Title

JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA: 5th - 21st FEBRUARY 1996   

As I was going to the Philippines in late Feb, I decided to accept Des Allen’s kind invitation to join his trip to Hokkaido, the extra cost from Manila to Tokyo (with Philippine Airlines) being only £150 return. Although few new birds came from this winter trip, it was most enjoyable with some unforgetable sights such as large numbers of Steller’s Sea-Eagles, murrelets and cranes, and the rare Scaly-sided Merganser and Grey Bunting.

 

The brief extension to South Korea was to look for three species not regularly found in Japan - Relict Gull, Siberian Accentor and Pallas’s Reed Bunting - plus the large wintering flock of Baikal Teal. I succeeded in achieving the first aim but missed the reported 50,000 Baikal Teal by a week - they had just left for Sosan in the northwest! This was a much cheaper alternative to my original choice of visiting Amami-Oshima, where Lidth’s Jay and Ryukyu Scops-Owl should have been seen OK but Amami Woodcock and Thrush would be difficult in winter. 

 

A few changes were apparent since my previous visits to Japan 10 years and more ago, eg young people appear taller, girls prettier and there are now two excellent British birders resident. The Tokyo - Kushiro ferry is now faster, bad for birding, but traveling, other than by express train, still takes a long time and costs remain high; members of the Wild Bird Soc of Japan (WBSJ) get a 30% discount on the ferry and the Japan Rail Pass is still a good deal. Lenses for scopes and secondhand photographic equipment (if you can find it) can also be good buys. Hundreds of eagles no longer frequent the Shiretoko peninsula, apparently because the salmon stocks are greatly reduced due to over-fishing (they’ve even queered their own pitch!). Eagles are still present in eastern Hokkaido - 1448 were counted in 1995 - but more dispersed, with the main concentration at Furen-ko (Lake Furen).

 

This winter, a relatively cold one, was exceptionally poor for many winter visitors, eg Bluetails, Daurian Redstarts, waxwings and buntings. However, a very few Scaly-sided Merganser were wintering, as in most recent years; although difficult to locate, I was able to find one in Kyushu, thanks to 3 Japanese birders from Tokyo.  The major dip was Japanese Waxwing which had not been reported at all. It is said to be common every 3 years, particularly in Kyushu in March / April, but is usually seen annually by Feb, eg in Matsumoto - but not this year.

 

Alan Wilkinson’s report of his Feb 95 visit to Japan is a good complement to Mark Brazil’s site guide, and the Tourist Offices in London are sources of much free literature, eg a youth hostel map of Japan and a basic railway timetable. A new field guide is available in Tokyo, produced by the Ornithological Society of Japan, with excellent plates but a Japanese text.

 

Dave Diskin’s Birding South Korea in Winter (1995) gives almost all you need to know. It does not mention Yangdong and nearby Ankye Reservoir - a nice site I found - and the best gull view-point at Nakdong is now further south on the mainland - see attached map. Ulsukto Island, Nakdong is being extensively developed and may not be worth visiting soon, even though part is supposed to be a nature reserve. Note that if intending to use the ferries to/ from Japan, 2 out of 3, including the hydrofoil (£78 from Japan), shut down for 2 weeks during the Chinese New Year, usually in Feb - I had to switch from Fukuoka to Shimanoseki at the last minute and only just made it in time.

 

Finally, the success of my trip was due entirely to the considerable help and generous hospitality of Des Allen, Sadao Ishimura and Nial Moores - I cannot thank any of them enough. On Hokkaido, Takada-san at Furo-so was very knowledgeable and helpful - he took us to a feeding station for Blakiston’s Fish-Owl - while his wife cooked the best food I ate all trip. In South Korea I was very grateful to Miss Kim, her friend, In Sik Lee and his friend for assistance and hospitality. Mark Eldridge and Graham Speight were helpful before I left Britain.

                          

ITINERARY

 

FEB 5   Arrived Narita 09.00 after a 12 hour delay in the PAL flight; train into Tokyo, shopping; pm at Meiji Shrine - Mandarin, Rustic Bunting; night at Des Allen’s house.

