Saturday, 4 July 2009

Hegura-jima, Japan 18th May 2009

18/5/09 Out at 4.30am in SW6 but only 50% cloud cover and no rain. The wind only moderated slightly during the day but the cloud disappeared leaving it bright and sunny. The early morning suggested few new arrivals with 2 Chestnut Buntings proving the highlight until we found an obliging male Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. During the afternoon we bumped into another Wryneck, a superb White’s Thrush and enjoyed excellent views of a male Siberian Thrush.


Presumed Sakhalin Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus borealoides along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009
Pale-legged Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes is currently considered almost identical being best separated by song and breeding range. Unfortunately we didn't hear any singing whilst on Hegura-jima.

Japanese Grosbeak Eophona personata personata near Minshuku Tsuki on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Male Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius philippensis near Minshuku Tsuki on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009



Female Tristram's Bunting Emberiza tristrami along the Bamboo Trail on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Male Japanese Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica along the shore outside Minshuku Tsuki on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

White's Thrush Zoothera dauma aureus along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009


Male Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

First-summer male Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Adult breeding-plumaged Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus at the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Sand Martin Riparia riparia iijimae over the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris on the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia on the western shores of Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009
In breeding plumage this medium-sized Egret is black-billed, has black legs and feet and only has plumes on its breast and back.


Chestnut-eared Buntings Emberiza fucata along the western track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus telephonus along the western shore of Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Wryneck Jynx torquilla japonica near the northern tip of Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus near the northern tip of Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis tschutschensis ‘simillima’ near the northern tip of Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus superciliosus near the northern tip of Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

White's Thrush Zoothera dauma aureus along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Female Rufous-tailed Robin Luscinia sibilans along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Female Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica davisoni along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 18th May 2009

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 50
Japanese Cormorant 10
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Cattle Egret 1
Eastern Reef Egret 1
Intermediate Egret 1
Grey Heron 2
Spot-billed Duck 2
Black-eared Kite 1
Peregrine 1
Black-winged Stilt 1
Common Snipe 1
Latham’s Snipe 1
Green Sandpiper 1
Wood Sandpiper 1
Black-tailed Gull 100
Slaty-backed Gull 2
Oriental Turtle Dove 2
Common Cuckoo 2
Pacific Swift 2
Wryneck 1
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 15
Red-rumped Swallow 2
Olive-backed Pipit 2
Eastern Yellow Wagtail 4
Grey Wagtail 6
Black-backed Wagtail 15
Brown-eared Bulbul 1
Rufous-tailed Robin 1
Siberian Blue Robin 1
Siberian Stonechat 1
Blue Rock Thrush 1
White’s Thrush 1
Siberian Thrush 1
Pale Thrush 1
Dusky Thrush 2
Japanese Bush Warbler h
Oriental Great Reed Warbler h
Eastern Crowned Warbler 2
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler 1
Arctic Warbler 1
Blue-and-white Flycatcher 2
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 2
Brown Flycatcher 3
Taiga Flycatcher 2
Mugimaki Flycatcher 2
Narcissus Flycatcher 3
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher 1
Eastern Great Tit h
Bull-headed Shrike 1
Brown Shrike 1
Large-billed Crow 4
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 3
Brambling 1
Oriental Greenfinch 20
Japanese Grosbeak 3
Hawfinch 1
Black-faced Bunting 5
Chestnut-eared Bunting 2
Tristram’s Bunting 2
Chestnut Bunting 2
Yellow-breasted Bunting 1

Friday, 3 July 2009

Hegura-jima, Japan 17th May 2009

17/5/09 Awoke to very wet and windy weather S6. The driving rain kept us indoors until lunchtime. Finally made it out at 1pm and first sea-watched from the south-western end of the island until 2pm. We walked the island with on-going pulses of rain and the wind increasing to W6. A Pacific Swift was seen flying low over the sea and an Oriental Turtle Dove was seen arriving at the north-eastern tip. A Red-necked Stint was a welcome trip addition and we at last found an obliging Sakhalin Leaf Warbler at the drinking pool.
Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 300
Japanese Cormorant 2
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Grey Heron 2
Peregrine 1
Black-winged Stilt 1
Red-necked Stint 1
Latham’s Snipe 1
Greenshank h
Wood Sandpiper 3
Common Sandpiper 1
Grey-tailed Tattler 1
Red-necked Phalarope 10
Black-tailed Gull 200
Slaty-backed Gull 5
Oriental Turtle Dove 1
Pacific Swift 3
Sand Martin 2
Swallow 5
Red-rumped Swallow 1
Black-backed Wagtail 5
Brown-eared Bulbul 1
Siberian Thrush 1
Japanese Grey Thrush 2
Brown Thrush 2
Eye-browed Thrush 2
Dusky Thrush 2
Japanese Bush Warbler h
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler 1
Blue-and-white Flycatcher 3
Mugimaki Flycatcher 2
Narcissus Flycatcher 3
Large-billed Crow 2
Oriental Greenfinch 10
Japanese Grosbeak 1
Hawfinch 1
Black-faced Bunting 1

Hegura-jima, Japan 16th May 2009

16/5/09 Out by 4.15am but no hoped-for Nightjars. It was warmer and overcast with a SE2 breeze. Rain started by 3pm associated with a freshening easterly wind. The weather had deteriorated to driving rain by 6pm. The early morning produced a Coal Tit as the only trip addition. We said farewell to Chris - thanking him for making all our arrangements. We also enjoyed briefly meeting Rob Edmunds who is a regular weekend birder to the island. Quieter again for migrants, although as the rain commenced at 3pm an Eye-browed Thrush, Dusky Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow and 3 Hawfinches were all seen arriving from low over the sea at the southwest tip of the island.

