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Home , Amami thrush, Amami woodcock, Buergeria, Japanese grosbeak, Larvivora, Marsh grassbird

IN SPRING MAY 7–20, 2019

Okinawa Woodpecker / Okinawa / photo: Wendy Naruo

LEADER: KAZ SHINODA

LIST COMPILED BY: KAZ SHINODA

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

JAPAN IN SPRSPRINGING MAY 77––––20,20, 2019 BBByBy Kaz Shinoda

While we were smacking our lips over the Japanese delicacies at the farewell dinner at our hotel in Narita, we listed the highlights of our tour.

Yellow-browed Bunting / Tobishima / photo: Wendy Naruo

One member of the group said that the quest of migrating on Tobishima while walking several miles a day was most rewarding. Indeed, we saw 9 of Old World buntings, including such rare ones as Little, Yellow, and Yellow-browed Bunting, on the island. Also, we stumbled into a few mega-rarities in Japan, which was very lucky. We got some great views of Radde's Warbler and Siberian Chiffchaff, both of which are almost vagrants to Japan. Tobishima was a great magnet to migrating passerines again this spring.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Japan in Spring, 2019

Radde's Warbler / Tobishima / photo: Wendy Naruo

For some of the group, our two-overnight stay at Ryokan Obako on Tobishima was a trip highlight. Staying at this traditional Japanese inn owned and run by a local fisherman's family provided our group with intriguing cultural experiences, including Japanese styles of living and culinary delights.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Japan in Spring, 2019

Narcissus Flycatcher / Tobishima / photo: Wendy Naruo

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Japan in Spring, 2019 Also prized were a mini birding tour at Amami Natural Park. The warden of the park voluntarily led us to several "hot spots" of the park. He let us see a tree cavity where the endemic Amami Ishikawa's was roosting. He showed us two Himehabu , an Otton Frog, and some Sword-tailed Newts, all endemic to the Nansei Shoto Islands, in a little pool, by which a pair of Owston's Woodpeckers were nesting in a tree, where a chick was calling continuously. Then he told us to wait at a spot where we could see some steps in the forest. He said that he often saw , a great skulker, hopping around on the steps. As soon as he whistled robins to show up, a male, a female, and two juveniles suddenly appeared, and surprisingly, the female began to feed the fledged chicks! It was as if it were magic.

Ryukyu Robin / Amami / photo: Wendy Naruo

The spot-lit night- drive on Amami also garnered top honors. Mr. Tsuneda, a local bird authority, guided us into virgin forest. He was so efficient that he could find local specialty , mammals, and herptiles one after another, using his powerful flashlight. We were very lucky to see three roosting Amami Thrushes. This is endemic to Amami, and a critically , of which the global population is only a few hundred. Many Lidth's Jays and a Ruddy Kingfisher were roosting in the foliage, nocturnal Ryukyu Scops-Owls were vocal in the dark forest, and Amami were on the forest paths poking around for worms. Also, he spotted about a dozen Amami Black Rabbits as

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Japan in Spring, 2019 well as a Habu, the notorious , venomous on the island. I agree that the night -drive was amazingly productive and truly enjoyable.

Amami Thrush / Amami / photo: Wendy Naruo

One of the top highlights mentioned by most members of the group was the sighting of two global rarities, Okinawa Woodpecker and Okinawa , at Benoki Dam in Forest. Indeed, it was truly exciting to watch three Okinawa Woodpeckers foraging in red tropical flowers and two Okinawa Rails poking their beaks into grass stacks for invertebrates almost at the same time. We enjoyed the awesome views at quite close range. Usually, pre-breakfast birding around our hotel in Yanbaru Forest is very productive, but that morning, we got a mere glimpse of a rail crossing the road, which was a bit disappointing, so we headed for the dam area after a late breakfast. To tell the truth, I didn't expect so much out of midday birding in the subtropical forest, but actually it turned out to be a bonanza! I learned that that is what birding is.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Japan in Spring, 2019

Okinawa Rail / Okinawa / photo: Kerry Brandin

I agree with the participants that these were definitely the highlights of the tour, and great birding was complemented by a great group ready for the next round of new experiences in Japan. The tour was very successful!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Japan in Spring, 2019

Japanese Green Pheasant (National Bird of Japan) / Yokohama / photo: Wendy Naruo

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Japan in Spring, 2019 ITINERARY:

5-8 – Assembly in Tokyo: At 7:00 p.m., I met Jan and Kerry in the lobby of Excel Hotel Tokyu, located in Terminal 2 at Haneda International Airport. The other participants arrived later in the evening. Following introductions, we proceeded to dinner in the hotel’s excellent restaurant where we became acquainted.