 

FEB 6   Tokyo parks (Inagashira, Ukimafunado and Ueno) for Baer’s Pochard and Baikal Teal, without success; night at DA’s.

 

FEB 7   Train to Mount Takao - White’s Thrush, Jap Grosbeak (but no Jap Accentor or Grey Bunting); DA’s.

 

FEB 8   Cycle with DA to his local temple/ farmland “patch” - Jap Green Woodpecker, Jap Wagtail. Joined WBSJ at Tokyo office; Yoyogi Park; Yatsu with Ishimura-san  - Saunders’ Gull; dinner at Ishimura’s; ferry at 22.00 with Ishimura-san and DA.

 

FEB 9   Ferry all day, calm but cold  - Laysan Albatross, Short-tailed Shearwater, Ancient Murrelet.

 

FEB 10 Ferry till 07.00 - Least and Crested Auklets; drive from Kushiro to Capes Kiritappu - Rosy Finch - and Nosappu; night at Furo-so minshuku.

 

FEB 11 Furen-ko - eagles - Cape Nosappu, Notsuke peninsula, Furo-so - Blakiston’s Fish-Owl.

 

FEB 12 Furen-ko all day - 150 Steller’s Eagles - while the others visited the capes; Furo-so.

 

FEB 13 Drive to crane sanctuaries near Kushiro; ferry at 14.00  -1000s of Crested Auklets.

 

FEB 14 Ferry till 20.30 - divers, Black-footed Albatross, Streaked Shearwater; trains to DA’s.

 

FEB 15 Train to Fukuoka/ Hakata; night at Nial Moore’s flat in Kashi.

 

FEB 16 Day with NM:- temple grounds at Kashi, Hakata Bay for gulls (with a fine tutorial by Nial), and Tachibanayama (Standing Flower Mountain) - Grey Bunting, Ural Owl heard; NM’s.

 

FEB 17 Train to Izumi, bus to Arasaki - cranes, Crested Kingfisher, Daurian Jackdaw; Minshuku Tsurumitei.

 

FEB 18 Drive with Japanese birders to Mi-ike, 05.30-08.00 - Scaly-sided Merganser - and back to Izumi. 13.30 train to Yatsushira; taxi to Kumagawa estuary - gulls (Great Black-headed and Saunders’) too far away due to high tide - hitch back to station; train to Fukuoka; NM’s. 

 

FEB 19 Ohori-koen, Fukuoka, with NM - gulls, Red-throated Flycatcher; train to Imazu, walk to Hakata Bay and Zuibaijigawa estuary - Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Penduline-Tit; train to Fukuoka; taxi to ferry terminal - no ferry - hitch to station, train to Shimanoseki; 18.30 overnight ferry to Pusan (£53).

 

FEB 20 Pusan at 08.30; met by Miss Kim and friend (arranged by NM); drive to Nakdong Estuary - cold and windy, tide fairly high - distant view of Relict and Saunders’ Gulls. Drive to Chunam Reservoir complex, joined by In Sik Lee and friend - Baikal Teal and White-naped Crane - then excellent local meal. Drive back to Pusan, in horrendous holiday traffic; bus to historic Kyongju; night at Han-Jin Jang Yogwan (£10 single).

 

FEB 21 Bus to Yangdong - Daurian Redstart and Siberian Accentor; 2 km walk to Ankye Reservoir - Bean Geese and a Snow Goose; walk along river towards Kyongju for 5+ km - Pallas’s Reed and Pine Buntings; bus back to Kyongju; afternoon touring historic sites - Japanese Grosbeak; Han-Jin Jang.

 

FEB 22 Luxury bus at 07.00 to Seoul - 4 hours, £9 - then afternoon flight to Manila.

 

 

SYSTEMATIC LIST

Taxonomy, names and sequence are based on Birds of the World: A Checklist by JF Clements (1991), with a few obvious modifications. Capitals indicate new species for JH.

