Siberian Rubythroat

Wajima, Japan 30th May 2009

30/5/09 Walked the trail into the forest at the head of the valley to the east of Waijima and then along the main river running north out of town. Took a shared taxi to Noto airport and caught the 16.05pm flight to Haneda. We transferred and departed Narita at 21.55.

31/5/09 Arrived at Paris at 4.15am. We departed Paris at 7.30 arriving at Heathrow at 7.50am.

Iris in forest east of Wajima, 30th May 2009

Male Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides at Waijima, 30th May 2009

Female Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius philippensis at Wajima, 30th May 2009

Adult Grey Heron Ardea cinerea jouyi at Wajima, 30th May 2009

Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus at Wajima, 30th May 2009

Species noted:

Spot-billed Duck 8
Black-eared Kite 15
Green Pheasant h
Oriental Turtle Dove 2
Common Kingfisher 1
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker 4
Swallow 10
Asian House Martin 20
Grey Wagtail 1
Japanese Wagtail 12
Long-tailed Tit 2
Varied Tit 1
Carrion Crow 6

Meadow Bunting 10

Wajima, Japan 29th May 2009

29/5/09 Again visited the port area followed by a visit to the park and river valley to the east of Wajima where we found a trail running alongside a stream into the forest.

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos at Wajima Harbour, 29th May 2009

First-summer Black-eared Kites Milvus lineatus at Wajima Harbour, 29th May 2009


Adult summer Black-tailed Gulls at Wajima Harbour, 29th May 2009

First-summer Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus at Wajima Harbour, 29th May 2009

First-summer Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris Wajima Harbour, 29th May 2009


River valley to the east of Wajima, 29th May 2009

Japanese Wagtail near Wajima, 29th May 2009

Japanese Hare near Wajima, 29th May 2009

Species noted:

Grey Heron 5
Spot-billed Duck 2
Osprey 1
Black-eared Kite 50
Black-tailed Gull 200
Slaty-backed Gull 1
Swallow 10
Red-rumped Swallow 1
Asian House Martin 8
Japanese Wagtail 2
Brown-eared Bulbul 20
Blue Rock Thrush 4
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Japanese White-eye 2
Bull-headed Shrike 1
Carrion Crow 5
Large-billed Crow 10
White-cheeked Starling 15
Tree Sparrow 25
Oriental Greenfinch 2

Meadow Bunting 4

Wajima, Japan 28th May 2009

28/5/09 Out at 5.00am walking a river valley to the east of Waijima that produced a displaying male Green Pheasant. During the morning we walked the forested hills to the west of Waijima and then looked round the port and nearby beach area.

Male Japanese Green Pheasant Phasianus versicolor just east of Wajima, 28th May 2008
Forested hills to the west of Wajima, 28th May 2009

Swallowtail Butterfly near Wajima, 28th May 2009

Carrion Crow Corvus corone orientalis at Wajima, 28th May 2009

Male White-cheeked Starling Sturnus cineraceus at Wajima, 28th May 2009

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 75
Japanese Cormorant 2
Grey Heron 10
Spot-billed Duck 1
Osprey 4
Black-eared Kite 50
Green Pheasant 1
Black-tailed Gull 150
Slaty-backed Gull 1
Oriental Turtle Dove 3
Oriental Cuckoo h
Swallow 15
Red-rumped Swallow 4
Asian House Martin 2
Black-backed Wagtail 2
Japanese Wagtail 6
Brown-eared Bulbul 25
Blue Rock Thrush 5
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Long-tailed Tit 6
Japanese White-eye 2
Jay h
Carrion Crow 2
Large-billed Crow 5
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 2
White-cheeked Starling 10
Tree Sparrow 25
Oriental Greenfinch 6
Meadow Bunting 8

Hegura-jima, Japan 27th May 2009

27/5/09 Out at 4.45am to overcast but calm conditions. There was a slight northerly breeze by midday. Walked the island but there was little evidence of new arrivals. At 5.30am flushed the Fairy Pitta three times from the northern central track and at 8.45am saw it again behind the shrine. At breakfast we were told we should unfortunately leave the island due to an approaching low pressure system that might lead to the ferry being cancelled for the following three days or so. We caught the 3pm ferry crossing to Waijima in slightly choppy seas. We returned to Minshuku Hakuto-en.

