Rose-ringed Parakeet

Originally imported into Japan as a pet, the Wakakehonsei-inko (Rose-ringed Parakeet) has been observed in the wild since 1965. Today, they are seen widely across the Tokyo area, but roost in their largest numbers (400-700 individulas) at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Okayama campus); which has set up a web site and study group.

Occasionally, they even make it out to the Kanagawa region, where we saw 4 individuals flying near the Sagamihara Housing Area for the US Army Japan.

Website: The Wakakehonsei-inko Page - Tokyo Institute of Technology

2006 Japan Bird Count: 117 Species

Ducks Making their Return

Location: Sagamihara Chosuichi, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture

Access: Shinjuku Station to Sagamiono Station - Odakyu Line. Sagamiono Station to Joshibi University of Art and Design (last stop) - Bus 60 from Stand 3. Walk from University Bus Stop through Sagamihara Koen to Sagamihara Chosuichi

Weather: 7/8 Cloud (Overcast), Cool - Warm, Light Breeze

Time: 1.00pm - 2.00pm

Birds: Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Oriental Turtle Dove, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, White Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Long-tailed Tit, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Azure-winged Magpie, Jungle Crow, Grey Starling, Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Comments: A new baby keeps me indoors most days now, hence a lack of entries over the last few months. But today, I take a small walk....

As winter spreads its far reaching tendrils towards Sagamihara Chosuichi, so the ducks slowly make their return. Large numbers of Common Teal on the concrete banks, with just a hand-full of Mallard and Eurasian Wigeon.

A Winter Favourite in Autumn

Location: Sagamihara Chosuichi, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture

Access: Shinjuku Station to Sagamiono Station - Odakyu Line. Sagamiono Station to Joshibi University of Art and Design (last stop) - Bus 60 from Stand 3. Walk from University Bus Stop through Sagamihara Koen to Sagamihara Chosuichi

Weather: 8/8 Cloud (Overcast), Cool - Warm, Still - Light Breeze

Time: 1.00pm - 2.30pm

Birds: Great Cormorant, Spot-billed Duck, Oriental Turtle Dove, Barn Swallow, White Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Jungle Crow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Siberian Meadow Bunting

Comments: Sagamihara Chosuichi in winter is a renowned haven for wildfowl, but for the rest of the year the waters are almost sterile but for Great Cormorant, Spot-billed Duck and the occasional water-skimming Barn Swallow.

White Wagtail were present on the banks of the dam and nearby alotments, the majority exhibiting a pale yellow face. While a yellow face is generally considered an unreliable way to age a Wagtail, it is more common in first winter birds in Europe and has been noted as a possible feature of immature birds in Japan (Wild Bird Society of Japan, 1982).

As Typhoon 13 (Shanshan) moves up the west coast of Japan, it started to rain as we departed the dam and soon set in for the remainder of the day and evening.

Intermediate Egret (at last)

Location: Yatsuhigata Tidal Flat, Narahino, Chiba Prefecture

Access: Shinjuku Station to Tokyo Station - JR Chuo Line. Tokyo Station to Minami-Funabashi Station - JR Keiyo Line. Walk to Observation Centre from North side of Minami-Funabashi Station - 20 minutes

Weather: 6/8 Cloud, Cool, Light Breeze

Time: 9.15am - 11.15am

Birds: Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Common Teal, Spot-billed Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Lesser Sandplover, Grey Plover, Far Eastern Curlew, Common Greenshank, Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Gull, Rock Dove, Common Kingfisher, Japanese White-eye, Grey Starling, Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Comments: A single Intermediate Egret is another notch in our yearly count. This bird could so easily have been missed amongst the large number of Little and Great Egrets on the well-exposed flats (in fact, along with the Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Greenshank and Lesser Sandplover, it is not recorded on the daily record on the Yatsuhigata web site).

Field Notes: Little Egret pose and stance, black-tipped yellow bill - not as long or as heavy as the Great Egret, black feet, size clearly between the nearby Little and Great Egrets. An hour later we wander past again to find another couple with scopes and bird guide out, making the same identification.

2006 Japan Bird Count: 116 Species

A Quick Stop at Kasai Rinkai Koen

Location: Kasai Rinkai Koen, Edogawa, Tokyo

Access: Shinjuku Station to Tokyo Station - JR Chuo Line. Tokyo Station to Kasai Rinkai Koen Station - JR Keiyo Line

Weather: Clear, Hot, Humid, Light Breeze

Time: 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Birds: Great Cormorant, Yellow Bittern, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Spot-billed Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, White Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Grey Starling, Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Comments: The heat and humidity were enough to even keep away the usual hordes of 'retired salary men with big cameras'! Of note... one Yellow Bittern in juvenile plumage.

2006 Japan Bird Count: 115 Species

After a Small Hiatus...

Location: Yatsuhigata Tidal Flat, Narahino, Chiba Prefecture

Access: Shinjuku Station to Tokyo Station - JR Chuo Line. Tokyo Station to Minami-Funabashi Station - JR Keiyo Line. Walk to Observation Centre from North side of Minami-Funabashi Station - 20 minutes

Weather: Cloudy, Warm - Hot, Humid, Light Breeze

Time: 9.30am - 11.30am

Birds: Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Spot-billed Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Common Greenshank, Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone, Black-tailed Gull, Rock Dove, White Wagtail, Brown-eared Bulbul, Grey Starling, Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Comments: Braving the summer heat and humidity we descended upon Yatsuhigata having seen reports of Cattle Egret and Sanderling on the Yatsuhigata web site. We arrived at high tide, and from the observation center we observed large numbers of Grey-tailed Tattler on the mud flat immediately below, amongst which were scattered small numbers of Common Greenshank, Terek Sandpiper and occasional Ruddy Turnstone.

Japanese Green Pigeon

Location: Terugasaki, Oiso, Kanagawa

Access: Tokyo Station to Oiso Station - JR Tokaido Line

Weather: Cloudy - Overcast, Warm, Light Breeze

Time: 7.30am - 8.30am

Birds: Black Kite, Little Tern, Japanese Green Pigeon, Barn Swallow

Comments: We are here to see Japanese Green Pigeon, and see them we do. Small to large flocks totalling more than 50 birds periodically fly down to the rocks just off Terugasaki Beach to drink seawater!

Link: Komatan - The web page of the Hiratsuka & Oiso Birdwatching Club for the Japanese Green Pigeon

2006 Japan Bird Count: 114 Species

Chinese Bamboo Partridge

Location: Tamashinrinkagakuen, Hachioji, Tokyo

Access: Shinjuku Station to Takao Station - JR Chuo Line

Weather: Overcast, Drizzle - Light Rain, Cool, Light Breeze

Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm

Birds: Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Brown-eared Bulbul, Japanese Bush Warbler, Varied Tit, Great Tit, Japanese White-eye, Jungle Crow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Comments: Gates open at 9.30am for the 56ha park, Tamashinrinkagakuen, and the cost is 300 Yen per adult (rising to 400 Yen during the Cherry Blossom season). We arrive a little early and by the time it opens there is a light rain falling which continues for the duration of our walk along the many beautifully maintained paths.

It's not a great day for seeing birds, but near station 7 we do spot two Chinese Bamboo Partridge in deep grass. However, within a minute they are gone. Despite efforts taking me along paths maked with "No Entry" signs, I fail to relocate them!

Link: Homepage

2006 Japan Bird Count: 113 Species