IN SPRING MAY 7–20, 2018

Okinawa Rail / Okinawa / photo: Brad Schram

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 SPRING MAY 7–20, 2018

By Kaz Shinoda

Okinawa Woodpecker / Okinawa / photo: Brad Schram

On May 10, right after enjoying an excellent view of a flock of three Japanese Murrelets on our ferry trip to Tobishima, we found spring migration in full swing on this small islet in the Sea of Japan. Yellow-browed Warblers were seen and heard here and there as soon as we started birding on the plateau of the island, where we ambled along a path on the quest to find migrating amid lovely vegetable gardens and forests on either side. Believe it or not, Yellow-browed Warbler is a rare transient in Japan. If one of them showed up in Tokyo, hundreds of Japanese birders and photographers would rush to the venue!

During our stay on the island, we saw seven of warblers in all, most of which were leaf warblers (Phylloscopidae) , including such rarities in Japan as Pallas’s Leaf Warbler and the vagrant Siberian Chiffchaff. Paula and Ann found the latter while we were having a picnic on May 11, which made even myself quite excited! The rarities that we saw on this island were not only warblers but also flycatchers, buntings, and some other . Korean, Mugimaki, Taiga, and Red-breasted flycatchers are all uncommon or rare in Japan, and we saw them all. And unless you visit a small island in the Sea of Japan in migration, you hardly have a chance to see Yellow-browed, Little, Yellow-breasted, and Chestnut buntings in this country. As a matter of

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Japan in Spring, 2018 fact, on this magnet for trans-Sea of Japan migrants, rarities can occur anywhere. For example, a single Blyth’s Pipit, a vagrant to Japan, was found skulking in a grassy patch just in front of our inn!

Narcissus Flycatcher / Tobishima / photo: Brad Schram

In addition to the excitement of those bonus birds, Tobishima provided us with superb looks at regular Japanese birds, often at close range. Indeed, we enjoyed watching an array of birds, both wintering species and summer breeders, to Japan. The regular summer visitors that we saw included Ashy ; Japanese Leaf, Sakhalin Leaf, and Eastern Crowned warblers; Dark - sided, Asian Brown, Blue-and-White, and flycatchers; Siberian Stonechat; and so forth. On the other hand, we also saw wintering birds such as Daurian Redstart ; Dusky ; both Japanese and Bohemian ; Chestnut -eared, Rustic, and Elegant buntings; Brambling ; Hawfinch ; and Eurasian Siskin, to mention but a few.

This tour, especially the first half, also presented an opportunity to visit rural Japan, away from urban centers, to experience a more traditional Japan that few tourists see. The traditional lodging on the island was attractive and comfortable. Dinner while seated on the inn’s tatami mats was a full immersion in the intricate fare of a Japanese fishing village.

The Japan in Spring tour is subtitled “Spring Migration & Island Endemics,” a billing it truly lives up to. The latter half of the itinerary was designed for questing for species endemic to the southern islands of Amami and Okinawa.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Japan in Spring, 2018 On May 14, mid-afternoon found us at Amami Natural Forest Park, on the ridge of the Nagakumo Pass, in the subtropical forest. Just beside the visitor center, we heard a chick calling continuously in a cavity on the trunk of an evergreen. After a while, a female Owston’s Woodpecker turned up to feed her baby, and then her mate followed her. We enjoyed this feeding show at a distance of only twenty feet from the .

Owston's Woodpecker /Amami / photo: Bob Harkrider

As we proceeded along the trail, we heard Ryukyu Robins singing in the shrub. As this endemic robin is a great skulker, I was surprised when a black-breasted orange male showed up in the open, which we watched singing at close range for a while. A stunning !

Then, the warden of this park caught up with us, saying “A pair of Amami Thrushes seems to be nesting in this forest this spring, and I often see them here, so please look for them.” While we were hanging around the woods waiting for the appearance of the critically endangered thrush, the warden showed us two amphibians endemic to this island: Amami Tip-nosed Frog and Otton Frog... all of a sudden, a huge turned up and poked around on the ground for worms. Although we were looking for this thrush, I didn’t expect to see this mega-rarity so easily. It is said that only a few hundred birds survive on Amami, which means that its global population is that small. We could have missed this rare thrush even though we spent three days on this island. I believe that we were really lucky.

