Bird News from Yoshiki Watabe
I stayed Tsuhima, Nagasaki Pref. Japan from 27th April to 3rd May 2013. Total number of species observed was 123 including introduced species. The daily number of species were 44 to 68.
It was my fourth visit to Tsushima. My past records are as follows:
29th April to 5th May 1981: total number of observed species was 103, the daily number of species observed were 26 to 63. I stayed mainly at Sago on Kami-jima.
29th April to 3rd May 2007: total number of species observed was 102, the daily number of species were 51 to 77.
29th 29th April to 4th May 2008: total number of species observed was 100, the daily number of species were 39 to 76.
Tsushima is separated as the north island of Kami-jima and the south island of Shimo-jima. The weather, observation location, and number of species were as follows:
27th April: some rain, at Shimo-jima, 57 species.
28th April: clear, at Shimo-jima, 56 species.
29th April: cloudy with occasional rain, at Kami-jima, 53 species.
30th April: cloudy, at Kami-jima, 66 species.
1st May: cloudy; later clear, at Shimo-jima, 59 species.
2nd May: clear, at Shimo-jima, 70 species.
3rd May: partly cloudy. at Kami-jima and Shimo-jima, 46 species.
There were more birds on Shimo-jima than on Kami-jima. Some of Emberiza species (e.g.: Little Bunting, Yellow-browed Bunting) were observed only on Shimo-jima. Some rare species (e.g.: Black-faced Spoonbill, Pied Harrier, Black Drongo, Citrine Wagtail) were observed only on Shimo-jima.
Interestingly, I observed no Blue Rock Thrush. The individual number of Blue Rock Thrush on Tsushima is probably few.
A male Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) was observed from 28th to 30th April at Tsutsu on Shimo-jima by some birders who live on Tsushima. I, however, could not observed the bird.
Species List:
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata): Several at Shushi on Kami-jima
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope): 1 male and 1 female on Shimo-jima
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos): 3 males and 1 females
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha): several
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata): 1 male at Shushi on Kami-jima
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca): More than 25 on Shimo-jima
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis): Several
Black Wood Pigeon (Columba janthina): I heard a song (30th April).
Rufous Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis): Common
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica): 5 at Kashi on Shimo-jima (2nd May).
Temminck’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus): 3 on Shimo-jima
Japanese Night Heron (Gorsachius goisagi): 1 (song) on Kami-jima and 2 (1 song and 1 seen) on Shimo-jima
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax): Several calls at Mine on Kami-jima
Striated Heron (Butorides striata): 1 at Kuwa on Shimo-jima
Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus): 1 at Sasuse on Shimo-jima, and 2 on Kami-jima(at Sago and Tanohama)
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus, Photo © Yoshiki WatabeCattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis): Common
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea): Common
Great Egret (Ardea alba): Common
Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia): Common
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta): Fewer than Great and Intermediate Egret
Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra): 1 at Azamo on Shimo-jima
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia): 1 at Tanohama on Kami-jima (30th April)
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, Photo © Yoshiki WatabeBlack-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor): 1 at Kechi and 1 at Kashi on Shimo-jima (27th April). The individual at Kechi flew away to the Northeast at about 9:00.
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor, Photo © Yoshiki WatabeCommon Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus): Several
Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus): 1 song at Tanohama on Kami-jima
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus): 6 song at Shimo-jima
Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus jotaka): 1 male was observed in midnight 27th April at Izuhara on Shimo-jima. I could observed a flying individual in lights of sports park.
Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus): About 10 individuals on 2nd May at Kakinoki-nodo on Shimo-jima
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva): 1 at Tanohama on Kami-jima
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius): 3 on Shimo-jima
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis): 3
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Photo © Yoshiki WatabeCommon Greenshank (Tringa nebularia): Common
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus): 1 at Azamo on Shimo-jima
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola): Common
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus): 1 at Azamo on Shimo-jima and 1 at Shushi on Kami-jima
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos): 1 or 2 at Nai-in on Shimo-jima
Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta): 1 on Shimo-jima
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea): 1 at Sago on Kami-jima
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum): 1 at Mine on Kami-jima
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris): Common
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus): About 10 individuals at Kashi on Shimo-jima
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida): 1 at Mino-gata on Shimo-jima
Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) : 2 at Tsutsu on Shimo-jima and 1 at Ina on Kami-jima
Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus): 1 female at Kakinoki-nodo on Shimo-jima
Black Kite (Milvus migrans): Common
Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos): 1 male at Kashi on Shimo-jima. The individual flew to the North at about 9:00. The Black-faced Spoonbill at the point flew away at the same time too. I obtained information that 4 males of Pied Harrier were recorded on Tsushima this season.