 

1. JAPAN

 

Pacific Diver                             6 from ferry on 14^th, with 4+ unidentified divers; 2 in Hakata Bay

 

Red-throated Diver                   3 from ferry on 14^th

 

Little Grebe                              Fairly common in small numbers, especially in parks

 

Great Crested Grebe                 Small numbers in Hakata Bay, 1 at Arasaki and a few in Shimanoseki harbour

 

Black-footed Albatross Only 1 from the ferry, on 15^th

 

Laysan Albatross                     6+ from the ferry on 9^th, 8-10 on 14^th and 7 on 15^th

 

Streaked Shearwater                Only 2 from the ferry, on 15^th

 

Short-tailed Shearwater            5 from the ferry on 9^th and 1 on 15^th

 

Great Cormorant                      Abundant around Tokyo and common in estuaries and inland waters in Kyushu

 

Japanese/ Temminck’s Cormorant  The not uncommon large cormorants in northern waters, mainly from the ferry, were presumably this species, indistinguishable from the above without a good view

 

Pelagic Cormorant                   Common off the Hokkaido capes and in  northern waters from the ferry

 

Whooper Swan             Locally common in eastern Hokkaido

 

Brent Goose                             3+ Notsuke peninsula, Hokkaido

 

Mandarin Duck             35 near the Meiji Shrine, 14 at Inagushira-koen and a few at Ueno, Tokyo

 

Eurasian Wigeon                      Small numbers in Tokyo, common on Kyushu with even a few at Mi-ike              

Falcated Duck                          2 drakes in Ohori-koen and 17 in Hakata Bay

 

Gadwall                                    Fairly common in Tokyo parks and small numbers in Kyushu

 

Common Teal                          Common in Tokyo and Kyushu

 

Mallard                                     Common in Tokyo and Kyushu

 

Spot-billed Duck                      Similar numbers and distribution to Mallard

 

Northern Pintail                        Abundant in Tokyo, a few on Hokkaido and fairly common on Kyushu

 

Northern Shoveler                    Fairly common in Tokyo but scarcer on Kyushu

 

Common Pochard                    Abundant locally in Kyushu, eg at Ohori-koen and common in Tokyo

 

Tufted Duck                              Small numbers on inland waters in Tokyo and Kyushu

 

Greater Scaup                          Locally common off the Hokkaido coast

 

Harlequin Duck                        Common off the Hokkaido coast

 

Long-tailed Duck                      Locally common off the Hokkaido coast and in northern waters from the ferry

 

Black Scoter                             Locally common off the Hokkaido coast and from the ferry

 

White-winged/ Velvet Scoter     Small numbers off the Hokkaido coast

 

Common Goldeneye                Fairly common off the Hokkaido coast

 

Smew                                       4 drakes and 3 females at Kushiro

 

Red-breasted Merganser           Several on/ around Hokkaido and Kyushu, including 1 female at Mi-ike

 

SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER  Mergus squamatus         An immature male at Mi-ike

 

Common Merganser/ Goosander          A few around Hokkaido

 

Little Egret                               A few from the Tokyo - Hakata train and in Kyushu

 

Pacific Reef-Egret                     1 at Shingu, Hakata Bay

 

Grey Heron                               Common at Arasaki and small numbers throughout Kyushu

 

Great Egret                               A few from Tokyo to Kyushu

 

Cattle Egret                              A few small parties on Kyushu

 

Green Heron                             A few singles on Kyushu

 

Black-crowned Night-Heron      A few in Tokyo and quite common on Kyushu, eg 7  fishing at Kashi

 

[Scarlet Ibis]                             1 at Arasaki had obviously escaped from somewhere

 

Eurasian Spoonbill                  At least 1 in the flock of 14 spoonbills roosting at the Zuibaiji estuary

 

BLACK-FACED SPOONBILL  Platalea minor     At least 2 in the above flock

 

Osprey                                     1 at Arasaki and 2 at Yatsushira

 

Black-eared Kite                       100+ at Lake Furen, common at Arasaki and small numbers elsewhere    

