Birding Diary July - Dec., 2004



Birding Diary (Top)

24 December : Asahi-ike Lake (Niigata) Hail, snow and rain.
Birds we saw in Niigata were Great Cormorant, Gray Heron, White-fronted Goose, Bean Goose, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Smew, Black Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Goshawk, Rufous Turtle Dove, Short-eared Owl, White Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Japanese White-eye, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.

23-26 December : Tateshina and its vicinities (Nagano) Sunny and cold!
Birds we saw were Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Bewick's Swan, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Green-winged Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Pintail, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Black Kite, Sparrow Hawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Copper Pheasant, Black-headed Gull, Rufous Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray Wagtail, White Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Wren, Dusky Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Japanese White-eye, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Oriental Greenfinch, Long-tailed Rose Finch, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Carrion Crow, Jungle Crow, Duck and Squirrel.

19 December : Akigase and Saiko Lake (Saitama) 10:00-14:10 Sunny, cloudy later
Birds we saw were Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goshawk, Pheasant, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Rufous Turtle Dove, Common Kingfisher, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray Wagtail, White Wagtail, Japanese Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian Redstart, Brown Thrush, Dusky Thrush, Bush Warbler, Great Tit, Japanese White-eye, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Yellow-throated Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Gray Bunting, Oriental Greenfinch, Long-tailed Rose Finch, Hawfinch, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling and Jungle Crow.

10-12 December : Tateshina and its vicinities (Nagano)
Birds we saw were Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Rufous Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Wren, Dusky Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Red-Crossbill, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Azure-winged Magpie, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.

4-5 December : Tateshina and its vicinities (Nagano)
Birds we saw were Great Cormorant, Black Kite, Rufous Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Dusky Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Oriental Greenfinch, Siskin, Red-Crossbill, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.

21-23 November : Tateshina and its vicinities (Nagano) Sunny
Birds we saw were Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Rufous Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, White Wagtail, Japanese Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian Redstart, Dusky Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Japanese White-eye, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Oriental Greenfinch, Siskin, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Jungle Crow, Squirrel, Deer and Ural Owl(?).

5-7 November : Izunuma & Kabukurinuma Marsh (Miyagi) Sunny
Birds we saw were Great Crested Grebe, Great Egret, Little Egret, Gray Heron, ヘラサギ, Brent Goose, White-fronted Goose, Bean Goose, Whooper Swan, Bewick's Swan, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Pintail, Pochard, Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Merlin, Pheasant, Coot, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Rufous Turtle Dove, White Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian Redstart, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Oriental Greenfinch, Long-tailed Rose Finch, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.

16-17 October : Togakushi (Nagano)
Birds we saw were Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Rufous Turtle Dove, White-rumped Swift, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Brown Thrush, Gray-headed Thrush, Bush Warbler, Narcissus Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Blue-and-White Flycatcher, Brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Japanese White-eye, Gray Bunting, Japanese Grosbeak, Tree Sparrow, Jay and Jungle Crow.

8-11 October : Togakushi & Tateshina (Nagano)
Birds we saw were Gray Heron, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Common Buzzard, Rufous Turtle Dove, White-rumped Swift, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray Wagtail, White Wagtail, Indian Tree Pipit, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Brown Dipper, Brown Thrush, Gray-headed Thrush, Bush Warbler, Blue-and-White Flycatcher, Sooty Flycatcher, Gray-spotted Flycatcher, Brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Japanese White-eye, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Japanese Grosbeak, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Jay, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.

20-23 September : Yanbaru and its vicinities (Okinawa)
Birds we saw in Okinawa were Cinnamon Bittern, Cattle Egret, Intermediate Egret, Eastern Reef Heron, Chinese Goshawk, Barred Buttonquail, Okinawa Rail, White-breasted Waterhen, Little Ringed Plover, Lesser Golden Plover, Long-toed Stint, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Gray-tailed Tattler, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Common Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, Japanese Wood Pigeon, Rufous Turtle Dove, Ryukyu Scops Owl, Brown Hawk-Owl, Common Kingfisher, Pryer's Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Pacific Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Gray Wagtail, Ashy Minivet, Chinese Bulbul, Brown-eared Bulbul, Brown Shrike, Ryukyu Robin, Blue Rockthrush, Bush Warbler, Fan-tailed Warbler, Gray-spotted Flycatcher, Black Paradise Flycatcher, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Japanese White-eye, Tree Sparrow, Red-cheeked Myna, Carrion Crow, Jungle Crow, White-rumped Munia, Muscovy and newt with cute black eyes.

10-12 September : Shirakaba-touge pass and Tateshina (Nagano) Sunny
Shirakaba-touge pass 9/11 7:40-15:30
Shirakaba-touge pass is one of the popular hawk watching point. This is the third year for us to visit there. And...we knew it was too early for the peak of the migrating, we could see only dozen raptors on 11 September. According to the report, more than 1,000 were seen on 12 September! Then, which do you want to see "ten hawks in close" or "thousand hawks high and far"? I was satisfied to see them very close, I wanted to see a little more if I could wish though... Anyway, we were glad to see Gray-faced Buzzard-Eagle, Honey Buzzard and Golden Eagle for the first time.
Other birds we saw in Shirakaba-touge pass were Goshawk, Common Buzzard, Needle-tailed Swift, White-rumped Swift, House Martin, Gray Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bush Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Varied Tit, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Jay and Carrion Crow.
Tateshina
The weather forecast for this weekend was off and the clear sky delayed: we expected fine autumn days though. On Sunday, we heard a cheerful song of Blue-and-White Flycatcher. The subsong was very short and in a small voice, so we couldn't record it. Are you leaving soon? We will be waiting for you to come back here next year. Have a nice flight!
Other birds we confirmed in Tateshina were Little Egret, Black Kite, Rufous Turtle Dove, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, House Martin, White Wagtail, Japanese Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Japanese Grosbeak, Tree Sparrow, Red-cheeked Myna, Jay, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.
Next weekend, we will be busy in preparing for the trip to Okinawa (^.^)