Japanese Bush Warbler on Hegura-jima, 27th May 2009

Minshuku Tsuki on Hegura-jima, 27th May 2009

Streaked Shearwaters from the ferry between Hegura-jima and Wajima, 27th May 2009
This large Shearwater is characterised by its pale bill, pale forehead, dark primary covert-patches on its underwings and the effect of a dark M across its brown upperwings.

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 150
Cattle Egret 8
Little Egret 2
Intermediate Egret 2
Great Egret 2
Grey Heron 2
Spot-billed Duck 3
Black-eared Kite 3 / 20
Sparrowhawk 1
Peregrine 2
Little Ringed Plover 1
Grey Plover 1
Black-tailed Gull 200
Slaty-backed Gull 2
Rock Dove 1
Oriental Turtle Dove 5
Oriental Cuckoo 1
Little Cuckoo 1
Fairy Pitta 1
Swallow 5
Asian House Martin 6
Black-backed Wagtail 5 / 1
Japanese Wagtail 4
Brown-eared Bulbul 5
Blue Rock Thrush 2
Dusky Thrush 4
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Black-browed Reed Warbler 2
Oriental Great Reed Warbler 2 / 2
Arctic Warbler 2
Dark-sided Flycatcher 2
Brown Flycatcher 2
Narcissus Flycatcher 1
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher 1
Japanese White-eye 10
Large-billed Crow 2 / 2
Daurian Starling 1
Tree Sparrow 5
Oriental Greenfinch 10
Japanese Grosbeak 3
Hawfinch 10
Black-faced Bunting 2

Hegura-jima, Japan 26th May 2009

26/5/09 Out by 4.30am to low cloud and virtually calm conditions. A slight southerly breeze by midday by when sunny and hot. The morning produced 4 male Siberian Thrushes but was largely otherwise quiet apart from an arrival of 35 Brown-eared Bulbuls before lunch followed by 20 arriving before almost immediately departing again low over the sea at the southern end of the island. Both Arctic Warblers and Brown Flycatchers were conspicuous by late afternoon suggesting another afternoon arrival of new migrants.

The Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla at the Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

The Harbour Park on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Adult male Daurian Starling Sturnus sturninus at the Harbour Park on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Oriental Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis at the Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009


Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata at the Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica in flight over Hegura-jima, 25th May 2009


Female Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope in flight near the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps near the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Minshuku Tsuki on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

The Tree Shrine near Tsukasa on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica near the Tree Shrine on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus near the Tree Shrine on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis xanthodryas along the northern Central track on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Female Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus near the lighthouse on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Immature Grey Heron Ardea cinerea jouyi near Minshuku Tsuki on Hegura-jima, 26th May 2009

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 5
Japanese Cormorant 12
Pelagic Cormorant 2
Night Heron 1
Cattle Egret 8
Little Egret 2
Intermediate Egret 8
Great Egret 3
Grey Heron 6
Wigeon 2
Spot-billed Duck 2
Black-eared Kite 3
Japanese Sparrowhawk 2
Black-winged Stilt 1
Grey Plover 1
Red-necked Stint 7
Common Sandpiper 2
Grey-tailed Tattler 3
Black-tailed Gull 100
Slaty-backed Gull 1
Japanese Woodpigeon 1
Oriental Turtle Dove 8
Common Cuckoo 2
Oriental Cuckoo 1
Little Cuckoo 2
Pacific Swift 1
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 15
Red-rumped Swallow 11
Black-backed Wagtail 15
Ashy Minivet 2
Brown-eared Bulbul 50
Siberian Rubythroat 2
Siberian Stonechat 1
Blue Rock Thrush 2
Siberian Thrush 4
Brown Thrush 1
Eye-browed Thrush 4
Dusky Thrush 8
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Black-browed Reed Warbler 3
Oriental Great Reed Warbler 4
Eastern Crowned Warbler 1
Arctic Warbler 14
Dark-sided Flycatcher 2
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 2
Brown Flycatcher 8
Mugimaki Flycatcher 1
Narcissus Flycatcher 3
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher 1
Japanese White-eye 6
Bull-headed Shrike 1
Large-billed Crow 4
Daurian Starling 1
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 15
Oriental Greenfinch 30
Hawfinch 5
Crossbill 1
Black-faced Bunting 6
Japanese Yellow Bunting 1
Chestnut-eared Bunting 2

Little Bunting 1