JAPAN IN WINTER TOUR REPORT 2025

19 February - 5 / 7 March 2025

by Dave Farrow

Another great trip to Japan, with superb wildlife encounters from one end to the other. A mouth-watering list of birds led by the stars of Hokkaido: Red-crowned Crane, Steller’s Sea Eagle and Blakiston’s Fish led the way as our top three birds. On Honshu we saw Copper and Green Pheasants, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Oriental Stork, Japanese Accentor and Grey Buntings. On Kyushu we enjoyed being immersed among the thousands of Hooded and White-naped Cranes, and enjoyed endearing Japanese Murrelets, Black-faced Spoonbills and crab-hunting Saunders’s Gulls. Add to this a great selection of winter wildfowl and wintering passerines, and some very comfortable accommodations offering top class food. The weather is the main variable, and we managed to avoid any problems despite plenty of snow and strong winds. Our mammal list was quite respectable, with Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel, Japanese Serow, Japanese Raccoon Dog, Japanese Badger and Sea Otter.

We gathered in Haneda, on a clear sunny day with the stunning backdrop of Mt Fuji rising 100km distant. We were joined by our Japanese guide Otani, and began our journey by travelling overland across Tokyo. We boarded the Shinkansen bullet train, and moving at speeds of up to 276 kph we soon arrived in a sub-zero but largely snow-free Karuizawa. Once we had met our minibuses, we stopped at a rough field on the edge of town where we found smart Daurian Redstarts, a busy flock of Meadow and Rustic Buntings, plus a stunning male Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinch together with his demure mate, an excellent start to our birding. We ate our picnic lunch overlooking the feeder at our hotel, with our first Oriental Greenfinches, Varied and Japanese Tits. We walked in the cold forest and found Japanese Accentor, more Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinches, the endemic Japanese Green and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, Brown-eared Bulbuls, a smart Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Pale Thrush. We then drove around some reed-filled fields where we found four female Green Pheasants, and more flocks of Rustic and Meadow Buntings.

The next morning, we left the hotel to the sound of a Ural Owl distantly booming in the gloomy dawn, then drove along a winding mountain road in a search for Copper Pheasant. We found White-backed Woodpecker and Red-flanked Bluetail, and some fuzzy-looking Japanese Serow stood by the roadside. Back to the hotel bird feeders (and a fine Japanese breakfast) with Varied and Willow Tits joined by Oriental Greenfinch, pale-eyed Eurasian Jays of the japonicus race, Oriental Turtle Doves and Eurasian Nuthatch. Back in the forest, I noticed a roadside tree with a large natural hole in it. I could not resist a speculative scratch of the trunk, yet never expected to get a result. Yoink! Out popped the head of a Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel! Wow, what a cutie, and this is only the second time I have ever seen it. We found Brown Dippers on the rivers, glimpsed a couple of Mandarin Ducks, and disturbed a Solitary Snipe that sat the waters edge for a while before launching itself back into the forest. The afternoon was typically quieter, our only addition was an unexpected Yellow-throated Bunting, and a Japanese Serow that entertained us by posing for selfies at close range! Close to our hotel we found our first Japanese Wagtails along a frost-edged thermal stream, then once more we headed into the copper-coloured forest. Under bright blue skies, we tried a new path where Red-flanked Bluetail, Daurian Redstart and Japanese Accentor were busy feeding. As we emerged into an open area there was a sudden rustling nearby, and the leaf litter just came alive in the form of a female Copper Pheasant. It walked casually up the slope, along with a second bird that appeared nearby! Hurrah! Finally, after so much eyestrain searching for this elusive shape shifter! From here we drove downhill to Lake Toden on the Chikuma river, where we found a charming flock of Baikal Teal, dapper Smew and Goosanders, some handsome Long-billed Plovers on the river along with Japanese and Black-backed Wagtails. A smart White’s Thrush was a surprise find, along with Dusky Thrush and five Japanese Grosbeaks, and our first Eastern Buzzards and Oriental Crows.