5-9 – Tokyo to Sakata: Our 11:10 a.m. flight to Shonai Airport allowed for a leisurely breakfast at Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu and repacking without pressure; we arrived at Shonai on-time at midday, taking a shuttle to our hotel in Sakata. While en route, we spied the first birds of the trip in and near rice paddies along the roadside. Following check-in at Hotel Inn Sakata, we had lunch at a nearby steak and burger restaurant with a Japanese touch. An afternoon excursion via taxi to the nearby Mogami River for our first “on the ground” birding was very productive, including a nice variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines. Dinner at Hotel Inn Sakata.

5-10 – Sakata to Tobishima: Following breakfast at the hotel, we loaded into a taxi for our drive to Sakata’s port for our 9:00 a.m. ferry trip to Tobishima Island, offshore in the Sea of Japan. We stopped at a convenience store on our way to choose items for lunch, a routine with which we became quite familiar. (It should be noted that the variety of prepared foods available in Japanese convenience stores is truly impressive; don’t think in terms of hot dogs under heat lamps!) Although the boat trip was quite choppy, we birded from the exterior deck during the hour and a half passage, of which the highlights were two large flocks of more than 100 Streaked Shearwaters and a pod of about a dozen Pacific White-sided Dolphins. After checking into our traditional Japanese inn at the harbor waterfront, the Ryokan Obako, we walked up to the island’s plateau with its and vegetable gardens where we spent a productive afternoon finding Asian migrants.

5-11 – Tobishima: Some in the group were up early, birding nearby in the closest gardens before our 7:30 a.m. traditional breakfast in the inn. Following breakfast, we received a boxed lunch and walked to the school’s athletic field at Tobishima’s north end. The athletic field is a Tobishima hotspot with its grassy expanse surrounded on two sides by native forest. Then, we walked up to the island’s plateau where we spent most of the day birding in gardens and forest. We then walked back to the inn to have dinner. Our iPhones’ health app said that we walked about 7 miles while birding today.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Japan in Spring, 2019 5-12 – Tobishima to Tokyo: After breakfast at 7:30, we walked up to the island’s plateau again and added such cool birds as and Siberian Rubythroat to our list. We returned to the harbor to board the ferry a little after 11:30 before beginning our return voyage to Sakata at 12:15. Birding from the ferry was even better than two days previous on glassy seas. We saw more shearwaters and from the deck. A taxi awaited us at dockside to transport us to Hiyoriyama Park in Sakata, where we had a picnic, watching such cool birds as flycatchers, warblers, starlings, and thrushes. Later in the afternoon, our taxi conveyed us to Shonai Airport for our ANA flight back to Haneda, Tokyo. Dinner and overnight at Excel Hotel Tokyu.

5-13 – Yokohama & Kamakura: We met up at the hotel lobby at 9:30 a.m. and rented a van to head for Yokohama. Our target birds were a few Japanese endemics. The first spot was Maioka Park located in the woods. Then we visited the Sakai River Wetland Park, where we saw 3 stunning male Japanese Green Pheasants, the national bird of Japan as well as an endemic species to the country. After birding, we went sightseeing in Kamakura and visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, one of the most famous shrines in Japan. After we had traditional Japanese cuisine at a restaurant in Kamakura, we made a return drive back to our hotel in Haneda.

5-14 – Tokyo to Amami: A leisurely breakfast in the hotel before our 12:05 flight from Haneda to our next destination, Amami Island in Japan’s southerly Ryukyu chain. On arriving at Amami Airport, we secured a rental vehicle which we loaded and drove to Amami Natural Forest Park, where we got great views of the regional specialty birds. Then we dropped in at Akina to see some farmland birds. We had dinner at our hotel, the West Court Amami in Naze, a small city an hour to the southwest. As it seemed to have rained heavily before our arrival at Amami Airport, we had to postpone our spotlighting tour to the following night due to possible floods in the forest.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Japan in Spring, 2019