Coal Tit Periparus ater between the lighthouse and the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Adult breeding-plumaged Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola at the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Male Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica at the Harbour Park on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Female Red-flanked Bluetail Luscinia cyanura along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Tristram's Bunting Emberiza tristrami along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009


Adult summer-plumaged Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus in flight over Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Male Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla along the southern shore of Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Japanese Bush Warbler Cettia diphone cantans on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Pacific Swift Apus pacifica over Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata at the Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Adult male Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus at the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009
Some males have a black crown and nape.

The lighthouse on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

First-summer male Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina at the drinking pool on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

First-summer male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica davisoni at the drinking pool on Hegura-jima, 16th May 2009

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 25
Japanese Cormorant 10
Pelagic Cormorant 2
Chinese Pond Heron 1
Eastern Reef Egret 1
Grey Heron 2
Spot-billed Duck 2
Black-eared Kite 2
Peregrine 2
Black-winged Stilt 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Pin-tailed Snipe 1
Wood Sandpiper 3
Common Sandpiper 3
Grey-tailed Tattler 4
Black-tailed Gull 50
Japanese Woodpigeon 2
Oriental Turtle Dove 10
Oriental Cuckoo 1
Pacific Swift 2
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 15
Red-rumped Swallow 2
Olive-backed Pipit 6
Eastern Yellow Wagtail 1
Grey Wagtail 2
Black-backed Wagtail 15
Brown-eared Bulbul 5
Rufous-tailed Robin 1
Siberian Blue Robin 1
Red-flanked Bluetail 1
Daurian Redstart 1
Siberian Stonechat 2
Blue Rock Thrush 2
Siberian Thrush 1
Japanese Grey Thrush 1
Eye-browed Thrush 4
Dusky Thrush 6
Japanese Bush Warbler 6
Oriental Great Reed Warbler 1
Eastern Crowned Warbler 3
Yellow-browed Warbler 6
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 2
Brown Flycatcher 6
Taiga Flycatcher 3
Mugimaki Flycatcher 1
Narcissus Flycatcher 6
Coal Tit 1
Bull-headed Shrike 1
Large-billed Crow 4
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 6
Brambling 6
Oriental Greenfinch 30
Japanese Grosbeak 7
Hawfinch 25
Black-faced Bunting 10
Chestnut-eared Bunting 3
Tristram’s Bunting 2
Rustic Bunting 1
Chestnut Bunting 1
Yellow-breasted Bunting 1

Hegura-jima, Japan 15th May 2009

15/5/09 Out by 4.30am to a full moon under clear skies. It was virtually calm at dawn but N3 by 10.30am and a cold N4 by the evening. An early morning flock of Thrushes feeding along a dirt track included a fine male Grey-backed Thrush and a Chinese Grosbeak finally gave itself up at the Minshuku Tsukasa feeding station. Quieter for migrant numbers but a Wryneck in the southern pines and a tired male Daurian Redstart showed-up at around midday and performed admirably.

Male Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala personata near the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia intermedia near the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009


Summer-plumaged adult male Chinese Grosbeak Eophona migratoria migratoria at Tsukasa on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

The freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Swallow Hirundo rustica gutturalis over the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009


Adult Peregrine Falco peregrinus japonensis hunting incoming passerines at the southern tip of Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Great White Egret Casmerodius albus on the south western shore of Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009


Sand Martin Riparia riparia iijimae over the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009


Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta at the Harbour Park on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Adult male Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina along the southern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus superciliosus along the southern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii at the School field on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009
A large, long-tailed Snipe that has a noticeable pale upperwing-covert panel in flight.


Male Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus at the Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni at the Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha at the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 15th May 2009

Species noted:

Streaked Shearwater 50
Japanese Cormorant 15
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Little Egret 2
Great Egret 1
Grey Heron 5
Spot-billed Duck 2
Black-eared Kite 2
Japanese Sparrowhawk 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Peregrine 1
Moorhen 1
Black-winged Stilt 1
Latham’s Snipe 1
Wood Sandpiper 3
Common Sandpiper 4
Grey-tailed Tattler 2
Black-tailed Gull 250
Vega Gull 2
Slaty-backed Gull 1
Japanese Woodpigeon 2
Oriental Turtle Dove 5
Oriental Cuckoo h
Wryneck 1
Skylark 1
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 15
Olive-backed Pipit 10
Eastern Yellow Wagtail 2
Grey Wagtail 6
Black-backed Wagtail 15
Brown-eared Bulbul 3
Japanese Waxwing 6
Rufous-tailed Robin 1
Siberian Blue Robin 3
Daurian Redstart 1
Siberian Stonechat 3
Blue Rock Thrush 1
Siberian Thrush 1
Brown Thrush 1
Pale Thrush 1
Eye-browed Thrush 6
Dusky Thrush 10
Grey-backed Thrush 1
Japanese Bush Warbler 3
Oriental Great Reed Warbler 3
Eastern Crowned Warbler 5
Yellow-browed Warbler 8
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 3
Brown Flycatcher 3
Taiga Flycatcher 3
Narcissus Flycatcher 6
Eastern Great Tit 1
Brown Shrike 1
Large-billed Crow 4
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 8
White-cheeked Starling 1
Brambling 12
Oriental Greenfinch 30
Chinese Grosbeak 1
Japanese Grosbeak 8
Hawfinch 30
Black-faced Bunting 10
Chestnut-eared Bunting 3
Rustic Bunting 1
Chestnut Bunting 1
Yellow-breasted Bunting 1