Content with our productive stay at Karuizawa, we set a course for the coast. Our first stop was at Jigokudani near Nagano for the famous Snow Monkeys, and we walked into the snow-laden valley to where the Japanese Macaques were sat in their hot tub. Birds are typically few here, but a couple more Japanese Accentors were a bonus. The snow was as deep as I’ve ever seen it, but that didn’t stop the ever-increasing number of human visitors. Back on the road, we headed over the mountains and straight into a spectacular white-out, as a blizzard hit the north-facing slope on the Sea of Japan coast. The road merged with the landscape despite having been ploughed, the mountain forests laden with snow looked stunning. Reaching the coast we then entered the long series of 26 tunnels that take the highway westwards, with a comfort stop en route producing some Azure-winged Magpies perched in roadside trees. We headed for Kaga in time for some end of day birding at the duck observatory at Katano Kamo-ike. Many Geese were asleep in front of the windows, the majority being Taiga Bean Geese, but we eventually managed to pick out some Tundra Bean Geese and a couple of Greater White-fronted Geese. Hundreds of Baikal Teal kept to the far side of the lake, and a musical flock of Bewick’s Swans passed overhead.

Ready for the next day, though black skies and falling snow looked challenging! An eventful day began as we came around a corner to find a car on its side in a field, having just spun off the road! We went to help, and luckily the young lad inside was unhurt and we were able to extract him through the tail gate. We sat him in our warm van until the rescue trucks arrived, which was all of five minutes! We pressed on with our Goose hunt just in time for a heavy snowstorm, so took refuge at a Family Mart until it had passed. Once the sky cleared, we drove around the sparkling white landscape until we saw a flock of Greater White-fronted Geese come flying in. We followed them and watched from a safe distance as they fed in a crop field, while more and more arrived to swell their numbers making an impressive sight. We found large flocks of Japanese Skylarks on the snowy fields, and on a large pond full of smart wild Mallards found a few dozen Falcated Duck. Large numbers of White-cheeked Starlings were joined by four Common Starling, and a flock of Oriental Rook gathering here also contained two Daurian Jackdaw. We found an immature Naumann’s Thrush that posed nicely for us, with a huge flock of Brambling in the nearby treetops. On other snow-covered fields we found a lone Grey-headed Lapwing, and had a big surprise when a fine Oriental Stork came circling overhead, seemingly unringed. The sea was quite calm despite the many snow squalls, and seawatching along the coast revealed many Black-throated Divers, several groups of Ancient Murrelets close inshore, our first Japanese and Pelagic Cormorants sat on a rock, plus Blue Rock Thrush. In another area we found a large flock of Bewick’s Swans merging with the white backdrop, and we finished the day back at the Duck Observatory at Katano Kamo-ike watching the Taiga Bean Geese and other wildfowl. Our dinner at a ‘family restaurant’ was enlivened by being served by some comical robot waiters!

The following day we began with a slow drive in a blizzard to Komatsu airport, which added to the 10cm that had fallen overnight. Surely our flight to Fukuoka, in a turboprop aircraft, would be cancelled? No chance, thankfully it was business as usual, and off we went almost on schedule. Arriving in fine weather, we could shed our extra layers as we headed south across the length of Kyushu. We stopped for a couple of hours at the mudflats at Uki where numerous Saunders’s Gulls patrolled the mud hunting crabs, and Black-faced Spoonbills fed in the shallows. We also found Common Greenshanks, Grey Plovers, a single Mongolian Gull, some mongrel Taimyr Gulls and a large flock of Dunlin. Heading onwards to Arasaki we saw Asian House Martins and a Black-crowned Night Heron, and arrived at our Minshuku accommodation at dusk, amid the bugling of roosting Cranes in the heart of the reserve.

In the frosty dawn, we watched great skeins of Cranes pouring overhead to their feeding area, the sky turning orange as the sun climbed behind the hills to the east. The vast majority were Hooded Cranes, while a few dozen White-naped Cranes still remained, and we were able to pick out three Common Cranes. Small birds also featured, with many Japanese Skylark and Siberian Pipits, great gatherings of Oriental Rook with a smattering of Daurian Jackdaws, some dapper pied adults standing out from the blackness. We also found Common and White-cheeked Starlings, Russet Sparrows, and the rare sight of three Japanese Raccoon Dogs playing in the open. In the surrounding areas we saw Chestnut-eared and Meadow Buntings, Black-faced and Eurasian Spoonbills, and eventually located a pair of Chinese Penduline Tits that showed incredibly well in a reedbed. Moving inland to a reservoir among woodland, we found White-bellied Green Pigeons, Red-flanked Bluetails flycatching along a river, Masked Buntings, three Mandarin Duck and had a close flyby by a Crested Kingfisher. A Japanese Badger was seen running up roadside slope, a write-in for this tour.