4-5 September : Tateshina and its vicinities (Nagano) Heavy rain
In early September, I have my part time job every day and I am a little tired... It is a little hard work and I got some bruises on my both knees. Heavy work made me going somewhere all the more: we drove to Tateshina in the rain. We did no birding this weekend, just relaxing. I will be on the commuter train tomorrow morning. Now I am refreshed!
The birds we saw this weekend were Little Egret, Gray Heron, Black Kite, Rufous Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Gray Wagtail, White Wagtail, Japanese Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Oriental Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Red-cheeked Myna, Jay, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.

12-17 August : Tateshina and its vicinities (Nagano) Sunny
It was our first time to stay in Tateshina during Obon-vacation. We hated to be caught in a traffic jam in Kirigamine height, we decided to relax near the house. Though there were no cheerful morning chorus of birds, we could see cute fledgelings of Brown Thrush and Japanese Grosbeak. In the higher mountains, we eanjoyed the songs of Arctic Warbler and Siberian Bluechat, beautiful butterfly which suggesting the end of summer and little wild boar. The season is changing.
Other birds we saw today were Little Egret, Spot-billed Duck, Rufous Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Gray Wagtail, White Wagtail, Indian Tree Pipit, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Wren, Bush Warbler, Brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Japanese White-eye, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Jungle Crow.

30 July - 1 August : Tateshina and its vicinities (Nagano) Sunny
In Tateshina, the chirring of cicadas in chorus was at its best! It disturbed our oversleeping. In the beginning of August, we couldn't hear the song of Narcissus Flycatcher anymore: Brown Thrush was still singing though. Near the house, we heard the familiar rhythm of Siberian Meadow Bunting. It was just the same song we heard last year. In the afternoon, we went up the higher place to avoid the heat and hear the bird sound in the higher mountains. As we expected, we heard the song of Siberian Bluechat and Arctic Warbler and happened to see a family of Copper Pheasant. So fluffy!
Other birds we saw today were Gray Heron, Mandarin Duck, Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Rufous Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Barn Swallow, Gray Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Siberian Bluechat, Bush Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Japanese White-eye, Japanese Grosbeak, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Jay, Azure-winged Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jungle Crow and a beautiful lady from the Netherland. See you next year!
(^.^)/~~

24 July : A certain shrine in the north part of Nagano Pref. 8:00-13:30 Sunny, Temp in Nagano: High 92.5, Low 73.6 (F)
To see Hobby in red boots, we went to Nagano again. It was three hours drive from our house. On arriving there, we met our lucky bird, a family of Azure-winged Magpie. Under a big cedar tree, there were already four people waiting for Hobby. At first threre was no voice and figures, and thanks to Jungle Crow(!?), they appeared with warning voice. Last year, they failed in breeding because of Crows. How about this year? It seemed that there were more than two. We hope, and everybody hope, they can breed in safe...
Other birds we saw today were Rufous Turtle Dove, Barn Swallow, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Oriental Greenfinch, Japanese Grosbeak, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Carrion Crow.

17-19 July : Tateshina (Nagano) Sunny, Temp : High 94.1(Tokyo), 85.5(Nagano) (F)
Marine Day Holiday!
My husband caught cold again. The medicine has worked and he kept sleeping in Tateshina. His sleeping hours a day was more than 17 hours! That's why we didn't birding this weekend. Well, don't get me wrong: I don't blame you, marmot. Anyway, we enjoyed the song of Narcissus Flycatcher and Brown Thrush very close.
Other birds we saw today were Little Egret, Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Rufous Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Gray Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Willow Tit, Great Tit, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Oriental Greenfinch, Japanese Grosbeak, Tree Sparrow, Gray Starling, Jay, Carrion Crow and Jungle Crow.

10-11 July : Shiga-kogen heights (Nagano) Thunderstorm !
Since it was not good weather for camping, we gave up doing it and stayed at a comfortable neighboring lodge in Kayano-daira. We drove a long way from Tokyo, it was four and a half hours drive to Shiga-kogen heights. We left Tokyo at about 5 am, and arrived there at 9:30 am. The voice of Scops Owl allured us, which we haven't heard/saw yet. Yuge san, who lives in Nakano City, was kind enough to tell us the birding spot in detail, so we got the destination without losing our way. Thank you! We knew that we couldn't expect a good weather, it was worse-than-expected though. The result was...no voice of Owls in such heavy rains. Maybe we should come back here again next year in June. We thought it was a preliminary inspection forthe future! We walked in the wet and heard the songs of White's Ground Thrush and Gray Bunting and that was good enough, and there was more! The forest of 300 year-old beech trees and the gleam of fireflies were marvelous.
Other birds we confirmed this weekend were Black Kite, Rufous Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Little Cuckoo, White-rumped Swift, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Gray Wagtail, Bull-headed Shrike, Wren, Brown Thrush, Short-tailed Bush Warbler, Bush Warbler, Crowned Willow Warbler, Narcissus Flycatcher, Blue-and-White Flycatcher, Brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Japanese Grosbeak, Tree Sparrow, Jungle Crow and wet hare.




Birding Diary Top Page inserted by FC2 system