Japanese Sparrowhawk ? (Accipiter gularis ?) I heard a call of likely to be this species (2nd May). My wife confirmed 1 female of Japanese Sparrowhowk at Kakinoki-nodo on Shimo-jima (1st May).
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus): 1 at Tsutsu on Shimo-jima (28nd April)
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus): Several on 29th and 30th April on Shimo-jima
Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus): 1 at Kakinoki-nodo on Shimo-jima (2th May)
Northern Scops Owl ? (Otus semitorques ?): 1 on midnight of 2nd May on Kami-jima
Ural Owl ? (Strix uralensis ?): 1 on midnight of 28th April
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis): Several
Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis): 1 at Uchiyama on Shimo-jima
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki): Common
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus): 2 at Sago and 2 Tanohama on Kami-jima
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus): Several calling (I didn’t observed Ryukyu Minivet)
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus): 1 at Kakinoki-nodo on Shimo-jima on 1st and 2nd May
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus): 1 at Azamo on Shimo-jima(1st May) ssp. L. c. lucionensis
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius): Not many
Rook (Corvus frugilegus): Several
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone): Common
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos): Common
Varied Tit (Poecile varius): Most common of the Tits
Coal Tit (Periparus ater): Several
Eastern Great Tit (Parus minor): Common
Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla): 2 at Shushi on Shimo-jima(30th April)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia): 1 at Tsutsu and about 10 at Kakinoki-nodo on Shimo-jima (1st and 2nd May)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica): Common
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica): Fewer than Barn Swallow
Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus): more than Red-rumped and fewer than Barn Swallow
Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis): Many; some migrant flocks observed.
Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphone): Common
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps): Several from 29th April to 3rd May
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus): Common
Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus): 1 at Tanohama on Kami-jima(29th and 30th April)
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus): Several
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus borealoides): Several
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus tenelllipes): Confirmed song of 3 individuals.
Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus): Common
Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus): Many
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis): 1 at Shushi on Kami-jima (30th April).
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus): 2 on Kami-jima (29th April).
Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis): about 10 at Tanohama on Kami-jima (3rd May).
White’s Thrush (Zoothera dauma): Few but confirmed in every day without 1st May.
Grey Thrush (Turdus cardis): confirmed by the song in every day without 27th May.
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus): 1 at Hacchokaku on Shimo-jima (27th April).
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus): 3 (27th April and 1st and 3rd May)
Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus): 2 (28th and 29th April)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus): Few
Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope): confirmed 1 song at Azamo on Shimo-jima.
Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane): Few
Rufous-tailed Robin (Luscinia sibilans): 2 at Tanohama on Kami-jima (29th and 30th April).
Stejneger’s Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri): few (27th and 28th April, 1st and 2nd May).
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica): Common
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina): Common
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana): Common
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus): Common
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava): Common, ssp. macronyx, simillima and taivana
Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava macronyx, Photo © Yoshiki Watabe
Female Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava macronyx, Photo © Yoshiki WatabeCitrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola): 1 male and 2 female at Naiin on Kami-jima (27th and 28th April, 1st and 2nd May).
Male Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola, Photo © Yoshiki Watabe
Female Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola, Photo © Yoshiki WatabeGrey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea): Common
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba): ssp. ocularis (common) and ssp. lugens (few).
White Wagtail Motacilla alba lugens Photo © Yoshiki WatabeRichard’s Pipit (Anthus richardi): 1 at Naiin on Shimo-jima (28th April) and 1 at Sago on Kami-jima (30th April).
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni): Common
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus): Common
Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens): Several on 27th and 28th April.
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla): Several
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Chloris sinica): Common
Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus): Several
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus): 1 female at Naiin on Shimo-jima (28th April)
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes): 3 on Kami-jima (3rd May).
Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria): 1 at Sago on Kami-jima (30th April).
Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides): Common
Tristram’s Bunting (Emberiza tristrami): Several both on Kami-jima and Shimo-jima (30th April and 2nd May).
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla): More than 3 at Kuwa(30th April) and 1 at Kakinoki-nodo (1st May) on Shimojima.
Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys): More than 2 at Kuwa and Niin (28th April) and about 10 at Naiin (2nd May) on Shimo-jima.
Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica): Several (1st and 2nd May).
Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans): 1 at Kuwa on shimo-jima (27th April).
Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata): 1 at Hacchokaku and more than 2 at Naiin (27th April) and 1 at Naiin (2nd May) on Kami-jima.
Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala): ssp. spodocephala (common) and ssp. personata (few)
Palla’s Reed Bunting (Emberiza pallasi): 1 at Kashi on Shimo-jima (27th April)
Introduced species observed:
Chinese Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus): Common
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus): Common
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Mute Swan was described as an introduced species in Japan by check-list of Japanese birds 6th revised edition (The Ornithological Society of Japan 2012).
Rock Dove (Columba livia): 20 at Sago on Kami-jima