Another dawn vigil to watch the flights of Cranes once again, and exploring the area we found both Little Ringed and Common Ringed Plovers on a muddy canal, both Black-faced and Eurasian Spoonbills asleep in the shallows, and some smart Chestnut-eared Buntings. We paused by another canal where we had a good look at a Ruddy-breasted Crake, and found another three Chinese Penduline Tits. Leaving Arasaki and our friendly hostesses, in fields and woodland patches we found Japanese Bush Warbler and Warbling White-eyes, and abundant Masked Buntings and Pale Thrushes. Further inland we saw several Long-billed Plovers on a rocky river, while we enjoyed a picnic on its sunny banks. Around the crater lake of Mi-ike we explored the woods, glimpsed an elusive Grey Bunting and found Olive-backed Pipits, furtive Red-billed Leiothrix and a pair of Yellow-throated Buntings. Our accommodation at the Yunamoto Onsen provided perhaps the best meal of the tour so far (against some tough competition!) with a banquet that included the famous fugu (puffer fish).

We had an early start to reach the east coast, and soon after sunrise we stood beside a grassy field alive with buntings, with many Yellow-throated, Rustic, Masked and Meadow Buntings. In nearby woods we saw Japanese Bush Warbler, a merest glimpse of Asian Stubtail, and a White-bellied Green Pigeon showed very well. A small lake held several smart Mandarin Ducks, plus a male Baer’s Pochard that looked good apart from a little chestnut on the head, showing that its parents may have been mixing with the wrong kind! Moving north along the coast it was time for the main attraction, as we took a fishing boat out into Kadogawa Bay. Fine weather for a mini pelagic, once out on the open sea we found three pairs of Japanese Murrelets, all very close to our boat. Around the oyster farms and harbours, we found Pacific Reef Heron, Black-tailed and Vega Gulls, Great Crested Grebes and a Red-breasted Merganser. Nearby we explored a thickly wooded headland where we could hear two Black Woodpigeons calling, but only managed a brief flight view.

The next day the weather changed, with persistent rain soaking us as we made a pre-breakfast sortie into the nearby fields. We did however find three Green Pheasant, and a huge musical flock of Japanese Grosbeaks in the tops of tall trees. As the rain ebbed, we returned to the lakeshore where six Olive-backed Pipit were on show, then it was time to head for Kagoshima airport. From here we flew to Haneda, then onwards to a notably mild Kushiro, arriving in time for another excellent dinner.

We joined the photographers on the Otawa bridge at dawn, where our first Red-crowned Cranes could be seen standing in the river, with a little dancing and courtship showing that spring was nearly here. We also saw a splendid Crested Kingfisher, Goosanders, and our first Steller’s Sea Eagle. The nearby Ural Owl unfortunately wasn’t posing in its hole today, nor was it at another site we checked. Further inland we found Marsh Tits, Eurasian Treecreeper, White-tailed and more Steller’s Sea Eagles, and reaching the coast we saw Harlequin Ducks and a close Stejneger’s Scoter, plus legions of Slaty-backed Gulls with a few Kamchatka Gulls and icy Glaucous Gulls scattered among them. Onwards to Rausu and our accommodation at Minshuku Washi No Yado, famous for its Blakiston’s Fish Owls that appear every night along the stream just in front of the building. We had to get there for an early supper, before our vigil began. The previous night the Owl had not appeared till 11.30pm so we expected a lengthy wait. Not to worry, the bird did the honourable thing and flew in at 7.48pm, grabbed a fish and then flew to a nearby tree where it sat staring into the river, just out of the light, for another 20 minutes. Hurrah!

