Mishima Island: The Bird Post

After watching a lacklustre English performance last night, I don't think they'll do much damage at this year's World Cup. It was an abysmal display and looks like they couldn't break through a wet-paper bag to score in a brothel. "Traditionally slow starters" was being mooted by the press. I'm sure they compared this start to the boys of '66. Like they have been doing for the last 40 years. So with that, I decided to tell all you bird lovers out there, the joy and wonder of spring on Mishima.

The ferry trip from Hagi to the island produced the first lifer for me, Red-necked Phalarope, flying parallel to the boat, mixing it in with the Streaked Shearwaters. For such an expansive body of water, the Japan Sea seems bereft of seabirds. Strange really. Even after the storm on the third day on the island, very few birds were seen flying past from the headland. Of all the birding scenario's I miss the most from home, it's seawatching. But that's not for here. Once we dumped our bags into the Minshiku, we headed out and walked around for the day. There were birds everywhere and we were hearing reports from other birders of what was around and the list was mouth-watering. A scan of the reedbeds produced Chinese Penduline Tits, Oriental Reed Warbler and Japanese Bush Warbler. Finding 4 Richard's pipits was also a pleasant surprise in amongst summer-plumaged Buff-bellied pipits. A nice selection of birds to start off the trip.

The following morning, as we walked along the path we met some more birders, a mega was just found within one minute from where we were standing...we rushed around the corner and up the hill to be greeted by a hungry and busily feeding Black Drongo, a bird from mainland China. Stunning. Jet black, with a long tail that curved out on either side (see second photo above). Magical and a real rarity in Japan. I was chuffed. After watching the bird for 30 minutes, we headed back down the road in search of a Grey-backed Thrush, another rarity. On the way, I scanned the trees and picked out a roosting summer plumaged Chinese Pond Heron! The bird had been around for a week or so but had not been seen that day. Magic. As I was folding my tripod away, I looked up and saw a pigeon flying past...Japenese Woodpigeon!!! A scarce and local bird, it was a surprise to see on on this side of the island. I was on fire!! We walked up the hill towards the area where the thrush was reported. As we were just about to round the corner, I flushed a Japanese Night Heron from the roadside! Sean didn't get onto it and it disappeared around corner. Although the views were enough to id, I was not too happy with them. This bird is still on many a "wish list" for Japanese birders. Very hard to locate. As we joined the gathering watching and listening to the singing male Grey-backed Thrush, the heron flew past again and the views were cracking. I ran up the road after it and it flew right past me again, rounded the corner and disappeared for good. What a bird. Stunning. I felt like I could walk on water at this stage.

The rest of the day was spent walking and driving around the island, picking up birds like Red-throated pipit, Richard's pipit, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Pintail Snipe and migrating Grey-faced Buzzards. It was fabulous to watch the buzzards fly over our heads while eating our bento, enjoying the weather and listening to singing Blue and White Flycatchers (above), Mugimaki Flycatchers and Narcissus Flycatchers. The sound of the Arctic Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warblers and the flycatchers catching insects was brilliant. The snap-snap of the closing beaks, heard through the quietness of the island. Magical. At another location, while watching a Richard's pipit, the unmistakable call of a swift was heard, and then, barrelling over us at speed, came a White-throated Needletail Swift! Incredible bird, like a big, fat, short cigar with scitimar's for wings, a white throat and vent patch. It was a bird I really wanted to see.

As we made our way back down to the paddyfields, we saw more birders gathered and wondered what they were looking at. It was the Drongo again. However, we were also greeted with great views of Chestnut-cheeked Starling and Red-billed Starling also, the latter a major rarity in Japan. Nice. We were also treated to fly-over Crossbills, black-faced bunting of the Siberian race, and a bird I have also wanted to see...Japanese Yellow Bunting. A very plain but beautiful bird. While watching the buntings, a number of waders flew in, a collection of Pacific Golden Plovers (the first photo above) with a Mongolian Plover in amongst them (see Mongolian above). A nice bird, regular in Osaka during migration time but it was nice to see them on the island. We spent some time here watching the plovers and were then treated to Pacific Swifts coming down for a drink and hawking insects over the flooded paddy fields. Another swift species I wanted to see. I love swifts, the speed, agility, flying skills are mind-blowing. Fantastic birds.