Following dinner at our hotel, we were joined by Mr. Tsuneda, a local bird authority, who guided us into virgin forest for a spot-lit night-bird drive. He was so efficient that he could find local specialty birds one after another, using his powerful flashlight. 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 Woodcocks were on the bare slopes looking for worms. The night-drive was amazingly productive and truly enjoyable.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Japan in Spring, 2018

Japanese Paradise Flycatcher / Amami / photo: Ann Brinly

On May 16, we dropped in at Amami Natural Forest Park again on our way to Amami Airport. On each visit to the park, we saw regional specialties such as , Amami Thrush, Owston’s Woodpecker, Lidth’s Jay, , and Ryukyu Green Pigeon. However, we were yet to have a decent view of Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, whose male bird has a wildly long tail. The warden whispered to me, “Go to Amami Oshima Silk Park, and ask the groundskeeper for the nesting pair.” Within half an hour, we got an awesome view of a pair of this gorgeous bird taking turns incubating in their nest. Some in our group ranked this sighting among the highlights of the tour, which I can hardly contradict.

When we arrived in Okinawa, our main target birds on the island were exclusively two endemics, Okinawa Rail and Okinawa (Pryer’s) Woodpecker since we had already seen the other regional specialties by then.

We drove the three-hour journey to our cozy little hotel nestled in Yanbaru Forest on the northern end of the island. Just before sunset, we reached the native forest and luckily saw a family of Okinawa Rails cross the road back and forth near our hotel. Three juveniles were accompanied by their parents. It was a wonderful encounter with the family of this endangered and endemic species.

The following morning, we set out around dawn to look for Okinawa Woodpecker and more Okinawa Rails. We counted seven more rails including one juvenile in a couple of hours. Now that we had seen enough rails, we concentrated on the quest for Okinawa Woodpecker, but the woodpecker is critically endangered, so it was far from easy to find; after all, there are only a few hundred birds left in this dense forest.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Japan in Spring, 2018 VENT Japan in Spring 2018 Group / Tobishima / photo: Kaz Shinoda

Hardly had I heard sharp rattling calls of the woodpecker when everybody jumped out of the minibus, and we all saw a handsome male pop out of the shrub and perch on a bare trunk of an evergreen. What a view!

Great birding was complemented by the wonderful cultural experience of traveling in distinctly different islands of Japan, nights in a traditional Japanese inn, many wonderful traditional Japanese delicacies, and a great group ready for the next round of new experiences in Japan. The tour made a go of it!

ITINERARY:

5-8 – Assembly in Tokyo: 4 out of 6 participants joined an optional pre-tour excursion to Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park near Haneda Airport led by the tour leader Kaz Shinoda and his birder-friend Masa Nakane. The outing was a good introduction to common birds in Japan. At 7:00 p.m. all participants assembled in the lobby of Excel Hotel Tokyu, located in Terminal 2 at Haneda International Airport, to meet Kaz. Following introductions, we proceeded to dinner in the hotel’s excellent restaurant where we became acquainted. Following dinner, Kaz briefed us on the coming day’s flight and scheduled activities.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Japan in Spring, 2018 5-9 – Tokyo: 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 mid- day, 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 for 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 9:30 a.m. ferry trip to Tobishima Island, offshore in the Sea of Japan. We stopped at a Family Mart on our way to choose items for our 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!). We birded productively from the exterior deck during the hour and a half passage, of which the highlight was an excellent view of a flock of 3 Japanese Murrelets. After checking into our traditional Japanese inn at the harbor waterfront, the Ryokan Obako, we walked up to the island’s plateau with its forests and vegetable gardens where we spent a productive afternoon finding Asian migrants.

Tobishima / photo: Paula Kennedy

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 box

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Japan in Spring, 2018 lunch, and a staff member of the inn gave us a ride to the school 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 gardens and forest. We then walked back to the inn to have dinner. Our iPhone’s health app said that we walked about 7 miles while birding today.

