Saturday, 24 October 2009

Hegura-jima, Japan 24th September 2009

24/9/09 Out by 5am just before dawn. Clear skies overnight being calm with blue skies, very hot and sunny all day. A White's Thrush had remained from the day before but only 12 Eye-browed Thrushes were seen all day. Two Oriental Honey Buzzards were seen low over the island during the early morning circuit but there were few other signs of newly-arrived migrants until late in the day when our first 2 Dark-sided Flycatchers, a Pacific Golden Plover and our first Swallow were seen and we found a rarity in the form of a Tree Pipit at Tsukasa.
Oriental Honey Buzzard being pursued by a Large-billed Crow
Flower at the south west beach on Hegura-jima

Japanese White-eye near the NTT tower

Juvenile Chinese Grosbeak near the NTT tower

Octopus skin hanging out to dry

Diver near the northern shrine

Small shrine near the southernmost point of the island

Southwest shore of Hegura-jima
Transitional second calendar year Black-eared Kite over Hegura-jima
Entrance to the southern shrine on Hegura-jima

Dark-sided Flycatcher at the southern shrine

Japanese Bush Warbler at the southern shrine

The lighthouse on Hegura-jima

Sunset along the western shore of Hegura-jima

Bathroom gecko

Species noted:
Streaked Shearwater 1
Japanese Cormorant 2
Eastern Reef Egret 1
Grey Heron 2
Teal 4
Oriental Honey Buzzard 2
Black-eared Kite 4
Peregrine 1
Pacific Golden Plover 1
Common Sandpiper 2
Black-tailed Gull 100
Japanese Woodpigeon 1
Rufous Turtle Dove 2
Swallow 1
Tree Pipit 1
Black-backed Wagtail 25
Brown-eared Bulbul 2
Siberian Stonechat 1
Blue Rock Thrush 15
White's Thrush 1
Eye-browed Thrush 12
Japanese Bush Warbler 12
Middendorff's Warbler 5
Arctic Warbler 4
Dark-sided Flycatcher 2
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 3
Brown Flycather 2
Japanese White-eye 6
Large-billed Crow 4
Oriental Greenfinch 25
Chinese Grosbeak 3
Black-faced Bunting 6
Little Bunting 16