Our group had a second sighting at 5am, and once it was light we were able to enjoy confiding Brown Dippers, looking like they were made of chocolate, in the stream in front of our rooms, while White-tailed Eagles and Steller’s Sea Eagles brayed from the trees that lined the valley. After breakfast we headed down to Rausu harbour for our ‘Eagle Nature Cruise’. The previous day, we could see the pack ice on the horizon, unfortunately distant and probably in Russian territorial waters. However, overnight the wind must have been blowing in our favour as it was just 2-3km offshore! Hurrah! You lucky people! Aboard the powerful boat we headed to the edge of the ice, to spend a morning with hundreds of Eagles. Once there, the show began, the Eagles swarmed around the boat as fish were launched towards them. Some fish would land on the ice where squabbles erupted between the hungry giants, or in the water where whoever could swoop in the fastest would seize the prize. It is truly an amazing experience, and it is perhaps the big highlight of the whole tour. And let’s not forget the Gulls – crowds of Slaty-backed Gulls also taking advantage of the offerings, with a few Glaucous-winged scattered among them, close enough to touch as they flew alongside the boat.

From here, we took a leisurely drive down the coast to the Notsuke peninsula, with its cheeky Red Foxes and Sika Deer herds. We managed to find our first Spectacled Guillemots, plus Harlequin Ducks, Long-tailed Ducks, many Red-breasted Mergansers, Black and Stejneger’s Scoter. Further south towards Nemuro, we found a fine Rough-legged Buzzard perched in a tree with prey, before it soared away over the frozen marshlands.

We awoke to a very windy Nemuro, with a strong breeze coming from the northwest. Fully expecting our next boat trip to be cancelled, we nevertheless made our way over to the south coast, to Ochiishi for our ‘Nature Cruise’. Luckily the wind had eased here, and the boat trip was going ahead. We chugged out onto the open sea, and around the offshore islands. We had nice views of both Spectacled and Pigeon Guillemots, Long-tailed Ducks and Red-necked Grebe, and a superb close look at a Sea Otter lying on its back eating a crab, accompanied by a young Slaty-backed Gull staying close and hoping for offcuts. Back on land, we found Whooper Swans and Falcated Ducks in the harbour, before going for a well deserved warm up at the 7-Eleven. Along a country road we found two more Rough-legged Buzzards hovering in the stiff breeze, then headed to Cape Nosappu at the very eastern end of Hokkaido. Unfortunately, the seawatching hide was closed, which was suboptimal as the windchill was very challenging, so we tried to make shelter with our minibuses while scanning the sea. Some very distant flocks of Crested Auklets were passing, plus a handful of Rhinoceros Auklets, and plenty of Spectacled Guillemots. We spent the remainder of the afternoon engaged in the least uncomfortable birding option, which was to park up by ‘Cormorant Rock’ where plenty of Pelagic Cormorants were coming into their roost, however the hoped-for Red-faced Cormorant never appeared.

The next day we followed the south coast along to Cape Kiritappu. At a house with feeders, we enjoyed a flock of lovely pink-hued Asian Rosy Finch, then from the Cape itself we saw four Sea Otter frolicking off the rocks. Birds were thin on the ground despite the improved weather conditions, but we still were able to find Spectacled and Pigeon Guillemots, Red-necked Grebe and some nice groups of Common Goldeneye. Exploring the area more widely we found a good number of Whooper Swan, and all the while White-tailed and Steller’s Sea Eagles cruised around. We then headed across country to reach our next stop at Yoroushi Onsen, arriving in time for some feeder watching. Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers provided close views, and a lucky few had a view of the Blakiston’s Fish Owl, just after 6pm!

Come the morning we spent a leisurely few hours watching the hotel feeders, peering out at the brandtii Eurasian Jays swarming the terrace, plus Hawfinch, Marsh Tits, Eurasian Nuthatch of the frosty clara race, Great Spotted and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, Eurasian Red Squirrel, Brown Dippers on the river, and a splendid Solitary Snipe feeding just outside the breakfast room window. We took a stroll up the road and found a female Pine Grosbeak (my first ever in Japan in winter), then we dragged ourselves away from this lovely place and headed south. While checking a site for Ural Owl we found the delightful ‘Snow Angels’ – nominate white-headed Long-tailed Tits, which are always well-received. We were in luck at the original Ural Owl hole, for today it was in residence, sat in its cozy hole waiting for us. We also returned to Tsurui to see the Red-crowned Cranes, and many of the birds started to dance around in the light snowfall. As the snow persisted, we headed for Kushiro airport and flew back to Tokyo.

