Hegura-jima, Japan 24th May 2009

24/5/09 Out at 4.30am to heavy low cloud and misty conditions and a cold NE2 breeze. Told Ted that it felt ‘classic conditions’, and so it proved to be, as found a Fairy Pitta at 5.55am behind the tree shrine. Visits later unfortunately drew a blank but another Japanese Night Heron was seen with Ted and a flighty Richard’s Pipit and another Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler were seen at the Tsukasa fields.

Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata japonica at the Tree Shrine on Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis borealis at the Tree Shrine on Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Female Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis orientalis japonicus in flight over Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Female Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis gularis in flight over Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Japan's smallest Accipiter and the only to have five fingered primaries visible in flight.

Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis borealis near the Harbour Park on Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta near the Harbour Park on Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

White-bellied Green Pigeon Treron sieboldii sieboldii in pines south of the Community Centre on Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Adult Japanese Night Heron in pines south of the Community Centre on Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

The blue lores are only acquired in the breeding season.

Adult Night Heron in flight over Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Adult summer-plumaged Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis on the south-western shore of Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Adult female hepatic morph Oriental Cuckoo along the western shore of Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi at the Tsukasa Fields, Hegura-jima, 24th May 2009

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 30
Japanese Cormorant 10
Pelagic Cormorant 5
Japanese Night Heron 1
Night Heron 2
Chinese Pond Heron 1
Cattle Egret 8
Little Egret 2
Intermediate Egret 10
Great Egret 2
Grey Heron 5
Spot-billed Duck 1
Crested Honey Buzzard 1
Black-eared Kite 2
Japanese Sparrowhawk 1
Sparrowhawk 3
Peregrine 1
Black-winged Stilt 1
Pacific Golden Plover 1
Grey Plover 1
Red-necked Stint 1
Steppe Whimbrel 1
Grey-tailed Tattler 4
Black-tailed Gull 100
Slaty-backed Gull 2
Oriental Turtle Dove 5
Japanese Green Pigeon 2
Common Cuckoo 2
Oriental Cuckoo 1
Brown Hawk Owl 1
Fairy Pitta 1
Swallow 10
Red-rumped Swallow 4
Richard’s Pipit 1
Olive-backed Pipit 3
Black-backed Wagtail 20
Brown-eared Bulbul 6
Rufous-tailed Robin 1
Daurian Redstart 1
Blue Rock Thrush 2
Dusky Thrush 4
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Middendorff’s Warbler 1
Black-browed Reed Warbler 2
Oriental Great Reed Warbler 3
Eastern Crowned Warbler 1
Arctic Warbler 5
Dark-sided Flycatcher 5
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 2
Brown Flycatcher 3
Mugimaki Flycatcher 1
Narcissus Flycatcher 2
Large-billed Crow 4
Brambling 1
Oriental Greenfinch 25
Hawfinch 10
Black-faced Bunting 6
Chestnut Bunting 1