Hegura-jima, Japan 21st September 2009

21/9/09 Awoke to a calm and clear dawn. Took a taxi to Wajima harbour and boarded the 9.00 ferry to Hegura-jima. A slight swell on the crossing with Streaked Shearwaters ever present alongside the ferry. Rob Edmunds kindly met us at the quay to tell us what was around! Pushed our barrow to Minshuku Tsuki where we dropped our bags being out in 15 minutes to see a Wood Warbler near the NTT tower joining friends from our Spring visit, Rob and Aki, amongst the gathered crowd. Walked a circuit of the island with Rob before saying farewell to him as he left for the mainland on the afternoon ferry. The wind was East 2-3 by 4pm. Walked another circuit of the island before dusk producing our only Brown Shrike of the trip near the Dragon's pond.

Wajima harbour

First-winter Black-tailed Gull at Wajima

Adult Osprey at Wajima

Juvenile Black-eared Kite at Wajima

Leaving Wajima aboard the ferry

Dolphin sp. off Wajima

Uninhabited islands half-way to Hegura-jima

Streaked Shearwaters between Wajima and Hegura-jima

First views of Hegura-jima

Entering the harbour at Hegura-jima

The Wood Warbler twitch

Beatle on Hegura-jima

Juvenile Brown Shrike photographed by Aki near the Dragon's pond

Species noted:
Streaked Shearwater 100 crossing
Grey Heron 8 Wajima
Osprey 2 Wajima
Black-eared Kite 50 Wajima, 2 Hegura
Peregrine 1 on islands during crossing, 1 Hegura
Common Sandpiper 1 Hegura
Black-tailed Gull 100 Wajima, 100 Hegura
Vega Gull 2 Hegura
Rufous Turtle Dove 2 Hegura
Pacific Swift 1 Hegura
Swallow 4 Wajima
Red-rumped Swallow 5 Wajima
Black-backed Wagtail 12 Hegura
Brown-eared Bulbul 1 Hegura
Blue Rock Thrush 10 Hegura
Arctic Warbler 3 Hegura
Yellow-browed Warbler 1 & 1h Hegura
Wood Warbler 1
Blue-and-white Flycatcher 1 Hegura
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 4 Hegura
Brown Flycatcher 2 Hegura
Brown Shrike 1 juvenile Hegura
Carrion Crow 1 Wajima
Large-billed Crow 5 Wajima
Tree Sparrow 10 Wajima
Oriental Greenfinch 50 Hegura
Little Bunting 1 Hegura