At Haneda we said goodbye to those heading home, and began the tour extension. The next morning, we took the train into Tokyo, to the woods surrounding Meiji Jingu which can be a fairly reliable site for Grey Bunting. Sure enough we found a pair here, and had some fine views as they lurked under the bushes. Also, we were entertained by the local Varied Tits, lured with peanuts to land on my head! Next, we headed out beyond Yokohama to Maioka Park. Over a couple of hours, we saw several tame Chinese Bamboo Partridges, the introduced Chinese Hwamei, a Brown-cheeked Rail, Ruddy-breasted Crakes, Brown-headed Thrush, and eventually a Eurasian Woodcock that emerged from the shadows. We headed back into Tokyo, and after some dinner headed for the ferry terminal. Fortunately, the ferry was still prepared to depart, despite the forecast of strong winds. We sailed at 10.30pm, straight to bed in comfortable cabins.

The next morning, we found ourselves docked at the island of Miyakejima, the winds too strong to continue to Hachijojima and its exposed jetty. As we waited, a passage of Brown Boobies passed close inshore, right beside and even over the ship. After an hour to let cargo and passengers to be loaded, the ship turned back to Tokyo. The early return meant that we were actually in the best area during the morning hours, and as the sea boiled and the waves towered, we were soon seeing birds. Providence Petrels raced down the wind, and Tristram’s Storm Petrels hugged the wave tops in the teeth of the gale. The first Albatross to hove into view was a Laysan Albatross, and indeed this proved to be the most numerous throughout the morning with over a hundred counted. Then came our first Short-tailed Albatross, these huge birds that are easily visible from afar eventually totalled more than 20, followed by Black-footed Albatross in just single figures. Streaked Shearwaters provided a constant backdrop, all the way up to the entrance of Tokyo Bay with many thousands estimated. Despite the strong wind the ship ploughed on with a minimum of movement, good news for those of us with a tendency for seasickness! We arrived back at Takeshiba port in the early afternoon, so there was still time for some final birding at the bijou Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park, where we had a great view of a Brown-cheeked Rail bathing, a Brown-headed Thrush dodging feral cats, and Ospreys fishing in the shallows.

So ended a wonderful journey around the islands of Japan and all its winter birding delights. It never ceases to be an amazing tour, and is never the same twice. Once you have had a taste of Japan, the next step is to return in spring!

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v14.2).

Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in parentheses at the end of the species comment.

