19/5/09 Out at 4.30am in SW5. The ferry was cancelled for its third day in a row leaving Nigel stranded and therefore unfortunately missing his flights back to the USA. The weather was calm by late afternoon. The early morning produced White’s Thrush, male Siberian Thrush, Siberian Blue Robin and several Rubythroats although the locals were far more envious of a Tree Pipit that we found near the lighthouse! Herons were clearly arriving with flocks of Great White Egret, Cattle Egret and Intermediate Egrets all seen arriving at the north end of the island. Highlight of the day was a Japanese Night Heron flushed at close range off the northern central track. A male Tricoloured Flycatcher was another quality new arrival with Ashy Minivets, Japanese Grosbeaks and Hawfinches all seen on the move over the island in the afternoon and early evening. Several flocks of Thrushes were seen leaving the island to the north at dusk when a Grey Nightjar put on a show over the north of the island.
An early morning encounter with a White's Thrush Zoothera dauma aureus near the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii in flight near the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
A large, long-tailed species that shows a noticeable pale upperwing-covert panel in flight.
Female Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila near the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis between the freshwater pool and the lighthouse on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Chestnut-cheeked Starling Sturnus philippensis along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
White's Thrush Zoothera dauma aureus near the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Female Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus near the Community Centre on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica near the Community Centre on Hegura-jima
Male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica davisoni along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Unidentified Ficedula along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009. We considered this interesting Ficedula to be a first-summer female Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina based on the fine yellow tips to its rump and rufous base to its tail feathers. However, the striking white tips to its lesser coverts and yellow-washed scaly throat and breast led others to consider it either a female Chinese Flycatcher Ficedula elisae or a hybrid.
Male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica davisoni along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Adult Black-eared Kite Milvus lineatus over Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Adult male Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus at Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Japanese Bush Warbler Cettia diphone cantans on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Japanese Woodpigeon Columba janthina janthina along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Female Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila near the freshwater pool on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis between the freshwater pool and the lighthouse on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Chestnut-cheeked Starling Sturnus philippensis along the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
White's Thrush Zoothera dauma aureus near the Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Female Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus near the Community Centre on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica near the Community Centre on Hegura-jima
Male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica davisoni along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Unidentified Ficedula along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009. We considered this interesting Ficedula to be a first-summer female Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina based on the fine yellow tips to its rump and rufous base to its tail feathers. However, the striking white tips to its lesser coverts and yellow-washed scaly throat and breast led others to consider it either a female Chinese Flycatcher Ficedula elisae or a hybrid.
Male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica davisoni along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Adult Black-eared Kite Milvus lineatus over Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Adult male Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus at Tsukasa Fields on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Japanese Bush Warbler Cettia diphone cantans on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
In breeding plumage this species acquires its distinctive orange head and breast.
Japanese Woodpigeon Columba janthina janthina along the northern Central Track on Hegura-jima, 19th May 2009
Species noted:
Streaked Shearwater 3
Japanese Cormorant 10
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Japanese Night Heron 1
Night Heron 1
Cattle Egret 2
Little Egret 1
Intermediate Egret 4
Great Egret 9
Grey Heron 2
Spot-billed Duck 2
Black-eared Kite 2
Japanese Sparrowhawk 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Green Sandpiper 2
Wood Sandpiper 1
Common Sandpiper 3
Black-tailed Gull 100
Slaty-backed Gull 1
Japanese Woodpigeon 3
Oriental Turtle Dove 5
Common Cuckoo 1
Oriental Cuckoo 2
Brown Hawk Owl h
Grey Nightjar 1
Pacific Swift 1
Sand Martin 2
Swallow 15
Red-rumped Swallow 2
Olive-backed Pipit 3
Tree Pipit 1
Eastern Yellow Wagtail 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Black-backed Wagtail 15
Ashy Minivet 5
Rufous-tailed Robin 1
Siberian Rubythroat 10
Siberian Blue Robin 2
Siberian Stonechat 1
Blue Rock Thrush 2
White’s Thrush 1
Siberian Thrush 4
Eye-browed Thrush 1
Dusky Thrush 4
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Oriental Great Reed Warbler h
Eastern Crowned Warbler 2
Arctic Warbler 2
Yellow-browed Warbler 3
Blue-and-white Flycatcher 1
Dark-sided Flycatcher 1
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 3
Brown Flycatcher 6
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher 1
Narcissus Flycatcher 2
Eastern Great Tit 5
Japanese White-eye 35
Bull-headed Shrike 3
Large-billed Crow 4
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 15
Brambling 1
Oriental Greenfinch 25
Japanese Grosbeak 8
Hawfinch 20
Black-faced Bunting 8
Chestnut-eared Bunting 2
Streaked Shearwater 3
Japanese Cormorant 10
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Japanese Night Heron 1
Night Heron 1
Cattle Egret 2
Little Egret 1
Intermediate Egret 4
Great Egret 9
Grey Heron 2
Spot-billed Duck 2
Black-eared Kite 2
Japanese Sparrowhawk 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Green Sandpiper 2
Wood Sandpiper 1
Common Sandpiper 3
Black-tailed Gull 100
Slaty-backed Gull 1
Japanese Woodpigeon 3
Oriental Turtle Dove 5
Common Cuckoo 1
Oriental Cuckoo 2
Brown Hawk Owl h
Grey Nightjar 1
Pacific Swift 1
Sand Martin 2
Swallow 15
Red-rumped Swallow 2
Olive-backed Pipit 3
Tree Pipit 1
Eastern Yellow Wagtail 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Black-backed Wagtail 15
Ashy Minivet 5
Rufous-tailed Robin 1
Siberian Rubythroat 10
Siberian Blue Robin 2
Siberian Stonechat 1
Blue Rock Thrush 2
White’s Thrush 1
Siberian Thrush 4
Eye-browed Thrush 1
Dusky Thrush 4
Japanese Bush Warbler 2
Oriental Great Reed Warbler h
Eastern Crowned Warbler 2
Arctic Warbler 2
Yellow-browed Warbler 3
Blue-and-white Flycatcher 1
Dark-sided Flycatcher 1
Grey-streaked Flycatcher 3
Brown Flycatcher 6
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher 1
Narcissus Flycatcher 2
Eastern Great Tit 5
Japanese White-eye 35
Bull-headed Shrike 3
Large-billed Crow 4
Chestnut-cheeked Starling 15
Brambling 1
Oriental Greenfinch 25
Japanese Grosbeak 8
Hawfinch 20
Black-faced Bunting 8
Chestnut-eared Bunting 2
Chestnut Bunting 1