Owston's Woodpecker / Amami / photo: Wendy Naruo

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Japan in Spring, 2019

5-15 – Amami: We drove to native forest in Amami Natural Forest Park, again following breakfast at the hotel, arriving in good birding weather. After a couple of productive hours in the forest with Amami endemics, we dropped to the lowlands where we birded the Akina Farmlands with its waterbirds. Lunch at our hotel restaurant was followed by a drive to Chinase, where we poked around for a few local specialty birds. On our way back to our hotel, we dropped in at Ohama Beach Park, a sunset view spot. We had a quick Japanese dinner at our hotel before we were joined by Mr. Tsuneda, a local bird authority, who guided us into virgin forest for a spot-lit night -birds drive, which was extremely productive. Bedtime around midnight.

Otton Frog / Amami / photo: Kerry Brandin

5-16 – Amami to Okinawa: Following breakfast and checkout, we drove to Amami Silk Park and got some excellent views of Lidth's Jay and Ruddy Kingfisher. Then we looked for some shorebirds at Ose Beach near the airport. Lunch at a nearby resort restaurant was followed quickly by the return of a rental vehicle and boarding our 2:15 p.m. flight to Okinawa. After arrival at the airport on Okinawa’s southern tip in Naha City, we procured our rental vehicle and drove the three-hour journey to the Ada Garden Hotel deep in native Yanbaru Forest on the northern end of the island. Just before sunset, we luckily saw 3 Okinawa Rails.

5-17 – Okinawa: Our pre-breakfast bird drive turned out to be less productive than usual. All that

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Japan in Spring, 2019 we got was a glimpse of an Okinawa Rail crossing the road. After breakfast, we visited Benoki Dam , also in Yanbaru Forest, where we had some exquisite views of the critically endangered Okinawa Woodpecker and Okinawa Rail almost at the same time, which was really exciting. After lunch at a local restaurant in the forest, we took a nap for a couple of hours, as birding is slow at midday on this subtropical island. After the well-earned rest, we visited a couple of farms in the late afternoon, Kijoka and Okuma, for some elusive birds. After a buffet-style dinner at a restaurant in a resort hotel near the farmlands, it began to rain heavily, but by the time we got back to our hotel in the forest, it was only a drizzle, so we carried on our nocturnal birding. The hotel manager joined in, finding a roosting Okinawa Rail high on its tree limb perch!

Okinawa Rail / Okinawa / photo: Wendy Naruo

5-18 – Okinawa to Tokyo: Following breakfast in the hotel, we left for the return drive to Naha City with some birding along the way. An unscheduled stop at Nakaoji for terns was followed by a birding drive through the Kin farmlands. Continuing southward, we had a snack/rest stop at a now familiar Japanese convenience store. Across the street from the convenience store, shorebirds on a drainage channel’s muddy margins made our stop unusually worthwhile. Among more common , we found Black-faced Spoonbill, a global rarity! Our 4:20 p.m. departure from Okinawa aboard a JAL

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Japan in Spring, 2019 flight delivered us to Tokyo on time for a comfortable dinner following in Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu’s restaurant.

5-19 – Tokyo to Narita: Following breakfast in the hotel, we boarded a rental vehicle for the drive to Narita via some notable birding stops. As it was Sunday, there were too many clam-diggers' cars near the Sanbanze tidal mudflats, so we gave up birding Sanbanze and headed for Yatsu Mudflat instead for some shorebirds. After stopping for lunch at a convenience store, we continued north to the Tone River reed beds to search for rare and endangered specialists found there. Following our success on the Tone River, we hurried along narrow back roads to our last birding venue of the tour, Inbanuma Marsh, arriving in time for the evening marsh bird chorus. We arrived at Narita View Hotel well after dark, sitting down in the hotel’s excellent Japanese specialty restaurant at 8 p.m. for our farewell dinner.

5-20 – Flights homeward from Narita: Today we left according to our individual schedules, homeward across the Pacific. Some participants proceeded to their post-tour extension in Japan.