White-tailed Eagle                    A scattering throughout SE Hokkaido, with 30+ at Furen-ko        

 

Steller’s Sea-Eagle                   A scattering throughout SE Hokkaido, with 14 at a small cape near Akkeshi and 150+ at Furen-ko - only visible late am on 12^th when approx. half were on the ice and the others soared out of the Shikunitai “island” woodland - few were seen there in the afternoon

 

Eastern Marsh-Harrier              A pair at Arasaki

 

Common Buzzard                    1 at Mt Takao and several on Hokkaido

 

Eurasian Kestrel                       A few on Kyushu

 

Peregrine Falcon                      Singles at Capes Kiritappu and Nosappu

 

Chinese Bamboo-Partridge      Heard in brush at Tokyo and Hakata Bay

 

Common Moorhen                   Common in Tokyo and Kyushu

 

Eurasian Coot                          Small numbers in Tokyo and Kyushu, eg 4 at Ohori-koen

 

Common Crane                        2 at Arasaki

 

HOODED CRANE  Grus monacha         7000/ 8000 at Arasaki

 

Sandhill Crane                         2 at Arasaki

 

Red-crowned Crane                  75 at one “reserve” and 90 at another, with a lot of movement

 

WHITE-NAPED CRANE  Grus vipio       800/ 1000 at Arasaki     

 

Eurasian Curlew                       3 at Yatsu, Tokyo

 

Common Greenshank              3 at the Zuibaiji estuary

 

Green Sandpiper                      1 at Arasaki      

 

Common Sandpiper                 A few at Arasaki

 

Dunlin                                      Numerous at Yatsu

 

Black-winged Stilt                    6 at Yatsu

 

Grey Plover                              Common at Yatsu

 

Northern Lapwing                    Fairly common at Arasaki

 

Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris     Common from the ferry, at Yatsu and around Hakata Bay

 

Mew/ Kamchatka Gull Larus (canus) kamtschatschensis          Common at Kushiro, fairly common from the ferry and a few around Hakata

 

Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens        Common at Cape Nosappu and a few around Furen-ko

 

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus          Common on Hokkaido and in northern waters

 

HEUGLIN’S/ Herring GULL  Larus heuglini taimyrensis            2+ at Shingu, Hakata Bay and 1 at Ohori-koen

 

Vega/ Herring/ Heuglin’s Gull Larus (argentatus/ heuglini) vegae         Common from the ferry and in Hakata Bay

 

[Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans barabensis]      A small, white-headed (unstreaked) dark eyed gull at Shingu, Hakata Bay on 16^th was suspected of being this species by NM - an unusual and interesting sighting since there are no “official” records for East Asia (although Nial has seen similar birds in Kyushu before).

 

Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus   Abundant on Hokkaido and from the ferry, with a few at Ohori-koen and Hakata Bay

 

Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Numerous in Tokyo and Kyushu.

 

SAUNDERS’ GULL Larus saundersi     1 at Yatsu and 7 at the Zuibaiji estuary

 

Black-legged Kittiwake Larus tridactylus          Abundant from the ferry on 9^th and 14^th but uncommon near Hokkaido

 

Pomarine Skua                        30+ on both ferry journeys

 

Common Murre/ Guillemot       30+ guillemots from the ferry on 13^th included both species, but most were unidentified

 

Thick-billed Murre/ Brunnich’s Guillemot         2 from the ferry on 10^th and see above

 

Pigeon Guillemot                     A bird at Cape Kiritappu was cause for debate - I considered it to be this species

 

Spectacled Guillemot               At least 1 off Cape Nosappu

 

Ancient Murrelet                       150/ 200 from the ferry on 9^th and 500/ 1000 on 14^th

 

Japanese Murrelet                    2 from the ferry on 15^th

 

CRESTED AUKLET  Aethia cristatella   50 from the ferry on 10^th  and 10,000+ on 13^th - many dense flocks streaming past the bows of the ship for hours

 

LEAST AUKLET  Aethia pusilla                        500/ 1000 from the ferry on 10^th and 500 on 13^th, with 25+ at Cape Kiritappu.

