1) Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) Birds seen in the Imperial Palace moat in Tokyo on Feb. 3 and also seen at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4 and at the mouth of the Kuma River near Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture on Feb. 9.
2) Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Single birds at Lake Uchinuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4
3) Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) At least three individuals seen close to Cape Nosappu, Hokkaido, on Feb. 7.
4) Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Several dozen sitting on concrete posts near the mouth of the Sendai River in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 10.
5) Temminck's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) Seen on rocks offshore in southern Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 10, and several birds noted on Amami-Oshima island on Feb. 11 and 12.
6) Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) Noted only in Hokkaido, where several birds were seen at Cape Notoro near Abashiri on Feb. 6 and at Cape Nosappu on Feb. 7.
7) Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Noted at several sites including Lae Izunuma, Yatsushiro, and Senaga-jima in Naha.
8)Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
9) Eastern Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) Several dark phase birds seen along the west coast of northern Okinawa on Feb. 12 and 13, and a single white phase bird noted flying with a dark phase bird at Nago harbor on Feb. 14.
10) Great White Egret (Egretta alba)
11) Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Several birds noted among fishing boats at the mouth of the Kuma River near Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture on Feb. 9.
12) Black-faced Spoonbill (Platelea minor) A roosting flock of 12 birds seen on a small reef at Senaga mudflats, next to Naha airport, in Okinawa on Feb. 12. Three spoonbills asleep on the concrete sea wall at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9 were probably this species.
13) Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Two birds on the moat of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 3 were feral birds.
14) Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) Good numbers recorded at the following sites: Lake Uchinuma, Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture, and at the following Hokkaido sites: Odaito-ko, Lake Kussharo (Sunayu), Lake Akkeshi and Abashiri.
15) Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) Five adults feeding among cranes at Higashi-Kantaku at Arasaki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Feb. 9 was the only record.
16) Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) Noted only at Lake Kabukurinuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4, where about 60 birds were noted feeding. Two birds with red neck collars seen: K74 and M14.
17) Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) Thousands of birds roosting at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture were watched flying out at sunrise on Feb. 4 and again on Feb. 5. A bird with a green neck band noted in a flock of geese feeding in a rice paddy on the west side of Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4, but it was too distant to read the numbers clearly
18) Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) One adult noted in a flock of Greater White-fronted Geese at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4 and again the following day.
19) Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) A small flock of six birds noted roosting on a flooded rice field at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
20) Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) Several birds, including brightly colored drakes, seen at close range on a couple of ponds in Meiji Park in central Tokyo on Feb. 3.
21) Gadwall (Anas strepera)
22) Falcated Duck (Anas falcata) Noted only at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture where 4 birds were noted on Feb. 4, and at the mouth of the Kuma River at Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture where four males were seen on Feb. 9.
23) Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) Large numbers (750+) noted on a river near Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
24) American Wigeon (Anas americana) At least two birds located among a large flock of Eurasian Wigeon on a river near Arasaki crane reserve on Feb. 9.
25) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
26) Spot-billed Duck (Anas peocilorhyncha)
27) Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
28) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Hundreds of birds waiting for handouts near the visitor center at Lake Izunuma on Feb. 4.
29) Baikal Teal (Anas formosa) At least 10 males and 6 females seen resting with other ducks at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4. Likewise, this behaviour noted also at Odaito-ko in east Hokkaido on Feb. 5
30) Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca crecca)
31) Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
32) Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
33) Greater Scaup (Anas marila)
34) Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) Quite common around headlands in east Hokkaido, especially Cape Notoro (a flock of 100+ on Feb. 6) and Cape Nosappu.
35) Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) A large flock of birds (in low hundreds) seen off Cape Nosappu on Feb. 7, and other birds seen off Notsuke Peninsula and Cape Notoro.
36) Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) A large flock of about 250 birds, mostly males, seen at Lake Akkeshi in southeast Hokkaido on Feb. 7. Also noted along the east coast at Cape Nosappu and on the Notsuke Peninsula.