Black-faced Spoonbill / Okinawa / photo: Wendy Naruo

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Japan in Spring, 2019 KEY: H = Honshu - May 9, 12, 13, 19 F = Tobishima Ferry Route - May 10 & 12 T = Tobishima - May 10, 11, & 12 A = Amami-Oshima - May 14, 15, & 16 O = Okinawa - May 16, 17, & 18

BIRDS: DUCKS, GEESE, & WATERFOWL (Anatidae): Eurasian Wigeon (Anas Penelope) - F. A drake at Sakata Port. Common winter visitor to Japan. Eastern SpotSpot----billedbilled Duck (Anas zonorhyncha) – H, F, A. Common resident. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) – H. A pair seen in Sakata. Common winter visitor to Japan. GreenGreen- ---wingedwinged ((EurasianEurasianEurasian)) Teal (Anas crecca) – H. Common winter visitor to Japan. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) - F. Some at Sakata Port. Common winter visitor to Japan. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) - F. Some at Sakata Port. Common winter visitor to Japan.

PHEASANTS, GROUSE, & ALLIES (Phasianidae): Chinese BambooBamboo----PaPaPaPartridgertridge (Bambusicola thoracicus) - H. 2 at Maioka Park in Yokohama, introduced. Japanese Green (Ring(Ring----necked)necked) Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus versicolor) – H. Mark Brazil and many other authorities consider this to be a full species. Endemic to Japan, and Japan's national bird.

GREBES (Podicepdidae): Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) - H. 2 in Sakata, winter visitor.

PIGEONS & DOVES (Columbidae): Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – T, H, O. Introduced. Japanese (B(B(Blac(B laclaclack)k) Wood Pigeon (Columba janina) – T. A few seen flying, near endemic to Japan. Oriental TurtleTurtle----DovDovDoveeee (Streptopelia orientalis) – H, T, A, O. Common resident. Whistling (Ryukyu) Green Pigeon (Treron formosae permagnus) – A, O. Resident on the Nansei Shoto Islands.

CUCKOOS (Cuculidae): Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) – T. heard only.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Japan in Spring, 2019

SWIFTS (Apodidae): Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus) – T, A. Common summer visitor to Japan. House Swift (Apus nipalensis) - T. A few seen among a big flock of Pacific Swift, resident in Honshu.

RAILS, GALLINULES, & COOTS (Rallidae): Okinawa Rail ( okinawae) – O. 8 seen, endemic to Yanbaru Forest, northern Okinawa, critically endangered, only about 1,500 in the forest. Eurasian (Common) Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) – H, A, O. Common resident. WhiteWhite- ---breabreabreastedsted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – A. Resident in the Nansei Shoto Islands.

STILTS & AVOCETS (Recurvirostridae): BlackBlack- ---wingedwinged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) – H, O. 1 each seen in Sakata and "Triangle Pond" in Naha, Okinawa.

PLOVERS & LAPWINGS (Charadriidae): Pacific GoGoldenldenlden----PloverPlover (Pluvialis fulva) – O. 3 seen at Kin Farmland, common winter visitor/transient. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) – H. Common summer visitor to Japan.

SANDPIPERS & ALLIES (Scolopacidae): Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – O, H. Common transient. SharpSharp- ---tailedtailed ( acuminata) – O. 1 seen at Kin Farmland and 2 at "Triangle Pond" in Naha, fairly common migrant throughout Japan. RedRed- ---neckednecked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) – H. 5 in breeding plumage seen at Yatsu Mudflat, common transient. Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira) – A. 2 total, on the spotlighting tour, endemic to Amami, endangered. CCCommon Common Snipe ( gallinago) - H. Common winter visitor/transient. RedRed- ---neckednecked (Phalaropus lobatus) – F. About 30 seen, transient. Common Sandpiper ( hypoleucos) – F, O. Common resident. GrayGray- ---tailedtailed Tattler ( brevipes) –H, O. Common transient. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) – O. Common transient.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Japan in Spring, 2019

AUKS, MURRES, & PUFFINS (Alcidae): JapanesJapanese e Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume) – F. A glimpse of 3 flying birds, near endemic to Japan, vulnerable, only about 5,000 in the world.

GULLS, TERNS, & SKIMMERS (Laridae): BlackBlack- ---tailedtailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) – H, F, T. Common resident, near endemic to Japan. SlatySlaty- ---backedbacked Gull (Larus schistisagus) – T. 2 birds seen, winter visitor to Honshu, many breeds in Hokkaido. Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) – F, H. Common summer visitor to Japan. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) O. 2 seen at Kin Farmland, summer visitor to the Nansei Shoto Islands. Uncommon in Honshu. BlackBlack- ---napednaped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) – O. About 30 seen in the distance, summer visitor to the Nansei Shoto Islands.