BIRDS
Taiga Bean Goose ◊  Anser fabalis  Plenty on show at Katano Kamo ike.
Tundra Bean Goose ◊  Anser serrirostris A group of a dozen or more materialised out of the flock of the above.
Greater White-fronted Goose  Anser albifrons  Hundreds dropped into the snowy fields of Fukui.
Bewick’s Swan ◊  Cygnus bewickii  A wonderful sight of more than 260 of these in snowy fields near Komatsu.
Whooper Swan  Cygnus cygnus  A few small flocks at various sites around Hokkaido, with friendly ones at Ochiishi.
Common Shelduck  Tadorna tadorna  A good number at Uki, also seen at Arasaki.
Mandarin Duck ◊  Aix galericulata  Some smart birds seen well at Kogawa and at Koda pond.
Baikal Teal ◊  Sibirionetta formosa  Nice views of five at Lake Toden, and 300+ more distant birds at Kamo-ike.  
Northern Shoveler  Spatula clypeata
Gadwall  Mareca strepera
Falcated Duck ◊  Mareca falcata  Great views on a pond at Karuizawa, then regularly encountered along our route.
Eurasian Wigeon  Mareca penelope
Eastern Spot-billed Duck  Anas zonorhyncha
Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Pintail  Anas acuta
Eurasian Teal  Anas crecca
Common Pochard  Aythya ferina
Baer’s Pochard ◊  Aythya baeri  A male at Koda pond in Kyushu looked the full ticket except for a chestnut crown indicating perhaps some influece of Ferruginous Duck.
Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula
Greater Scaup  Aythya marila  A few small flocks seen around the Hokkaido coasts.
Harlequin Duck ◊  Histrionicus histrionicus  Fairly common around the Hokkaido coasts, with excellent views acquired.
Stejneger’s Scoter ◊  Melanitta stejnegeri  A nice close example at Shibetsu, with small numbers seen elsewhere around the Hokkaido coasts.
Black Scoter ◊  Melanitta americana
Long-tailed Duck  Clangula hyemalis  Some smart individuals seen around the Hokkaido coasts.
Common Goldeneye  Bucephala clangula
Smew ◊  Mergellus albellus  Nice to see plenty of these at Lake Toden. Also seen at Kaga.
Goosander (Common M)  Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser  Mergus serrator  Quite big numbers seen off the Hokkaido coast, particulary from Notsuke.
Copper Pheasant ◊  Syrmaticus soemmerringii  Endemic. After much searching in the hills around Karuizawa, on our final attempt we found not one but two females. 🙂
Green Pheasant ◊  Phasianus versicolor  Endemic. Four females seen in fields near Karuizawa, also three seen in the rain near Mi-ike.
Chinese Bamboo Partridge ◊ (introduced)  Bambusicola thoracicus  Great close views in Maioka Park
Japanese Quail ◊  Coturnix japonica  A bird flushed (and missed!) by the leader near Mi-ike would have been this species.
Rock Dove (introduced) (Feral P)  Columba [livia] var_domestica
Black Wood Pigeon ◊ (Japanese W P)  Columba janthina  Two calling birds at Cape Hyuga, one seen in flight.
Oriental Turtle Dove (Rufous T D)  Streptopelia orientalis
White-bellied Green Pigeon ◊ (Japanese G P)  Treron sieboldii  Several flybys at Kogawa, and a good view of a female at Koda pond.
Brown-cheeked Rail ◊ (Eastern Water R)  Rallus indicus  A glimpse of one at Katano Kamo-ike, one feeding in the open at Maioka Park and one bathing at Tokyo Port.
Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot  Fulica atra
Ruddy-breasted Crake  Zapornia fusca  Seen well along a canal at Arasaki, another two seen in Maioka Park.
White-naped Crane ◊  Antigone vipio  A wonderful elegant creature, we were at Arasaki just in time to see these as most had already left!
Red-crowned Crane ◊ (Japanese C)  Grus japonensis  Always a favourite, these came top as our ‘Bird of the trip’!
Common Crane  Grus grus  At least three at Arasaki.
Hooded Crane ◊  Grus monacha  Still plenty at Arasaki, we enjoyed being immersed among the thousands of birds here.
Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis
Red-necked Grebe  Podiceps grisegena  Several seen off the coast at Kaga and around Hokkaido.
Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus
Black-necked Grebe  Podiceps nigricollis  A small number at Kaga.
Grey Plover  Pluvialis squatarola
Common Ringed Plover  Charadrius hiaticula  One at Arasaki was notable.
Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius
Long-billed Plover ◊  Charadrius placidus  Good views on the Chikuma river and at Satsuma.
Northern Lapwing  Vanellus vanellus  Frequently seen around Arasaki.