Gray-streaked Flycatcher / Tobishima / photo: Bob Harkrider

5-12 – Tobishima to Tokyo: After breakfast at 7:30, we birded along the coast, heading for the school athletic field. Some in the group walked up to the helipad, another Tobishima hotspot, but birds were not as many as on the first two days. Many passerines seemed to have left Tobishima by the morning, as the weather had been fine during our stay on the island. We returned to the harbor to board the ferry a little after 10:30 before beginning our return voyage to Sakata at 11:15. Birding from the ferry was not as good as two days previous on glassy seas. A taxi awaited us at dockside to transport us to the same steak and burger restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we took a taxi to Hiyoriyama Park in Sakata, where we saw such cool birds as flycatchers, 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 9:20 a.m. and rented a van to head for Yokohama. Our target birds were a few Japanese endemics. The first spot was Maioka

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Japan in Spring, 2018

Japanese Green Pheasant / Yokohama / Ann Brinly

Park located in the woods, where some in the group got a decent view of the endemic Japanese Woodpecker. Then we visited the Sakai River Wetland Park, where we saw a stunning male Japanese Green Pheasant, another endemic species to Japan, in the rain. As it was raining harder later in the afternoon, we skipped sightseeing in Kamakura and took a leisurely coffee break at a seaside café in Zushi City. 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 12:10 flight from Haneda to our next destination, Amami Island in Japan’s southerly Ryukyu chain. On arriving at Amami Airport, Kaz secured a rental vehicle which we loaded and drove to Amami Natural Forest Park, where we got great views of the regional specialty birds. On arriving at the Hotel West Court Amami in Naze, a small city an hour to the southwest, we had a quick Japanese dinner. Following the dinner, we were joined by Mr. Tsuneda, local bird authority, who guided us into virgin forest for a spot-lit night-birds drive. Bed time around midnight.

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.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Japan in Spring, 2018

5-16 – Amami to Okinawa: Following breakfast and checkout, we drove to Amami Natural Forest Park where we got a tip from the park warden on a nesting pair of Japanese Paradise Flycatchers. We drove to Amami Silk Park and got an excellent view of the pair incubating eggs in the nest. Then we watched 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 a family of five Okinawa Rails. After a western-style dinner at our hotel, we made a night drive to look for owls.

5-17 – Okinawa: Our pre-breakfast birding turned out to be very productive. We saw seven Okinawa Rails in all and had an exquisite view of the critically endangered Okinawa Woodpecker within only a couple hours of birding. After breakfast, we visited Benoki Dam, also in Yanbaru Forest, where we saw lots of Okinawa Robins (Okinawa race of Ryukyu Robin) hopping around on the ground in the shady woods. After lunch at our hotel, we took a siesta 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. While we ate in the hotel restaurant, the manager kindly did some nighttime scouting, finding roosting Okinawa Rails! We therefore drove into the forest following dinner where we were rewarded by the sight of three flightless rails high on their tree limb perches.

Ryukyu Robin (Okinawa race) / Okinawa / photo: Bob Harkrider

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 Makiya for four species of terns was followed by a birding drive through the Kin farmlands. Continuing southward, we had a snack/rest stop at a now familiar Family Mart. Across the street from the Family Mart, shorebirds on a drainage channel’s muddy margins made our stop unusually worthwhile. Among more

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Japan in Spring, 2018 common waders, there we found 4 Black-faced Spoonbills, a global rarity! Our 4:25 p.m. departure from Okinawa aboard a JAL flight delivered us to Tokyo on time with 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. Traffic in the immediate Tokyo area approached American urban density but thinned as we reached city margins. A stop at the Sanbanze tidal mud flats offered outstanding migrant shorebirding. After stopping for lunch at a convenience store, we continued north to the Tone River reed beds to search for rare and endangered habitat 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 just as the sun disappeared in the west, 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.

KEY: P = Optional pre-tour outing (Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park) - May 8 H = Honshu - May 9, 12, 13, 19, 20 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): Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) - H. 1 juvenile in Sakata, winter visitor to Japan. Gadwall (Anas strepera) - P. 1 male, winter visitor to Japan. Eurasian Wigeon (Anas Penelope) - F, O. Common winter visitor to Japan. Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha) – P, H, F, A. Common resident. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) – P. H. Winter visitor to Japan. Green-winged (Common) Teal (Anas crecca) – P, H. Common winter visitor to Japan. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) - P. 2 females, common winter visitor to Japan. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) - P. Common winter visitor to Japan. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) - P. Common winter visitor to Japan. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) – T. Winter visitor to Japan.

PHEASANTS, GROUSE, & ALLIES (Phasianidae): Chinese -Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus) - H. 2 at Maioka Park in Yokohama, introduced.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Japan in Spring, 2018 Japanese Green (Ring-necked) Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus versicolor) – H. Endemic to Japan, and Japan's national bird.

LOONS (Gaviidae): Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) – F. 2 seen, 1 in breeding .