SHEARWATERS & PETRELS (Procellaridae): Streaked SShearwaterhearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) – F. Common. FleshFlesh- ---footedfooted Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes) – F. 4 seen in 2 large flocks of Streaked Shearwaters on the way back from Tobishima. ShortShort- ---tailedtailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) - F. a few seen in a large flock of Streaked Shearwaters on the way to Tobishima.

CORMORANTS & SHAGS (Phalacorcoracidae): Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) – F, T. Only 2 birds seen. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) – H, F. Common resident. Japanese (Temminck’s) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) – F, T. East Asian specialty.

HERONS, EGRETS & BITTERNS (Ardeidae): Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) – H. Heard only at Inbanuma Marsh. YelYellow low Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) – H. Only 1 seen sitting in the reeds at Inbanuma Marsh. Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) – O. Only 1 seen skulking in a paddy at Okuma Farmland. Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) – H, F, T, A, O. Common resident. Great Egret (Ardea alba) – H, T, A. Common resident.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Japan in Spring, 2019 Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) – A, O, H. Common summer visitor. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) – A . Common resident. Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) – A, O. 4 dark morphs and 3 pale morphs on Amami, and 1 pale morph on Okinawa, resident. (Eastern) Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) – A, O. About 30 in Okinawa. Summer visitor. BlackBlack- ---crownedcrowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) – O. Only 1 in Kin Farmland. Resident.

IBISES & SPOONBILLS (Threskiornithidae) BlackBlack- ---facedfaced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) - O. 1 seen in "Triangle Pond" in Naha City, uncommon winter visitor to Japan, critically endangered, global population only about 3,500.

OSPREY (Pandionidae): Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – H, F, A. Common resident.

HAWKS, EAGLES, & KITES (Accipitridae): Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) - T. 1 or 2 females seen flying. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) – T. 1 female seen flying. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) - T. 1 juvenile seen flying. Black (Black(Black----eared)eared) Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus) – H, F, T. Very common resident. By far the most common hawk in Japan. Common (Eastern) Buzzard (Buteo buteo) – F. 1 seen flying at Sakata Port. Mark Brazil and some other ornithologists consider this a full species named Eastern or Japanese Buzzard.

OWLS (Strigidae): Ryukyu (Elegant) Scops Owl (Otus elegans) – A, O. 3 seen on the spotlighting tour with 1 great view included, some heard on Okinawa, endemic to Japan. Brown Boobook (Ninox scutulata totogo) – T. Some heard on Tobishima, summer visitor to main islands of Japan, another subspecies is resident in the Nansei Shoto Islands such as Amami & Okinawa.

KINGFISHERS (Alcedinidae): CommoCommon n Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) – H, A, O. Resident. Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) – A, O. A couple great views on Amami, summer visitor.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Japan in Spring, 2019 WOODPECKERS (Picidae): (((Japanese (JapaneseJapanese)))) Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopus kizuki) – H, A, O. Common resident in East Asia. Okinawa (Pry(Pryeeeer’s)r’s) WWoodpeckeroodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii) – O. Critically endangered (only a few hundred birds estimated), endemic to Yanbaru Forest, northern Okinawa. 4 seen, including 1 excellent view of a male and 2 juveniles foraging in tropical flowers. WhiteWhite- ---backedbacked (Owston(Owston’s)’s) Woodpecker (Dendropocus leucotos owstoni) –A. A pair nesting seen at Amami Natural Forest Park. “Amami Woodpecker” where endemic, currently considered a subspecies of White-backed Woodpecker by many taxonomists, but Mark Brazil split it as full species. Japanese (Green) Woodpecker (Picus awokera) - H. Heard only in Maioka Park in Yokohama

FALCONS & CARACARAS (Falconidae): Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) - T. 1 glimpse of flying bird. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) – T. 1 female flying. Resident in Japan.

CUCKOOSHRIKES (Campephagidae): Ryukyu (Pericrocotus tegimae) – A, O. Endemic to southern Japan, resident. (Pericrocotus divaricatus) – T. Heard only. Uncommon summer visitor to Japan.

MONARCH FLYCATCHERS (Monarchidae): Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata) – A, O. Heard here and there, but had only 1 glimpse of a female flying at Amami Natural Forest Park.

