Hegura-jima, Japan 22nd September 2009

Out at dawn at 5.15am. Heavily overcast with a few spots of rain. SSW4 moderating to SW2 by 3pm and calm by dusk with low cloud. Early morning spent along the sheltered central track area and a check of the dragon's pond. Later we tried Tsukasa returning to the central track. Highlights included our only Gray's Grasshopper Warbler of the trip seen near the helipad, 3 Middendorf's Grasshopper Warblers, a Dusky Warbler, the Wood Warbler and 3 Chinese Grosbeaks.

The newly-paved southern central track near the NTT tower

xanthrodryas Arctic Warbler along the Central track

Grey-streaked Flycatcher along the Central track

Wood Warbler near the NTT tower

The Tree Shrine copse

The Tsukasa fields

The western perimeter track looking north towards the lighthouse

Pampas grass along the western perimeter track

The Dragon's pond

Female Brambling at the freshwater pool

Arctic Warbler at the freshwater pool

Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler at the freshwater pool

Adult female Black-faced Bunting at the southern end of the Central track

Little Bunting at the southern end of the Central track

Arctic Warbler at the southern end of the Central track

The southern Central track

The freshwater pool from the Observation Platform

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 5
Grey Heron 2
Teal 3
Black-eared Kite 2
Peregrine 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Grey-tailed Tattler 1
Black-tailed Gull 100
Japanese Woodpigeon 1
Rufous Turtle Dove 3
Little Cuckoo 1
Grey Wagtail 3
Black-backed Wagtail 12
Blue Rock Thrush 6
Pale Thrush 1
Japanese Bush Warbler 14
Middendorff's Warbler 3
Gray's Grasshopper Warbler 1
Arctic Warbler 10
xanthrodryas Arctic Warbler 1
Yellow-browed Warbler 2h
Dusky Warbler 1
Wood Warbler 1
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 2
Brown Flycatcher 1
Large-billed Crow 2
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 3
Brambling 1
Oriental Greenfinch 20
Chinese Grosbeak 3
Black-faced Bunting 8
Little Bunting 6