GREBES (Podicepdidae): Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – P. Common resident. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) - H. 2 in Sakata, winter visitor.

SHEARWATERS & PETRELS (Procellaridae): Streaked Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) – F. Common. Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) - F. Only 1 flying seen.

CORMORANTS & SHAGS (Phalacorcoracidae): Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) – F. Only 1 bird flying seen. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) – P, H, F. Common resident. Japanese (Temminck’s) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) – F, T. East Asian specialty.

HERONS, EGRETS & BITTERNS (Ardeidae): Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) – H. 1 bird flying seen at Inbanuma Marsh. Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) – H. a few at Inbanuma Marsh. Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) – P, H, F, O. Common resident. Great Egret (Ardea alba) – P, H, A, O. Common resident. Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) – T, A, O, H. Common summer visitor. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - P, A, O. Common resident. Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) – A, O. 1 dark morph on Amami, and 1 pale morph on Okinawa, resident. (Eastern) Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) – T, A, O, H. Summer visitor. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) – O, H. Resident.

IBISES & SPOONBILLS (Threskiornithidae) Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) - O. 4 seen in "Triangle Pond" in Naha City, uncommon winter visitor to Japan, critically endangered, global population only about 3,500.

OSPREY (Pandionidae):

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Japan in Spring, 2018 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – F.

HAWKS, EAGLES, & KITES (Accipitridae): Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus) – H. 2 at Inbanuma Marsh, winter visitor to Honshu. Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) - T. 1 female seen flying. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) - P. A few of us saw 1 juvenile flying. Black (Black-eared) Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus) – H, F, T. Very common resident.

RAILS, GALLINULES, & COOTS (Rallidae): Okinawa Rail (Gallirallus okinawae) – O. 15 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. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) – H. Common resident.

STILTS & AVOCETS (Recurvirostridae): Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) – O. 4 seen in "Triangle Pond" in Naha.

PLOVERS & LAPWINGS (Charadriidae): Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) – H. Many seen at Sanbanze Mudflat, common winter visitor/transient. Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadrius mongolus) – H. A few seen at Sanbanze Mudflat, common transient. Long-billed Plover (Charadrius placidus) - H. A few seen at the Mogami River, uncommon resident, Asian specialty plover. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) – P, O, H. Common summer visitor to Japan.

SANDPIPERS & ALLIES (Scolopacidae): Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – P, A, O, H. Common transient. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) – H. More than a dozen seen at Sanbanze Mudflat, common transient. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – P. H. Common transient. Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris) - H. Only 1 seen at Sanbanze Mudflat, uncommon transient. Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) – H. About a dozen seen at Sanbanze Mudflat, common transient.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Japan in Spring, 2018 Sanderling (Calidris alba) – A. H. Common winter visitor/transient. Dunlin (Calidris alpina) - P, H. Common winter visitor/transient. Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira) – A. 3 total, on the spotlighting tour, endemic to Amami, endangered. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - P. Common winter visitor/transient. Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) – F. Some flocks seen, transient. Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) - F. Possibly, 3 seen flying on return, transient. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) – P, H, A, O. Common resident. Gray-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes) – P, F, A, O, H. Common transient. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) – A, O, H. Common transient.

AUKS, MURRES, & PUFFINS (Alcidae): Japanese Murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume) – F. An excellent view of 3 birds, near endemic to Japan, vulnerable, only about 5,000 in the world. Rhinoceros Auklet (Cercorhinca monocerata) – F. 6 or 7 total.

GULLS, TERNS, & SKIMMERS (Laridae): Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) – H, F, T. Common resident, near endemic to Japan. Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus) – F, T. A few birds seen, winter visitor to Honshu, many breeds in Hokkaido. Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) – F, O, H. Common summer visitor to Japan. Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) O. Only 1 seen, it seemed to have just arrived, summer visitor to the Amami & Okinawa Islands. Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) – O. About a dozen seen, summer visitor to the Amami & Okinawa Islands. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) – O. 2 seen, common transient.

PIGEONS & DOVES (Columbidae): Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – P, T, H, O. Introduced. Japanese (Black) Wood Pigeon (Columba janina) – T, A. A few seen, near endemic to Japan. Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) – H, T, A, O. Common resident. Whistling (Ryukyu) Green Pigeon (Treron formosae permagnus) – A, O. Resident on the Amami & Okinawa Islands.

CUCKOOS (Cuculidae):

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Japan in Spring, 2018 Little Cuckoo (Coccycua minuta) - H. heard only. Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus) - T. heard only. Common (Eurasian) Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) – T. heard only. Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) – T. heard only.

