Birding North Unst

Saturday, 16 October 2010

16/10/10 Wajima, Japan

16/10/10 Awoke to a windy morning, West 5, so it was no surprise that the ferry was again cancelled. We walked to the harbour to photograph the Black-eared Kites and Gulls present and whilst there became aware of a Wildfowl movement seeing several flocks heading in a westerly direction along the shore. We returned to the Route Inn where we found a convenient location to seawatch seeing nearly 500 Mandarin fly past by midday when the passage had virtually ceased. Lesser numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Spot-billed Ducks, Pintail, Scaup and Tufted Duck were all seen also moving west. Walked to Wajima Park where we spent the afternoon although with the exception of a female Daurian Redstart no migrants were obvious.

Adult winter Black-tailed Gull at Wajima Harbour

First-winter Black-tailed Gulls at Wajima Harbour

First-winter Black-headed Gull at Wajima Harbour

Juvenile Black-eared Kites at Wajima Harbour

Mandarin and Teal over Wajima Harbour

Eastern Great Tit at the Route Inn, Wajima

Mandarin flying west off Wajima

Osprey along Wajima seafront

Blue Comma at Wajima Park

Spider at Wajima Park

Species noted:

Cormorant 8

Grey Heron 6

Mandarin Duck 500W

Wigeon 12

Teal 15

Mallard 12

Spot-billed Duck 10

Pintail 1 drake

Scaup 1 female

Tufted Duck 1 drake

Osprey 1

Black-eared Kite c.80

Black-headed Gull 1

Black-tailed Gull 500

Vega Gull 6

Slaty-backed Gull 3

Feral Pigeon 2

Black-backed Wagtail 2

Brown-eared Bulbul 10

Daurian Redstart 1 female

Blue Rock Thrush 32

Eastern Great Tit 2

Bull-headed Shrike 1

Carrion Crow 6

Large-billed Crow 20

Tree Sparrow 10

Siskin 3

Friday, 15 October 2010

15/10/10 Wajima, Japan

15/10/10 Overnight thunderstorms had cleared by dawn so awoke to a calm and fine morning. Walked to the harbour but were greeted with the very disappointing news that the ferry had been cancelled due to the swell being forecast to increase to 2m later in the day. Fortunately Kobutomashi, a friend we had met on both our previous visits, was also at the ferry terminal and offered to drive us around for a day’s birding. We first visited the Machino River mouth 13km east of Wajima but there was little to be seen there. We then headed inland checking likely areas for Crested Kingfisher but failed to see any, though did see our only Red-rumped Swallows, Asian House Martins, Long-tailed Tits, Varied Tits and Jay of the trip. The day’s highlights were a male Daurian Redstart and a few Japanese Meadow Buntings. We returned to the coast and checked several beaches and small harbours seeing a selection of Gulls but unfortunately no Waders. Annoyingly the sea remained calm until dark. Spent an enjoyable evening eating pizza

with Kabutomushi.

Adult Black-eared Kite at the Machino River

Species noted:

Cormorant 2

Grey Heron 1

Mallard 50

Osprey 2

Black-eared Kite 50

Black-headed Gull 8

Black-tailed Gull 60

Vega Gull 5

Slaty-backed Gull 2

Rufous Turtle Dove 1

Red-rumped Swallow 20

Asian House Martin 2

Grey Wagtail 1

Black-backed Wagtail 2

Japanese Wagtail 1

Brown-eared Bulbul 8

Daurian Redstart 1 male

Blue Rock Thrush 3

Long-tailed Tit 5

Varied Tit 2

Eastern Great Tit 1

Jay 1

Large-billed Crow 10

White-cheeked Starling 1

Tree Sparrow 2

Oriental Greenfinch 1

Siskin 2W

Meadow Bunting 2

Thursday, 14 October 2010

14/10/10 Wajima, Japan

13/10/10: Seeing a Dunnock in the garden just prior to our departure for Heathrow boded well that Accentors might feature over the coming weeks! Left Heathrow on time bound for Narita. At dusk we were over the Finnish lakes.

14/10/10: Flew the 6,000 mile great circle route hugging northern Eurasia. Dawn revealed a fresh, light dusting of snow over a vast swathe of far eastern Siberia which appeared inhospitable to Summer migrants in the area. Arrived at a warm and dry Narita on time and caught the bus to Haneda. We arrived in Wajima late afternoon. Weather calm and warm. Booked into the Route Inn and walked to the supermarket to buy pizza, bread and bananas. A Peregrine was seen hunting over the river at dusk.

Species noted:

Grey Heron 1
Spot-billed Duck 10
Black-eared Kite 10
Peregrine 1
Black-headed Gull 4
Black-tailed Gull 6
Feral Pigeon c.20
Rufous Turtle Dove 1
Brown-eared Bulbul 2
Large-billed Crow 12
Tree Sparrow 2