Grey-headed Lapwing  Vanellus cinereus  A single bird looking cold among snow-covered paddyfields near Kaga.
Eurasian Woodcock  Scolopax rusticola  One emerged from the shadows at Maioka Park, just before closing time!
Solitary Snipe ◊  Gallinago solitaria  One at Karuizawa on a forest river showed well for a short time, and one at Yoroushi Onsen gave us a great show as it fed in the river outside the breakfast room window.
Common Snipe  Gallinago gallinago
Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus  A scattering of single birds in Kyushu.
Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia  Several seen at Uki.
Dunlin  Calidris alpina  A large flock at Uki.
Saunders’s Gull ◊  Saundersilarus saundersi  Hundreds at Uki, with nice close views as they hunted for crabs.
Black-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Black-tailed Gull ◊  Larus crassirostris
Kamchatka Gull ◊ (Common G)  Larus [canus] kamtschatschensis
Vega Gull  Larus vegae
Mongolian Gull  Larus mongolicus  A single adult bird at Uki, picked up by Otani.
Glaucous Gull  Larus hyperboreus  Lovely pale examples on Hokkaido, mostly adults
Lesser Black-backed Gull ◊ (Heuglin’s G, Taimyr G)  Larus [fuscus] heuglini  A couple at Uki.
Glaucous-winged Gull ◊  Larus glaucescens  Fine examples seen along the Hokkaido coasts, best views while on the Eagle boat.
Slaty-backed Gull ◊  Larus schistisagus
Rhinoceros Auklet ◊  Cerorhinca monocerata  A couple of small groups seen flying past Cape Nosappu.
Crested Auklet ◊  Aethia cristatella  Several tight flocks of these seen at great range from Cape Nosappu.
Spectacled Guillemot ◊  Cepphus carbo  Plenty seen off the Hokkaido coasts, with best views acquired on our Ochiishi Nature Cruise.
Pigeon Guillemot ◊  Cepphus columba  Seen from Cape Nosappu and Cape Kiritappu, but best looks were of close birds on our Ochiishi Nature Cruise, one of which was in almost complete breeding plumage.
Ancient Murrelet ◊  Synthliboramphus antiquus  Several small groups showed well as they came in close at Cape Kasano near Kaga.
Japanese Murrelet ◊  Synthliboramphus wumizusume  Aka the ‘Sea Sparrow’. Superb views of six or more from our Kadogawa boat trip. What a great little bird.
Red-throated Diver (R-t Loon)  Gavia stellata
Black-throated Diver ◊ (B-t Loon)  Gavia arctica  Numerous birds on the Sea of Japan coast.
Pacific Diver ◊ (P Loon)  Gavia pacifica  A single on our Ochiishi Nature Cruise.
Laysan Albatross ◊  Phoebastria immutabilis  Many passing the ship on the extension, probably 100+.
Black-footed Albatross ◊  Phoebastria nigripes  The least numerous Albatross on the pelagic.
Short-tailed Albatross ◊  Phoebastria albatrus  Quite a few of these big fellers seen on our pelagic, mostly adults and older immatures.
Tristram’s Storm Petrel ◊  Hydrobates tristrami  Perhaps ten seen in just one area on our pelagic.
Providence Petrel  Pterodroma solandri   Always exciting to see any Pterodroma, we saw a dozen or more on the extension, only for the second or third time for me.
Streaked Shearwater ◊  Calonectris leucomelas
Oriental Stork ◊  Ciconia boyciana  A big surprise to see one flying over at Kaga. Only my second in Japan, there is a re-introduction program in Honshu but it is fairly unusual to see them away from Hyogo province. This bird appeared to be free of colour rings, unlike the one I had seen previously.
Brown Booby  Sula leucogaster  At least 20 flew past the Izu ferry while moored at Miyakejima.
Pelagic Cormorant ◊  Urile pelagicus
Japanese Cormorant ◊  Phalacrocorax capillatus  Only seen in rocky marine habitats in Kyushu and Honshu.
Great Cormorant  Phalacrocorax carbo
Eurasian Spoonbill  Platalea leucorodia
Black-faced Spoonbill ◊  Platalea minor  Some fine examples seen at Uki and in the Arasaki area.
Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax  A single flyby near Arasaki.
Pacific Reef Heron  Egretta sacra  A single slaty-coloured bird seen at Kadogawa.
Little Egret  Egretta garzetta
Great Egret (Western G E)  Ardea [alba] alba
Great Egret (Eastern G E)  Ardea [alba] modesta  One or more seen at Koda pond in Kyushu.
Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea
Osprey (Western O)  Pandion [haliaetus] haliaetus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus  A nice example seen at Karuizawa.
Eurasian Goshawk  Astur gentilis  Heard. At Meiji Jingu in Tokyo.
Black Kite (Black-eared K)  Milvus [migrans] lineatus