CROWS, JAYS, & MAGPIES (Corvidae): Lidth’s (Am(Amami)ami) Jay (Garrulus lidthi) – A. Fairly common, but a little elusive, endemic to Amami, vulnerable. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) – H, T. Common resident. LargeLarge- ---billedbilled Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) – H, T, A, O. Very common resident.

LARKS (Alaudidae): Eurasian (Japanese) SkySkyllllarkarkarkark (Alauda arvensis) – H. Common resident.

SWALLOWS (Hirundinidae): Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) – H, T, A, O. Common summer visitor to Japan. Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) – O. Common resident on Amami & Okinawa.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Japan in Spring, 2019 RedRed- ---rumpedrumped SwalloSwallowwww (Hirundo daurica) – T. Only 2 seen flying. Summer visitor to Japan. Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus) – T, H. Common summer visitor to Japan.

TITS, CHICKADEES, & TITMICE (Paridae): Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius) – T, H. Only 1 seen on Tobishima, despite a common resident throughout Japan. Japanese Tit (Parus minor) – H, T, A, O. Common resident.

BULBULS (Pycnonotidae): Chinese (Light(Light----vented)vented) Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis) – O. Common resident on Okinawa. BrownBrown- ---earedeared Bulbul (Hypispetes amaurotis) – H, T, A, O. Abundant in Japan, near endemic.

BUSH-WARBLERS & ALLIES (Cettidae): Japanese BushBush----WarblerWarbler (Horornis diphone) – T, O, H. Common, but only a few sightings since it is a skulker.

LEAF WARBLERS (Phylloscopidae): YellowYellow- ---browedbrowed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) –T. 2 birds seem. Uncommon transient to Japan. RaRaRadde Ra ddedde's's Warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi) – Only 1 on T. Very lucky to see this rare migrant. Eastern CroCrownedwned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus) –T, H. Summer visitor to Japan. Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus borealoides) – T. Summer visitor to Japan. SSSiberian Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita tristis) - Only 1 on T. Vagrant, very rare in Japan. We all enjoyed its excellent views at close range.

REED-WARBLERS & ALLIES (Acrocephalidae): BlackBlack- ---browedbrowed Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps) –H. 3 birds seen singing at reed beds along the Tone River. Locally common summer visitor. Oriental ReedReed----WaWaWaWarblerrbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) – H. Many at Inbanuma Marsh. Common summer visitor.

GRASSBIRDS & ALLIES (): Marsh Grassbird (Locustella pryeri) – H. Nearly 10 birds seen at reed beds along the Tone River. Near threatened. Very locally distributed in East Asia.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Japan in Spring, 2019

CISTICOLAS & ALLIES (Cisticolidae): Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) – A, O, H. Common resident.

WHITE-EYES, YUHINAS, & ALLIES (Zosteropidae): Japanese WhiteWhite----eyeeye (Zosterops japonicus) – T, H, A, O. Common resident.

LAUGHINGTHRUSHES & ALLIES (Leiothrichidae) Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus) - H. Introduced.

OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS (Muscicapidae): Asian BrBrownown Flycatcher (Muscicapa latirostris) – T, H. Summer visitor. BlueBlue- ---andandand----whitewhite Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) –Only a few birds seen on T. Summer visitor to Japan. (((Swinhoe’s (Swinhoe’sSwinhoe’s)))) RRRufous Rufousufous----tailedtailed Robin ( sibilans) – Only 1 seen on T. Uncommon transient, elusive. Ryukyu Robin (Larvivora komadori) – A, O. Endemic to the Nansei Shoto Islands. Mark Brazil split Okinawa RobiRobinnnn from Ryukyu Robin. We saw both of them. Siberian Blue Robin (Larvivora cyane) – 1 male seen on T. Summer visitor to Japan. Siberian Rubythroat (Calliope calliope) - 1 male on T. Summer visitor to Hokkaido. Narcissus FFlycatcherlycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) – About 10 in all on T. Summer visitor to Japan. We heard Ryukyu Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina owstoni) singing on Amami. Some ornithologists such as Mark Brazil consider this a full species. Uncommon. Daurian RedstarRedstartttt (Phoenicurus auroreus) – A few on T. Common winter visitor to Japan. Blue RockRock----ThrushThrush (Monticola solitaries) – T, A, O. Resident.

