Hegura-jima, Japan 21st May 2009

21/5/09 Out at 4.30am with overcast and hazy conditions over a calm sea. Sunny by mid-morning being replaced by heavy cloud by 2pm producing a light shower at 3pm and NE2. The island’s divers and fishermen were all out early. The early morning walk produced an unexpected arrival in the form of a female Bullfinch! There was evidence of diurnal passage provided by Minivets and White-eyes moving high over the island. A Dollarbird was seen several times and a new White’s Thrush was found late in the day.

Immature Temminck’s Cormorant Phalacrocorax capillatus along the western shore of Hegura-jima, 21st May 2009

The yellow skin of the gular patch extends to a triangular point at the gape.

Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps along the western shore of Hegura-jima, 21st May 2009

Female Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula at the north-eastern tip of Hegura-jima, 21st May 2009

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis calonyx on Hegura-jima, 21st May 2009

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis at the Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 21st May 2009

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha on the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 21st May 2009

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 5
Japanese Cormorant 10
Pelagic Cormorant 5
Cattle Egret 1
Intermediate Egret 1
Great Egret 1
Grey Heron 5
Spot-billed Duck 2
Black-eared Kite 2
Japanese Sparrowhawk 1
Hobby 1
Peregrine 1
Black-winged Stilt 1
Pacific Golden Plover 1
Common Snipe 1
Latham’s Snipe 1
Wood Sandpiper 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Grey-tailed Tattler 4
Black-tailed Gull 50
Oriental Turtle Dove 5
Oriental Cuckoo 2
Pacific Swift 6
Dollarbird 1
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 15
Olive-backed Pipit 2
Tree Pipit 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Black-backed Wagtail 20
Ashy Minivet 3
Brown-eared Bulbul 5
Siberian Rubythroat 5
Siberian Blue Robin 1
Siberian Stonechat 2
Blue Rock Thrush 1
White-s Thrush 1
Pale Thrush 1
Dusky Thrush 5
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Black-browed Reed Warbler 8
Oriental Great Reed Warbler 2
Arctic Warbler xanthodryas 1
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 8
Brown Flycatcher 5
Narcissus Flycatcher 1
Eastern Great Tit 1
Japanese White-eye 4
Bull-headed Shrike 1
Large-billed Crow 4
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 10
Brambling 1
Oriental Greenfinch 25
Bullfinch 1
Japanese Grosbeak 2
Hawfinch 15

Black-faced Bunting 6