 

Rufous Turtle-Dove                  Very common throughout the Tokyo area and Kyushu

 

Blakiston’s Fish-Owl                A pair of adults at a feeding station at dusk were followed by 2 first-years after leaving

 

Ural Owl                                   One was heard at Tachibanayama but did not fly in to view

 

Short-eared Owl                       2 at Notsuke peninsula

 

Common Kingfisher                 1 at Arasaki

 

Crested Kingfisher                   1 at Arasaki

 

Pygmy Woodpecker                 Fairly common - 1 or 2 heard or seen in most woodland throughout

 

Japanese (Green) Woodpecker Singles at Mt Takao and Tachibanayama, and 3 at DA’s suburban “patch”

 

Eurasian Jay                            Fairly common on Hokkaido and several elsewhere

 

Black-billed Magpie                  2 from the Fukuoka - Izumi train

 

Azure-winged Magpie               A small party at Yatsu was the only record - I had previously found it common in Tokyo  

 

DAURIAN JACKDAW     Corvus dauricus  At least 4 in a large Corvid flock at Arasaki

 

Rook                                        100+ in the flock at Arasaki

 

Carrion Crow                            A few on Hokkaido and probably common around Arasaki

 

Large-billed Crow                     Common throughout

 

Ryukyu Minivet                        Flight calls heard at Mi-ike (and birds later seen by my two Japanese “friends”) were thought to be this sp. P.tegimae, some of which apparently migrate northwards in winter(!), rather than Ashy P.divaricatus which leaves Japan.  

 

Bull-headed Shrike                   Several singles, including 1 at DA’s “patch” and 2 at Shingu

 

Blue Rock-Thrush                    1 at Shingu

 

Scaly (White’s) Thrush A good view of 1 at Mt Takao

 

Pale Thrush                             Fairly common, particularly at Mt Takao, but skulking - in most woodland around Tokyo and on Kyushu

 

Brown-headed Thrush              Several in woodland around Tokyo and on Kyushu

 

Dusky Thrush                           Surprisingly scarce, with only a scattering of small numbers around Tokyo and Kyushu

 

Common Starling                     A party of 6 birds flying from a TV arial at the Kumagawa estuary, Kyushu was thought to be this rare species, which is normally only seen around Arasaki; the only other likely possibility is Japanese Waxwing!

 

White-cheeked Starling            Fairly common around Tokyo and on Kyushu

 

Red-throated Flycatcher           Found by NM at Ohori-koen a few days earlier, 1 was still present there on 19^th - a rare record. Said to be a potential split from F. parva

 

Daurian Redstart                      Only 1, at Hakata Bay on 16^th , a most unusual situation

 

Eurasian Nuthatch                    Fairly common in woodland throughout

 

(Winter) Wren                           2 at Mt Takao were the only ones noted, but probably overlooked

 

Long-tailed Tit                          Several small parties in woodland throughout

 

Asian Martin                             30+ at Izumi and a town 30-40km to the North

 

Goldcrest                                 A few at Mt Takao

 

Brown-eared Bulbul                 Abundant throughout

 

Japanese White-eye                  Common in woodland and parkland in Tokyo and Kyushu

 

Zitting Cisticola                        2 or 3 at Arasaki

 

Japanese Bush-Warbler            Several around Tokyo and on Kyushu

 

Marsh Tit                                  Common on Hokkaido

 

Willow Tit                                 A few on Hokkaido and around Tokyo.

 

Coal Tit                                    Common throughout

 

Great Tit                                   Abundant throughout. Japanese research has idicated that this form might merit splitting, as Parus minor.