OWLS (Strigidae): Ryukyu (Elegant) Scops Owl (Otus elegans) – A, O. 1 seen on the spotlighting tour, some heard on Okinawa, near endemic to Japan. Brown Boobook (Ninox scutulata totogo) – T, O. Some heard on Tobishima, 1 seen by a few of us at our hotel's yard in Yanbaru Forest on Okinawa, this is resident on the Amami & Okinawa Islands.

SWIFTS (Apodidae): Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus) – T. Common summer visitor to Japan. House Swift (Apus nipalensis) - T. 1 seen among a big flock of Pacific Swift, resident in Honshu.

KINGFISHERS (Alcedinidae): Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) – H, A. Resident. Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) – A, O. Summer visitor.

WOODPECKERS (Picidae): (Japanese) Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopus kizuki) – H, A, O. Common resident in East . White-backed (Owston’s) Woodpecker (Dendropocus leucotos owstoni) – More than 5 on A. A pair nesting seen at Amami Natural Forest Park. “Amami Woodpecker” where endemic, currently considered a subspecies of White-backed Woodpecker. Japanese (Green) Woodpecker (Picus awokera) - H. 1 in Maioka Park in Yokohama Okinawa (Pryer’s) Woodpecker (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.

FALCONS & CARACARAS (Falconidae): Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) – T.

CUCKOOSHRIKES (Campephagidae):

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Japan in Spring, 2018 Ryukyu Minivet (Pericrocotus tegimae) – A, O. Endemic to southern Japan, resident. (Pericrocotus divaricatus) – T. Uncommon summer visitor to Japan

SHRIKES (Laniidae): Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus) – H. Common resident. (Chinese) Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus cristatus) – T. Subspecies vagrant to Sea of Japan islands.

MONARCH FLYCATCHERS (Monarchidae): Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata) – A, O. An excellent view of a nesting pair at Amami Silk Park

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

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

SWALLOWS (Hirundinidae): (Hirundo rustica) – P, H, T. Common summer visitor to Japan. Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) – A, O. Common resident on Amami & Okinawa. Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) – T. Summer visitor to Japan. Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus) – P, H. Common summer visitor to Japan.

TITS, CHICKADEES, & TITMICE (Paridae): Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius) – T, A, O. Common resident. Japanese Tit (Parus minor) – P, H, T, A, O. Common resident.

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

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Japan in Spring, 2018

BUSH-WARBLERS & ALLIES (Cettidae): Japanese Bush-Warbler ( diphone) – T, O, H. Common, but only a few sightings.

LEAF WARBLERS (Phylloscopidae): Pallas's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus) - Only 1 on T. Rare transient to Japan. Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) – Common on T. Uncommon transient to Japan. Japanese Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas) – 2 on T. Summer visitor to Japan. Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus borealoides) – T. Summer visitor to Japan. Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus) – Common on T. Summer visitor. Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita tristis) - Only 1 on T. Vagrant, very rare in Japan. Paula and Ann found this bird while having a picnic, and we all enjoyed its excellent view.

REED-WARBLERS & ALLIES (): Oriental Reed-Warbler ( orientalis) – P & H. Common summer visitor.

GRASSBIRDS & ALLIES (Locustellidae): Marsh Grassbird (Locustella pryeri) – H. Heard only at reed beds along the Tone River.

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

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

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

OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS (Muscicapidae): Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica) – 1 on T. uncommon summer visitor. Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa latirostris) – Fairly common on T. Summer visitor. Gray-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta) - 1 on T. Transient. Uncommon in spring. Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) – Fairly common on T. Summer visitor to Japan.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Japan in Spring, 2018 (Swinhoe’s) Rufous-tailed Robin ( sibilans) – Heard only, T. Uncommon transient, elusive. Ryukyu Robin (Larvivora komadori) – A, O. Endemic to the Amami & Okinawa Islands. (Larvivora cyane) – Heard only, T. Summer visitor to Japan. Siberian Rubythroat (Calliope calliope) - 1 female on T. Summer visitor to Hokkaido Korean (Yellow-rumped) Flycatcher ( zanthopygia) – More than 5 on T. Rare transient. Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) – Fairly common on T, & a few, P. Summer visitor to Japan. Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki) – More than 5 on T & 1 on H. Uncommon transient. Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) - 1 male on T. Rare winter visitor to Japan. Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) – 1 male on T. Uncommon winter visitor to Japan. Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) – A few on T. Common winter visitor to Japan. Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitaries) – T, A, O, H. Resident. Siberian Stonechat ( maura) - T. Summer visitor to Japan.

