We a group of birders visited the captioned between 3 – 11 March. A total 94 bird species were seen
Tried the midnight ferry on 4 March 2018 from Oarai (2 hrs train from Tokyo) to Tomakomai (Hokkaido). Here are key observations
(1) > 1000 Black legged Kittiwake (whole day)
(2) >100 Mew Gulls (whole day)
(3) > 200 Black-tailed Gulls (whole day)
(4) >500 Anicent Murrelets (roughly from 0900 – 1500)
(5) >50 Crested Auklets (afternoon, roughly around 1500h)
(6) Northern Fulmar – one individual (just before lunch around 12:00). Not mentioned by other bird reports
(7) Streaked Shearwater ->20. Mostly in the morning section Not mentioned by other similar bird reports
(8) Sooty Shearwater – 2-3 individuals in the morning. A bit out of expectation as this bird is not mentioned by other similar bird reports
(9) Pacific Diver – only individual (around 07:30h, 4 March – roughly off Kinkasan Island)
(10) Black-necked Grebe – only individual (around 07:30h, 4 March – roughly off Kinkasan Island)
Comparing the bird species with other similar bird reports (e.g. Grundsten Jan-Feb 2016), we did not get too many auklets but did have a variety of shearwater type of seabirds, probably because of the difference in season (early spring in ours).
For bird photos, pls visit
http://matthewkwanbirding.blogspot.hk/
Other interesting observations
- Pigeon Guillemont, Spectacled Guillemont, Crested Auklets, Least auklets and Ancient Murrelet and Common Guillemont – Habomai cruise on 7 Mar. The trip only lasted about 1.5 hrs (5000 yen per person with discount). No jaw-dropping records but still enjoyable.
- Brent Geese – About 20 birds following Whopper Swans at Biwase Bay on 6 March PM
- Common Crane – One individual at the famous crane Bridge on Road 243 on 6 March AM (43.187774, 144.334016)
- Red-faced Cormorant – two individuals at Cape Nosappu (the cliff island)
- Blakiston’s Fish Owl – at washinoyado on 18:00h on 8 March as usual (on that night, it appeared only 3 times, 1800, 00:30 and 02:30, probably due to the very bad weather)
- Brown dipper- one at the stream of Washinoyado. Another one at a stream not too far from the Ransu town (not really a difficult bird but it is always interesting to see how it walks into a river).
- Snow bunting – about 8 birds were seen on roadside (road 950) 2-3 km away from the Notsuke Peninsular Nature Centre
- Steller’s Sea Eagle / White-tailed Sea Eagle. Very common. There is a feeding centre (43.263472, 145.462046; about 1km away from the famous Lodge Furen. Admission: 1000 yen)
- Red-crowned Crane – common at the Tsurui region. Could try 43.178757, 144.319210
Recommended birding spots
- Every single harbour on the southern coast (from Lake Akkeshi to Cape Nosappu, also those between Lake Furen and Ransu) – sea ducks, grebes and cormorants can be found
- The Tsurui region for red-crowned crane (see the above bearings)
- Washinoyado – Blakiston’s Fish owl as usual. Matsuo san of Lodge Furen (google search it) can help reserve it if you also stay at Lodge Furen
- Notsuke Peninsular (along Road 950) – fox, deer and snow bunting!
- Tadashi Shimada Nature Photo Gallery/ The Bird Watching Cafe
http://thebirdwatchingcafe.com/n ... ching-cafe-japanese
A hidden gem near the Chitose airport (20 mins drive). In simple, it is a little “nonggang” in Hokkaido. Some bird tables are placed at the café which allows a close contact with garden birds including Gr Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Jap Pygmy Woodpecker and Hawfinch. Don’t expect rare birds. But the atmosphere is relax, cosy, higher class and enjoyable. No admission charge. But better to buy a drink or have a lunch there.
Dip of the trip … Asian Rosy Finch (tried two typical sites…), Short-eared Owl (only briefly seen by two members only on highway, no sign despite intensive searching around the Nemuro peninsular and Notsuke Peninsular), Tufted, rhino and parakeet auklets …….
[
Last edited by wcaptain at 20/03/2018 13:42 ]