 

Varied Tit                                 Fairly common around Tokyo, including the Meiji Shrine, and on Kyushu

 

CHINESE PENDULINE-TIT  Remiz consobrinus            Two parties of 5 and 3+ in typha at the Zuibaiji estuary - not found at Arasaki

 

Japanese Skylark                     Common throughout Kyushu

 

Russet Sparrow                        A single flock of c.500 near Mi-ike, mianly perched on wires

 

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Abundant in the vicinity of buildings throughout

 

Black-backed Wagtail               Common throughout the Tokyo region and Kyushu

 

Japanese Wagtail                     2 at DA’s “patch” and a few on Kyushu

 

Grey Wagtail                            Several on Mt Takao and Kyushu          

 

Buff-bellied Pipit                      Common on farmland on Kyushu. Another potential split - Anthus japonicus - as this form nests alongside A.rubescens in the Russian far east without interbreeding, according to Pavel Tomkovich (per NM).

 

Grey-capped Greenfinch           Fairly common in Tokyo and Kyushu, usually in small flocks

 

Eurasian Siskin/ Redpoll          A flock of 40/ 50 by L Furen contained one or both of these sp.

 

ASIAN ROSY-FINCH  Leucosticte arctoa   Two flocks of 10+ on Hokkaido: one near Cape Akkeshi and the other at Cape Kiritappu

 

Eurasian Bullfinch                   2 at DA’s “patch”

 

Hawfinch                                  2 at DA’s “patch”

 

Japanese Grosbeak                  3 at Mt Takao and 6 at Mi-ike

 

Meadow Bunting                      Common in small numbers in Tokyo and Kyushu

 

Rustic Bunting             2 at Meiji Shrine and the Zuibaiji estuary, several at Hakata Bay on 16^th

 

Yellow-throated Bunting           A few at DA’s “patch” and Mi-ike, and 10 at Hakata Bay

 

Black-faced Bunting                 Fairly common around Tokyo and on Kyushu

 

GREY BUNTING  Emberiza variabilis   4 at Tachibanayama and 3/ 4 heard at Hakata Bay but could not be seen despite a long search - an arch-skulker in winter

 

Reed Bunting                           Several at Arasaki

 

DIPS

Baer’s Pochard                         Ohori-koen, Fukuoka and Tokyo in Jan

Baikal Teal                                Karuizawa or Ura-Myogi; Tokyo in Jan

Steller’s Eider                            35 at Cape Nosappu, seen briefly by DA at third attempt

Bufflehead                                2 at Cape Notsuke

Spotted Eagle                           1 near Sendai

Imperial Eagle                           1 near Sendai

Siberian Crane                           1 near Kagoshima airport, Kyushu

Rock Sandpiper                                    Choshi, Chiba-ken - note that it only occurs in Hokkaido on spring                                                          passage in late March/ April

Great Black-headed Gull            Kumagawa estuary

Stock Dove                              2 at Arasaki

Japanese Waxwing                    ?

Pallas’s Rosefinch                     1 near Mount Fuji in Jan

 

 

2. SOUTH KOREA

C Chunam reservoir complex; K Kyongju vicinity; N Nakdong estuary; Y Yangdong vicinity.

  

Little Grebe                              Common at C and Y, a few at K

           

Great Crested Grebe                 Common throughout

 

Great Cormorant                      Abundant around Pusan harbour - nesting on a large rock beyond the harbour entrance - Japanese/ Temminck’s Cormorants may also have been present; and a few elsewhere

 

Bewick’s Swan             Several at C

 

Whooper Swan             500 at C, 100 at N and 4 at Y

 

Bean Goose                             5000 at C, 2000+ at Y and 50 at N

 

White-fronted Goose                500 at C

 

Snow Goose                            1, possibly 2, white phase birds at Y

 

Ruddy Shelduck                       At least 1 at Y

 

Common Shelduck                  100 at N

 

Eurasian Wigeon                      Common at N and C, with a few at Y

 

Falcated Teal                            20+ at C

 

Gadwall                                    Several at C and 10+ at Y

 

BAIKAL TEAL                           Only a handful remained at C (Tongpan Res)

 

Common Teal                          Common at C,Y and K

 

Mallard                                     Common at C,Y and K

 

Spot-billed Duck                      Common at C,Y and K  

 

