akkeshi Harbour on Feb. 1.
Common Crane (Grus grus) Two birds in the crane flock at Arasaki on Feb. 26.
Hooded Crane (Grus monachus) Several thousand at Arasaki, but no counts were made.
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) Two birds noted at Arasaki on Feb. 26.
White-naped Crane (Grus vipio) At Arasaki several thousand were in the crane flock -- no counts made.
Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) Seen in Hokkaido at Tsuruimura (Tsurumidai/Setsurui River/Tancho no Sato) and at Kayanuma (three birds) on Jan. 31.
At Tsuruimidai 230+ birds were present on Jan. 20 and at least 175 were at the feeding site at Tancho no Sato on Feb. 3. The total Japanese population is now over 1,000 birds.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Only recorded at Sankaku Pond in Naha, where 15 birds were present on Jan. 24.
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) Two birds at Ose Beach near Amami-Oshima airport on Jan. 25.
Long-billed Plover (Chardrius placidus) Two birds on the river near Route 3 at Sho, near Arasaki, on Feb. 26.
Kentish Plover (Chardrius alexandrinus) Seen in Amami-Oshima (50+ birds at Ose Beach on Jan. 25) and at Arasaki (2 birds at the mouth of the Kumenotsu River) on Jan. 27.
Lesser Sandplover (Chardrius mongolus) About 25 winter-plumaged birds roosting at low tide at Ose Beach near Amami-Oshima airport on Jan. 25.
Grey Plover (Pluvius squatarola) A single bird at the Manko in Naha on Jan. 22.
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) A few birds recorded at Arasaki, but not specifically counted.
Sanderling (Calidris alba) One at Ose Beach near Amami-Oshima airport on Jan. 25.
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) Six birds at Ose Beach near Amami-Oshima airport on Jan. 25.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Ten at Ose Beach near Amami-Oshima airport on Jan. 25.
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) Recorded at Arasaki where 3 birds were flushed from rice paddies/irrigation canals on Jan. 26.
Amami Woodcock (Scopolax mira) Two birds seen during a night drive through Kinsakubaru forest on Amami-Oshima on Jan. 25.
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) Twelve birds at the Manko in Naha on Jan. 22.
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) Twelve birds at the Manko in Naha on Jan. 22.
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) One bird flying over Yanbaru in northern Okinawa on Jan. 23.
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) Seen at several sites, especially on Okinawa and on Amami-Oshima.
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus) One bird seen from the Tomakomai-Oarai ferry and another probable
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
Common (Kamchatka) Gull (Larus canus) spp. kamtchatkensis One at Lake Kussharo in Hokkaido on Jan. 30, several around harbours and off headlands in east Hokkaido, and several seen offshore from the Tomakomai-Oarai ferry on Feb. 4.
Vega Gull (Larus vegae)
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) A few birds seen around harbours and headlands in east Hokkaido.
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) Seen in many places in eastern Hokkaido but numbers smaller than in previous years.
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) Several birds seen from the Tomakomai-Oarai ferry on Feb. 4.
Brunnich´s Guillemot (Uria lomvia) A single bird in Rausu Harbour on Jan. 31.
Spectacled Guillemot (Cepphus carbo) Winter-plumaged birds seen on the sea near Rausu and at Notsuke Visitors´ Centre.
Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) A single bird on the sea off Notsuke Visitor Center on Jan. 31.
Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume) One bird was later joined by another off Cape Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 28, and another bird was later found in a nearby bay.
Japanese Woodpigeon (Colomba janthina) One heard calling early in the morning in the forest near Ada in northern Okinawa on Jan. 23. Another was later heard in a different location.
Rufous Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
Red-capped (Whistling) Green Pigeon (Treron formosae) Two birds flushed from the forest in northern Okinawa on Jan. 23, and this species was also recorded at Amami Natural Forest on Amami-Oshima island.
Owl spp. An owl seen sitting on a guard rail near Oku in northern Okinawa on Jan. 22 was later thought to be Japanese Scops Owl (Otus semitorques).
Blakiston´s Fish Owl (Ketupa blakistoni) Two birds seen well at Rausu on Jan. 30 and 31.
Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) A single bird roosting in a tree near Kayanuma Onsen in east Hokkaido on Jan. 30.
House Swift (Apus affinis) Half a dozen birds noted flying around in central Hyuga on Jan. 28.
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) One bird in the stream at Ose Beach near Amami-Oshima airport on Jan. 25.
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris) Two plus birds at Kogawa Dam near Izumi on Jan. 26 and one in flight over the Setsurui River near Tsurumidai in Hokkaido on Jan. 30.
Pryer´s Woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii) A single bird seen flying to roost in Yanbaru, northern Okinawa, on Jan. 23.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) One bird of the very dark "owstoni" race seen feeding at close range in Amami Natural Forest on Jan. 24, and heard in Kinsakubaru the following morning, and a male at a feeder outside the window of Shunkunitai Nature Centre on Feb. 2.