THRUSHES & ALLIES (Turdidae): Amami Thrush (Zoothera dauma amami) - A. Many authorities consider this to be a full species. Endemic to Amami, critically endangered, only a few hundred birds survive. We were lucky to see 3 birds roosting on the spotlighting tour. JaJaJapan Ja panpaneseese Thrush (Turdus cardis) – T. Heard only. Summer visitor to Japan. Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus) – A few on T, and 1 male on H. Uncommon transient. Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus) – H, T. Common winter visitor to Japan.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Japan in Spring, 2019 STARLINGS (Sturnidae): ChestnutChestnut- ---cheekedcheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis) – H. Summer visitor to Japan. WhiteWhite- ---cheekedcheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus) – H. Common resident.

WAGTAILS & PIPITS (Motacillidae): White (Black(Black----backed)backed) Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens) – H, T. Common resident. OliveOlive- ---backedbacked Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) – T, H. Resident.

FINCHES, EUPHONIAS & ALLIES (Fringillidae): Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) – T. Only 1 male seen. Winter visitor to Japan. (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – Heard only on T. Winter visitor. Japanese Grosbeak ( personata) - T. About a dozen seen flying. Resident. Oriental Greenfinch (Chloris sinica) – H, T. Common resident.

BUNTINGS & NEW WORLD SPARROWS (Emberizidae): ChestnutChestnut- ---earedeared Bunting (Emberiza fucata) – H, T. Resident. Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides) – T, H. Common resident. YellowYellow- ---throatedthroated (Elegant) Bunting (Emberiza elegans) - A few females seen on T. Winter visitor Japanese Reed (Orchre(Orchre----rumped)rumped) Bunting (Emberiza yessoensis) – H. 4 males & 2 females seen at reed beds along the Tone River, only locally distributed in Japan. Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) - A few seen on T. Uncommon transient/winter visitor. Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica) - Only 2 on T. Winter visitor. Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata) A pair seen on T. Vulnerable. Local summer visitor to the main island of Honshu. BlackBlack- ---facedfaced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala) – H, common on T. Both resident (E.s.personata) & Siberian ssp. (E.s.spodocephala) seen on Tobishima. The former considered full species named MMMaskedMasked Bunting by Mark Brazil. YellowYellow- ---browedbrowed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys) – Surprisingly, we saw at least 10 on T. Rare transient.

OLD WORLD SPARROWS (Passeridae): Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) – H, T, A, O. Abundant in Japan.

TOTAL: 121 species seen (plus 7 heard-only species).

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 22 Japan in Spring, 2019 *According to Mark Brazil's , 123 species seen (plus 8 heard-only species).

MAMMALS: PIGS (Suidae): Ryukyu Wild Boar (Sus scrofa riukiuanus) - 1 juvenile on O. Endemic subspecies to Amami & Okinawa.

RATS, MICE & VOLES (Muridae): Amami Spiny Rat (Tokudaia osimensis) – A. 1 seen by some on night drive, endemic to Amami.

RABBITS & HARES (Leporidae): Amami (((Black (BlackBlack)))) Rabbit (Pentalgus furnessi) – A. About 10 on night drive, endemic to Amami, endangered, only about 2,000 survive, the most primitive rabbit/hare in the world.

DOLPHINS Pacific WhiteWhite----sidedsided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) – F. About a dozen from Sakata to Tobishima, and at least 1 on our way back to Sakata.

REPTILES & AMPHIBIAAMPHIBIANS:NS: Habu Snake (Protobothrops flavoviridis) - 1 each on A & O. Very aggressive . Endemic to the Nansei Shoto Islands. Hime Habu ( okinavensis) - A. 2 at Amami Natural Forest Park. Less aggressive than longer Habu Snake. RedRed- ---earedeared Slider (Trachemys scripta ) – H, O. Introduced from North America. Amami Ishikawa’s Frog ( ishikawae) – 2 on A. 1 in a tree cavity, endemic to Amami, endangered. Ryukyu Kajika Frog (Buergeria japonica) - A, O. Endemic to the Nansei Shoto Islands. Otton Frog (Babina subaspera ) - 3 on A. Endemic to Amami, endangered. SwordSword- ---tailedtailed Newt （Cynops ensicauda ）- A. Endemic to the Nansei Shoto Islands. Bull Frog (Lithobates catesbeiana ) – H. Introduced from North America.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 23 Japan in Spring, 2019