37) White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) A single bird noted flying past the Notsuke Peninsula on Feb. 5.
38) Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) Several birds noted on Lakes Izunuma and Uchinuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4 and 5, and also seen in coastal areas of east Hokkaido at Abashiri and Cape Nosappu on Feb. 5 and 7.
39) Smew (Mergus albellus) Several birds, including nice males, seen at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4.
40) Red-breasted Merganser (Megus serrator)
41) Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
42) Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) A bird catching fish at Senaga mudflats near Naha airport on Feb. 2.
43) Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans)
44) White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
45) Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) The first bird, an immature, seen flying over Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4. Widespread in east Hokkaido, with several birds noted at various sites, including about 12 along the Notsuke Peninsula on Feb. 5, 20+ at Cape Notoro near Abashiri the following day, and around Nemuro City and Lake Akkeshi on Feb. 7.
46) Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilontus) Single birds at Lake Uchinuma and Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 5 and a single bird sat on a post at Takaei in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 10.
47) Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) One noted flying over a dyke at Lake Kabukurinuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4.
48) Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Single birds at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4 and another bird on Amami-Oshima on Feb. 11.
49) Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus) Quite numerous on the islands of Amami-Oshima.and Okinawa.
50) Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
51) Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) A single bird, which has returned to the same locality for 12 winters, seen perched and in flight at Takaei near Sendai in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 10.
52) Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) On Amami-Oshima two singles seen on Feb. 11.
53) Japanese Green Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) A male flushed from rough vegetation beside Lake Izunuma on Feb. 4 was followed by another bird a few hours later nearby.
54) Siberian White Crane (Grus leucogeranus) A single adult in the crane flock at Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
55) White-naped Crane (Grus vipio) Many noted amoung flocks of Hooded Cranes at Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
56) Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) Two birds picked out among a mixed Hooded/White-naped crane flock at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
57) Common Crane (Grus grus) Seen only at Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
58) Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) Seen only at Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9, where up to 10,000 birds were present, and in rice fields just to the south the following morning.
59) Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) The first two birds were seen at Lake Onneto, just west of Nemuro in east Hokkaido, on Feb. 7. Early in the morning of Feb. 9 about 70 birds seen roosting in the Setsurui River near Tsuruimura. Later in the day 35 birds noted at Ito Crane Sanctuary and the same 70 birds seen at Tsurmidai. Approximately 900 of these cranes live in east Hokkaido. Known as the Sarurunkamui in the local Ainu language. .
60) Okinawa Rail (Rallus okinawae) One bird spotlighted while roosting on a tree fern in a valley near Oku in northern Okinawa on Feb. 12.
61) Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) One bird seen briefly in a reedy ditch near Hiji Waterfall trail entrance in northern Okinawa on Feb. 13.
62) Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
63) Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira) One bird flushed from beside the forest trail and another seen in the beam of the spotlight on Amami-Oshima on Feb. 11.
64) Solitary Snipe (Gallinago solitaria) A bird watched bobbing its rear end while feeding in the river just outside the breakfast restaurant at Dai-Ichi Hotel at Yoroushi Onsen in east Hokkaido on Feb. 6.
65) Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) Several birds flushed from reedy, wet areas near Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9. A single bird was seen at the Manko mudflats in Naha on Okinawa on Feb. 12.
66) Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
67) Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) Several birds at the Manko mudflats in Naha, Okinawa, on Feb. 12.
68) Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
69) Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos)
70)Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropos) A single bird in a concreted dyke at Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
71) Ruddy Turnstone (Arena interpres) Only noted at Senaga Island mudflats near Naha Airport on Feb. 12.
72) Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) Five birds found in a mixed flock of Snowy Plovers and Dunlin at Ose Beach in Amami-Oshima on Feb. 12.
73) Dunlin (Calidris alpina) A single bird on the frozen shoreline of Lake Uchinuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4. Small flocks of birds noted along the river near the crane reserve at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9 and 10 birds at Ose Beach on Amami-Oshima on Feb. 12.
74) Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvalis fulva) Eight birds roosting at low tide on the rocky seashore at Ose Beach in Amami-Oshima on Feb. 12. At the Manko mudflats in Naha, Okinawa, about 100 birds present on Feb. 12.
75) Black-bellied Plover (Pluvalis squatarola)
76) Long-billed Plover (Charadrius placidus) One bird noted by the bridge close to Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
77) Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) Two birds on the beach at Ose Beach on Amami-Oshima on Feb. 12.
78) Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
79) Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) Noted at Arasaki crane reserve in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
80) Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
81) Kamchatka Gull (Larus canus kamchatkensis)
82) Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
83) Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
84) Vega Gull (Larus vegae)
85) Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
86) Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
87) Saunder's Gull (Larus saundersi) Four birds (two adults, two sub-adults) at the Manko mudflats in Naha on Okinawa on Feb. 12.
88) Ancient Murrelet (Synthliborhynchus antiquus) Several birds approximately 12 seen close in on the sea at Cape Nosappu in eastern Hokkaido on Feb. 7.
89) Elegant Scops Owl (Otus elegans) A single bird spotlighted and several birds heard during a walk along a forest trail near Caretta House Hotel on Amami-Oshima on Feb. 11. Also heard calling on the Gamo peninsula the same night.
90) Japanese Woodpigeon (Columba janthina) seen only at Hiji Waterfall trail in northern Okinawa on Feb. 13 where birds were seen display flighting and also heard calling.
91) Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
92) Whistling Green Pigeon (Treron formosae) Mournful calls heard during an early morning walk near Caretta House Hotel in Amami-Oshima on Feb. 11 and birds seen later in the day at Amami Natural Forest.
93) Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Single brds seen at several localities, including Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture and at the Manko mudflats in Naha, Okinawa, on Feb. 12. Two birds seen at Ose Beach near Amamo-Oshima airport on Feb. 12
94) Japanese Green Woodpecker (Picus awokera) A single bird seen well at the west end of Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4.
95) Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)
96) Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major)
97) White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopus leucotos) A single bird seen at Amami Natural Forest on Feb. 11 and birds heard drumming close to Caretta House Hotel on Feb. 11 and 12, but not seen.
98) Pryer's Woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii) An active nest-hole located at Hiji Waterfall trail on Feb. 13. Two birds were present and seen briefly.
99) Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus)
100) Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Very close views obtained of birds coming in to feed on crumbs and bread crusts at the Dai-ichi Hotel at Yoroushi Onsen in Hokkaido on Feb. 6 and 7.
101) Lidth's Jay (Garrulus lidthi) Endemic to Amami-Oshima island where we saw several birds between Feb. 10-12.
102) Daurian Jackdaw (Corvus dauuricus) At least two white-bellied birds seen in a flock of Rooks perched on telegraph wires in Izumi in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9, and a few all-dark birds noted later feeding with Rooks in the fields in Higashi-Kantaku.
103) Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Noted only in Kyushu where large flocks of mixed corvids seen on Feb. 9 were composed mainly of this species. Also noted the following day en route to Sendai/Kagoshima to the south of Izumi.
104) Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
105) Thick-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
106) Northern Raven (Corvus corax) Two birds recorded at Lake Kussharo in east Hokkaido on Feb. 6.
107) Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae) First birds recorded at Amami Natural Forest and around Caretta House Hotel in northeast Amami-Oshima on Feb. 11 and then along the Hiji Waterfall hiking trail in northern Okinawa on Feb. 13.
108) Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) Along the coastlines in southern Kagoshima Prefecture and also on Amami-Oshima and Okinawa quite numerous.
109) Brown Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus) One bird seen in flight at Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4.
110) Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus) Widespread in Kyushu and in the southwest islands, with good numbers seen and heard on both Amami-Oshima and Okinawa.
111) Dusky Thrush (Turdus naumanni)
112) Ryukyu Robin (Erithacus komadori) Seen only at Hiji Waterfall trail in northern Okinawa on Feb. 13, where one bird, at the waterfall, came to within a meter of three of us sitting on rocks.
113) Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) A few birds recorded on Honshu/Kyushu and a smart male seen at the Mangrove Park on Amami-Oshima on Feb. 11.
114) White-cheeked Starling (Sturnus cineraceus)
115) Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) In Hokkaido birds recorded on feeders at Dai-Ichi Hotel at Yoroushi Onsen on Feb. 6 and 7, birds seen at feeders at Shunkunitai Nature Center on Feb. 7 and also at Ito Crane Sanctuary in Tsuruimura on Feb. 8.
116) Marsh Tit (Parus palustris) Birds noted at bird feeders at Shunkunitai Nature Center near Nemuro in east Hokkaido on Feb. 7 and also at Yoroushi Onsen on Feb. 6 and 7.
117) Great Tit (Parus major)
118) Varied Tit (Parus varius) At Amami National Forest on Feb. 11 several birds seen.
119) Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) Four birds of the white-headed northern race seen at Tsuruimura village in Hokkaido on Feb. 8.
120) Coal Tit (Parus ater) A single bird noted coming to a bird feeder at Tsuruimura village on Feb. 8.
121) Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) Quite numerous on Amami-Oshima and Okinawa e.g. a flock of 7 on wires at a school in north Amami-Oshima on Feb. 11 and 3 at Oku in northern Okinawa on Feb. 13.
122) Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus) Only one record of several birds flying over the town of Minamata in Kumamoto Prefecture on Feb. 9.
123) Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotos chinensis) Seen only on Okinawa where up to 100 birds were noted flocking into roost in mangrove bushes at the Manko on Feb. 12.
124) Brown-eared Bulbul (Ixos amaurotis)
125) Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) Good views obtained at Takaei in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 10.
126) Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus)
127) Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphon)
128) Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Small flocks of birds seen on farmland at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9 and heard singing at Takaei in the same prefecture the following day.
129) Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
130) Black-backed Wagtail (Motacilla lugens) Noted at several localities including Meiji Park in Tokyo on Feb. 3, Lake Izunuma in Miyagi Prefecture on Feb. 4 and around the crane sanctuary at Arasaki in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9.
131) Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) A single bird feeding beside a stream at the western side of Lake Izunuma on Feb. 4 was the only record.
132) Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) Singles seen at Meiji Park in Tokyo on Feb. 3, at Lake Izunuma on Feb. 4 and at Hiji Waterfall trail in Okinawa on Feb. 13.
133) Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) Birds heard calling in rice fields at Takaei in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 10 could not be located.
134) Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
135) Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) A small flock of about 10 birds seen in a mixed sparrow/bunting flock at Takaei in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 10.
136) Oriental Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica)
137) Asian Rosy Finch (Leucosticte arctoa) One bird flying beside the road along the Notsuke Peninsula on Feb. 5 was followed by a mobile flock of about 30 birds seen at close range at Cape Notoro on Feb. 6.k
138) Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibirica) Small numbers seen around Lake Izunuma on Feb. 4.
139) Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) Birds seen at Meiji Park in Tokyo on Feb. 3 and a bird coming to the feeder at the Dai-Ichi Hotel at Yoroushi Onsen on Feb. 6.
140) Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides)
141) Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata)
142) Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica) Several birds seen on farmland around Lake Izunuma on Feb. 4.
143) Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala)
144) Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) Several birds seen at a reed bed at the mouth of the Kuma River near Yatsushiro in Kagoshima Prefecture on Feb. 9 and more birds on farmland at Takaei, further south, the following day.
145) Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) Three birds at Odaito-ko on Feb. 5 and a single beside the road along the Notsuke Peninsula the same day. The only others seen were two very tame birds feeding near the lighthouse at Cape Notoro the following day.
MAMMALS
Sika Deer (Cervus nippon), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpres), Kurile (Harbor) Seal (Phocal vitulina).
Chris Cook, The Japan Times, 4-5-4 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0023
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