Northern Pintail                        Several at C

 

Northern Shoveler                    Common at C and Y with a few at K

 

Common Pochard                    Common at C

 

Tufted Duck                              Several at C

 

CommonGoldeneye                 Only 1, at Y

 

Smew                                       17 at C, 100+ at Y and a few on the river at K

 

Red-breasted Merganser           A few at C

 

Common Merganser/ Goosander          200+ on the res at Y

 

Little Egret                               Common at N and C

 

Grey Heron                               Common throughout

 

Great Egret                               Occasional throughout  

 

Eurasian Spoonbill                  5 at C

 

Black-eared Kite                       Only 1 or 2       

 

Northern Goshawk                   1 perched on mud at the edge of Chunan Res

 

Eurasian Kestrel                       A few at C and Y

 

Ring-necked Pheasant  1 at Y

 

Eurasian Coot                          Several at C

 

White-naped Crane                   3 at C

 

Northern Lapwing                    10+ at C

 

Eurasian Curlew                       20 at N

 

Saunders’ Gull                         A few at N but impossible to count due to distance and adverse

lighting conditions        

 

Common Black-headed Gull     Common throughout

 

Black-tailed Gull                       Common at Pusan harbour

 

RELICT GULL  Larus relictus   5+ at N

 

Common/ Kamchatka Gull       1+ at Pusan harbour

 

Herring/ Vega Gull                   Common at Pusan harbour,a few at N and 1 at Y

 

Slaty-backed Gull                     At least 1 in Pusan harbour

 

Ancient Murrelet                       At least 1 in Pusan harbour

 

Rufous Turtle-Dove                  Common throughout

 

Pygmy-Woodpecker                 1 at Y

 

Eurasian Jay                            Common at Y and K

 

Black-billed Magpie                  Common throughout

 

Carrion Crow                            Fairly common throughout

 

Bull-headed Shrike                   Several at C and Y, and 2 at K

 

Dusky Thrush                           Strangely scarce - only 6, at K

 

Daurian Redstart                      3 at Y

 

Winter Wren                             2 at Y

 

Vinous-throated Parrotbill        Common at C,Y and K  

 

Long-tailed Tit                          Common at Y and K, with a few at C

 

Brown-eared Bulbul                 Common at C,K and Y

 

Coal Tit                                    1 at Y

 

Great Tit                                   Common at C, Y and K

 

Varied Tit                                 2 at K

 

Japanese Skylark                     Several at N and C, with 60+ at Y

 

Tree Sparrow                           Common throughout

 

Black-backed Wagtail               Several throughout

 

Buff-bellied Pipit                      Several at N, C and K, with 50+ at Y

 

SIBERIAN ACCENTOR  Prunella montanella    4 at Y

 

Grey-capped Greenfinch           Common throughout

 

Japanese Grosbeak                  15 at K

 

Pine Bunting                            A female in a scrubby ditch near the Yangdong - Kyongju road

was an identification problem, finally resolved at home with Buntings and Sparrows (1996)

 

Meadow Bunting                      2+ at N, C and Y

 

Yellow-throated Bunting           Common at C,Y and K

 

Rustic Bunting             10 at Y

 

PALLAS’ (REED) BUNTING  Emberiza pallasi               2 at Y

 

 

 

MAMMALS IN JAPAN

 

Fox  vulpes vulpes                               2 on Hokkaido

 

Northern Fur Seal  Callorhinus ursinus            Quite common in northern waters from the ferry

 

Northern/ Steller’s Sea Lion  Eumetopias jubatus        Common from the ferry

 

Harbour Seal  Phoca vitulina kurilensis           A few on the ice at Notsuke peninsula

 

Bottle-nosed Dolphin  Tursiops truncatus        Sporadically quite common from the ferry

 

Pygmy Killer Whale  Feresa attenuata  A single pod from the ferry

 

Dall’s Porpoise  Phocoenoides dalli    Several from the ferry

 

Sika Deer  Cervus nippon                     A few in Hokkaido.