10th October 2012 Hegura-jima E1 Overcast

We awoke to a easterly breeze that turned south by midday and southwest by the evening when a rainstorm passed offshore to the west. Little was in evidence during our early morning walk to the Dragon's Pool. We then tried the south of the island but it generally seemed quiet although a migrant flock of Grey Herons were followed by a migrant flock of Japanese Cormorants and the only Swallow of our visit arrived. We took a few scenic photos from the tower. A quick visit to the Drinking Pool after lunch was well-timed as it coincided with a Japanese Robin appearing there. We headed to Tsukasa in the afternoon and then around the west coast where a flock of 35 Pacific Swifts arrived and started feeding over the island and back to our minshuku via the Central Track.

Streaked Shearwater 10
Japanese Cormorant 14 S
Grey Heron 15 (10 S)
Teal 1
Mallard 3
Black-eared Kite 1
Peregrine 3
Coot 1
Grey-tailed Tattler 1
Black-tailed Gull 100
Slaty-backed Gull 2
Rufous Turtle Dove 2
Pacific Swift 35
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Skylark 5
Swallow 1
Olive-backed Pipit 8
Siberian Buff-bellied Pipit 1
Grey Wagtail 3
Black-backed Wagtail 12
Brown-eared Bulbul 5
Japanese Robin 1 ex.
Daurian Redstart 5
Stejneger's Stonechat 4
Blue Rock Thrush 5
Pale Thrush 6
Eye-browed Thrush 1
Dusky Thrush 50
Japanese Bush Warbler 5
Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler 1
Black-browed Reed Warbler 2
Arctic Warbler 6
Pacific Warbler 1
Goldcrest 20
Brown Flycatcher 1
Narcissus Flycatcher 1
Varied Tit 1
Coal Tit 3
Eastern Great Tit 3
Japanese White-eye 20
Large-billed Crow 2
Brambling 60
Oriental Greenfinch 30
Siskin 100
Japanese Grosbeak 3
Hawfinch 20
Masked Bunting 18
Grey Bunting 2
Black-faced Bunting 1
Pine Bunting 1
Tristram's Bunting 1
Rustic Bunting 15

Hegura Lighthouse from the Water Plant

No cars on the island so barrows are used for transport

Japanese Grosbeak on the rocky east shore

Slaty-backed Gull on the east shore

... plenty of contrast between the mantle colour and primaries

Skylark on the SW beach

Looking south from the tower

Shrine near the Dragon's Pool from the tower

Shrine south of the Dragon's Pool from the tower

Aerial view looking south of the lighthouse

A migrant's view of Hegura-jima arriving from the south

A migrant's view of Hegura-jima arriving from the north

Eastern Great Tit at the Drinking Pool

Black-backed Wagtail at the Drinking Pool

Flock of Grey Herons over Hegura-jima

Japanese Robin at the Drinking Pool

Coal Tit at the Drinking Pool

Arctic Warbler at the Drinking Pool

Hawfinch at the Drinking Pool

Narcissus Flycatcher at the Drinking Pool

Tristram's Bunting at the School Field

Pacific Swifts feeding over the island

Japanese Cormorants over the island