THRUSHES & ALLIES (Turdidae): Amami Thrush (Zoothera dauma amami) - A. Endemic to Amami, critically endangered, only a few hundred birds survive. We were lucky to see this species at Amami Natural Forest Park. Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus) – Common on T, and some on H. Uncommon transient. Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus) – T. Resident. Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus) – T. Common winter visitor to Japan.

STARLINGS (Sturnidae): Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis) – P, H, T. Summer visitor to Japan. White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus) – P, H, T. Common resident.

WAGTAILS & PIPITS (Motacillidae): Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) – T. Resident. (Black-backed) White Wagtail (Motacilla alba lugens) – P, H, T. Common resident. We saw the rare subspecies Motacilla alba leucopsis on T as well. Blyth's Pipit (Anthus godlewskii) - 1 on T. Rare in Japan, vagrant. Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) – About a dozen on T. Resident.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Japan in Spring, 2018

WAXWINGS (Bombycillidae) Japanese (Bombycilla japonica) - 3 on T. Common some winters, otherwise uncommon in Japan. (Bombycilla garrulus) - 1 on T. Uncommon winter visitor.

BUNTINGS & NEW WORLD SPARROWS (Emberizidae): Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides) – T, H. Common resident. Japanese Reed (Orchre-rumped) Bunting (Emberiza yessoensis) – H. About 5 at reed beds along the Tone River, vulnerable, only locally distributed in Japan. Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata) – H, T. Resident. Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys) – A few on T. Rare transient. Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) - About 10 on T. Uncommon transient/winter visitor. Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica) - Some were in breeding plumage on T. Winter visitor. Yellow-throated (Elegant) Bunting (Emberiza elegans) - A few of us saw a male on T. Winter visitor. Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) - 1 male on T. Rare summer visitor to Hokkaido. Chestnut Bunting (Emberiza rutila) – A few of us saw 1 male on T. Rare transient. Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala) – H, common on T. Both resident (E.s.personata) & Siberian ssp. (E.s.spodocephala) Gray Bunting (Emberiza variabilis) - Heard only, T.

FINCHES, EUPHONIAS & ALLIES (Fringillidae): Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) – T. Winter visitor to Japan. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – 1 on T. Winter visitor. Japanese Grosbeak (Eophona personata) - 1 on T. Resident. Oriental Greenfinch (Chloris sinica) – H, T. Common resident. Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) - A flock of about a dozen on T. Uncommon winter visitor to Japan. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) – Common on T. Winter visitor to Japan.

OLD WORLD SPARROWS (Passeridae): Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans) - About a dozen on T. Locally distributed in Japan. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) – P, H, T, A, O. Abundant in Japan.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Japan in Spring, 2018 WAXBILLS & ALLIES (Estrildidae): Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) - O. Maybe introduced.

TOTAL: 153 species (plus 8 heard-only)

MAMMALS: MONGOOSES (Herpestidae): Small Indian Mangoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) - 1 on O. Introduced.

WEASELS & ALLIES (Mustelidae): (Mustela itatsi) - 1 on H.

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

RATS, MICE & VOLES (Muridae): Amami Spiny Rat (Tokudaia osimensis) – A. 2 seen by some on night drive, endemic to Amami.

RABBITS & HARES (Leporidae): Amami (Black) Rabbit (Pentalgus furnessi) – A. 7 or 8 on night drive, endemic to Amami, endangered, only about 2,000 survive, the most primitive rabbit/hare in the world.

FLYING FOXES (Pteropidae): Ryukyu Flying Fox (Pteropus dasymallus) - O. 10 stuck on an antenna, dying.

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS: Okinawa Tree Lizard (Japalura polygonata) - A, O. Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) - O Hokou Gecko （Gekko hokouensis ）- O Amami Ishikawa’s Frog (Rana ishikawae) – A. 2 in a tree cavity, endemic to Amami, endangered. Sword-tailed Newt （Cynops ensicauda ）- A. Endemic to the Amami & Oninawa Islands. Otton Frog ( Babina subaspera ) - A. Endemic to Amami, endangered.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Japan in Spring, 2018 Amami Tip-nosed Frog ( Odorrana amamiensis ) - A. About 5 on night drive, endemic to Amami.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Japan in Spring, 2018