Next day produced another find and another new species...Dollarbird!!! Cracking bird and well chuffed in finding it too. The weather was hot and birding was difficult. Things had quietened down, but flyover Oriental Cuckoo, more swifts, and migrating Oriental Honey Buzzrds, Grey-faced Buzzards, Japanese Sparrowhawks and Eurasian Sparrowhawks. Despite searching hard, we failed to see one Chinese Goshawk, which was a bit of a disappointment. However, the day was to get better. Singing Siberian Rubythroats, Siberian Blue Robins and then, Rufous-tailed Robin! Despite waiting and waiting and waiting, the bird never came out of the undergrowth. The bonus of the wait though was a Styan's Grasshopper Warbler!! A very difficult bird to connect with. Nice. There was a noticable fall of Brown Flycathers (above) and Eastern Crowned Warblers so there was some excitement in the air that evening. We weren't disppointed. A calling Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo proved to be frustrating. Great views of Richard's pipits, red-necked stints (see below) and then, while waiting for a Yellow-rumped Fly to appear, out popped a Rufous-tailed Robin!! MAGIC!! Despite dipping on Yellow-rumped and Sooty Flycatchers, it was an amazing day.

The following day was was excellent again, with Yellow-browed warblers in amongst the hundreds of Easter Crowned Warblers, birds flying out of every tree and bush. Singing male Siberian Thrushes were fantastic, Ashy Minivets flying around the trees were stunning. Then, while walking down a track, listening to the birds calls, I noticed a large flycatcher in a tree...Japanese Paradise Flycatcher!!!!! Good god I was in paradise. An amazing bird, beautiful features, the most stunning being the blue eye-ring and blue bill. Another dream bird seen on this trip. The surprise of stumbling upon one making it all the more enjoyable. Another bird we stumbled upon was a Jungle Nightjar while walking down another track in the pissing rain. Another trip down to the paddyfields produced a Black-winged Stilt (below) and more Pacific Golden Plovers. As the rain was getting too severe, we called it a day at about 5pm.

The following, and final morning was amazing. There were hundreds of birds after arriving in. At our first stop, three races of yellow wagtail, another Black Drongo, a Terek Sandpiper (below), and then, as I rounded the corner, Sean was watching a Brown Shrike! I finally got on the bird and it was a cracking male of the cristatus race. Then, we found another Brown Shrike which was of the other race, lucionensis! Cool. While watching the shrikes, we noticed a martin flying around the paddy, which we are positive was a Plain Martin which would be the second or third record for Japan!! We couldn't believe this. Then, I looked up and saw a large, long-necked white bird following a Vegae Gull....Black-faced Spoonbill!!!! I was starting to believe I was still in bed dreaming. This was the first record for the island. I was so happy to have finally seen one. On that high, we went off to look for what else was about. Then, while walking down a track, I flushed a bird which was unusual and certainly not a Reed Warbler. After some excellent views of not just one bird, but two(!), and searching the literature subsequently, I think it is a Blunt-winged Warbler which maybe a first for Japan! I didn't want to leave the island. It was scary to think what could be there. So, it was with a heavy heart, we packed up our bags and headed to the ferry. Mishima is certainly an amazing place for migrating birds...I will be back next spring again.


Carmo's Diet: this week I have mostly been eating beef coated with parmasan cheese.

Carmo's Birds: nothing much this week, still thinking of the Mishima list!! Species seen in Japan to date: 256 (26 lifers on Mishima!)

Carmo's Birds for Byrdy: Brooke Burke