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Recorded at Araskai in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Noted in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) Several sightings of birds in Okinawa and Amami-Oshima.
Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus) Several birds seen flying around bridges over large rivers between Lake Mi-ike and Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 28.
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) Five birds feeding at the camp site at Lake Mi-ike in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 27.
Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) Several birds on the forest roads in Okinawa and Amami-Oshima.
Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla lugens)
Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) Two birds on the river near Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 27.
Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae) Good views of this species obtained in northern Okinawa on Jan. 23.
Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis) Very common in the Naha area of southern Okinawa, and also noted further north.
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis)
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii) Noted in Kyushu and in east Hokkaido.
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Ryukyu Robin (Erithacus komadori) Several birds seen and heard in northern Okinawa. Birds often seen at on roads at dawn or just after.
Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus) Two birds seen in the forest in Yanbaru in northern Okinawa on Jan. 23.
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
Amami Thrush (Zoothera amami) A single bird feeding along the forest track in Kinsakubaru on Amami-Oshima on Jan. 25, plus another probable seen in flight.
Dusky Thrush (Turdus naumanni) Common in Kyushu and also seen in east Hokkaido.
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus) Common in Kyushu, Okinawa and Amami-Oshima.
Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphone)
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) Two birds heard in the forest in Yanbaru on Jan. 23.
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) Birds seen at Hentona village in northern Okinawa on Jan. 23.
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) One in spruce trees at Lake Onneto Feb. 2.
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Marsh Tit (Parus palustris) Recorded at bird feeders at Lodge Furen and Shunkunitai Nature Centre in east Hokkaido.
Varied Tit (Parus varius)
Coal Tit (Parus ater) A single at the bird feeder outside Shunkunitai Nature Centre on Feb. 3.
Great Tit (Parus major)
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) Birds seen in the forest at Lake Mi-ike in Kyushu and at bird feeders at Lodge Furen and Shunkunitai Nature Centre in east Hokkaido.
Common Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) A few birds seen in woodland at Lake Mi-ike in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 27.
Chinese Penduline Tit (Remiz consobrinus) At least two birds in reeds alongside the river at Arasaki on Jan. 22.
Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonica)
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus)
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Lidth´s Jay (Garrulus lidthi) At least five birds at Amami Natural Forest on Jan. 24 and three birds in Kinsakubaru forest the following day.
Common Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) An immature of the eastern race (soemmerringii?) seen at Arasaki on Jan. 26.
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Large flocks of corvids around Arasaki are composed mainly of this species.
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Thick-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchus)
Grey Starling (Sturnus cineraceus)
Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans) A female was later joined by a male on telephone wires at Higashi-Kantaku at Arasaki on Jan. 27.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) Two birds bathing in water in a pothole in the road near Hiji Falls in northern Okinawa on Jan. 22.
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
Oriental Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica)
Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)
Asian Rosy Finch (Leucosticte arctoa) About 15 birds at Cape Kiritappu in eastern Hokkaido Feb. 1.
Common Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) A single near Tsurumidai on Jan. 29 and three birds, including one male, at Shunkunitai Visitor Centre near Nemuro on Feb. 2.
Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata) A flock estimated to contain about 40 birds at Higashi-Aoki on Route 447 near Okuchi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Feb. 27.
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) One bird at the feeder at Shunkunitai Visitor Centre, near Nemuro, on Feb. 2.
Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala) Commonly seen in northern Okinawa, on Amami-Oshima and in Kyushu.
Siberian Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides)
Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans) Four males and a female at Kogawa Dam near Izumi on Jan. 26.
Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
Mammals:
Sika Deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) Heard at Lake Mi-ike in Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan. 27 and many seen in eastern Hokkaido.
Steller´s Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) About 10 together in the Nemuro Channel off Rausu on Feb. 1.
Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus ursinus) Several (about 25) seen from the Tomakomai-Oarai ferry on Feb. 4.
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Two in a field near Attoko in eastern Hokkaido on Feb. 1, and at least four at the crane site at Tancho no Sato on Feb. 3.
Amami Black Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) Four animals seen at night on Amami-Oshima on Jan. 25.
Ryukyu Long-tailed Giant Rat (Diplorthrix legata) Two seen on the road in the forest Amami-Oshima on Jan. 25.
Red Grey-backed Vole (Clethrionomys rufocanus) A single in the woodpile at Shunkunitai Nature Centre near Nemuro on Feb. 3.
Ryukyu Flying Fox: Two in the forest in Yanbaru in northern Okinawa were of the spp. inopinatus.
Spotted (Largha) Seal (Phoca largha) A very dark seal off Cape Nosappu on Feb. 2 was likely this species.
Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) Seen off the Shiretoko Peninsula at Rausu and at Notsuke Peninsula.
Nigel Moorhouse, Sarus Bird Tours 12 Walton Drive, Walmersley, Bury, BL9 5JU. England.
Telephone: (+44) 161-761-7279. Fax: (+44) 161-797-6243.
E-mail: web@sarusbirdtours.co.uk