Steller’s Sea Eagle ◊  Haliaeetus pelagicus  Joint second ‘Bird of the trip’, the Hokkaido Eagle experience is truly amazing!
White-tailed Eagle  Haliaeetus albicilla  As many as the above species, and equally as impressive.
Rough-legged Buzzard ◊  Buteo lagopus  Three smart individuals seen around Nemuro, which was exceptional.
Eastern Buzzard (Japanese B)  Buteo [japonicus] japonicus
Blakiston’s Fish Owl ◊  Ketupa blakistoni Joint second as ‘Bird of the trip’, it truly is a fantastic bird.
Ural Owl ◊  Strix uralensis  Heard distantly at Karuizawa, and seen finally on our last day on Hokkaido, with a splendid female sat in a cozy hole.
Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis
Crested Kingfisher  Megaceryle lugubris  Two seen at Kogawa and another two seen at Otawa bridge on Hokkaido.
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker ◊  Yungipicus kizuki
Great Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopos major
White-backed Woodpecker  Dendrocopos leucotos  Two seen in the hills near Karuizawa. 
Japanese Green Woodpecker ◊  Picus awokera  Endemic. Not uncommon at Karuizawa.
Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus
Peregrine Falcon  Falco peregrinus
Bull-headed Shrike ◊  Lanius bucephalus
Eurasian Jay  Garrulus glandarius  Two forms seen, the white eyed japonicus and the orange headed brandtii.
Azure-winged Magpie ◊  Cyanopica cyanus   Two seen from by highway near Toyama.
Oriental Magpie (introduced)  Pica serica  Non-leader. One seen from the highway in Kyushu.
Daurian Jackdaw ◊  Coloeus dauuricus  Two juveniles near Kaga, many at Arasaki including smart pied adults.
Oriental Rook ◊  Corvus [frugilegus] pastinator  All lined up on the wires at Arasaki, in Hitchcock style.
Oriental Crow ◊  Corvus [corone] orientalis
Large-billed Crow  Corvus macrorhynchos
Coal Tit  Periparus ater
Varied Tit ◊  Sittiparus varius  Some fine examples on the hotel feeder at Karuizawa, frequent sightings along our route in Honshu and Kyushu, and an intimate encounter at Meiji Jingu.
Marsh Tit  Poecile palustris  Nice examples on Hokkaido, some already singing.
Willow Tit  Poecile montanus  Close up on the feeders at Karuizawa.
Cinereous Tit ◊ (Japanese T)  Parus [cinereus] minor
Chinese Penduline Tit  Remiz consobrinus  Great views of a pair at Arasaki, also three more the next day.
Japanese Skylark ◊  Alauda [arvensis] japonica
Brown-eared Bulbul ◊  Hypsipetes amaurotis
Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica
Asian House Martin  Delichon dasypus  A flock of 15 appeared at a comfort stop in Minamata, also seen along the river at Izumi.
Japanese Bush Warbler ◊  Horornis diphone
Asian Stubtail ◊  Urosphena squameiceps  A glimpse of one at Koda in Kyushu, where they were also heard.
Long-tailed Tit  Aegithalos caudatus  On Honshu we saw the trivirgatus subspecies, while the ‘Snow Angels’ on Hokkaido are the nominate  caudatus.
Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis  A single at Arasaki.
Warbling White-eye  Zosterops japonicus 
Red-billed Leiothrix (introduced)  Leiothrix lutea
Chinese Hwamei (introduced)  Garrulax canorus  Only seen in Maioka Park where they were vocal and obvious.
Eurasian Wren  Troglodytes troglodytes  Odd singles seen, race fumigatus.
Eurasian Nuthatch  Sitta europaea  At Karuizawa we saw the hondoensis subspecies, frosty birds on Hokkaido were clara.
Eurasian Treecreeper  Certhia familiaris  Smart birds of the daurica subspecies on Hokkaido.
Crested Myna (introduced)  Acridotheres cristatellus  Flocks seen coming to roost at Totsuka station.
White-cheeked Starling ◊  Spodiopsar cineraceus
Common Starling  Sturnus vulgaris  Quite a big flock of these winter visitors at Arasaki.
White’s Thrush ◊  Zoothera aurea  Unusual to see this at all, more so to see one sitting out in the open, at Lake Toden.
Pale Thrush ◊  Turdus pallidus  A few on Honshu, locally very common on Kyushu.
Brown-headed Thrush ◊  Turdus chrysolaus  Seen at Maioka Park and Tokyo Port.
Dusky Thrush ◊  Turdus eunomus  Regular sightings throughout the tour.
Naumann’s Thrush ◊  Turdus naumanni  A rather weakly marked immature near Kaga caused some initial head scratching.
Red-flanked Bluetail  Tarsiger cyanurus
Daurian Redstart  Phoenicurus auroreus
Blue Rock Thrush (Asian R T)  Monticola [solitarius] philippensis
Brown Dipper  Cinclus pallasii
Russet Sparrow  Passer cinnamomeus  Nice to see big flocks of these at Arasaki, also a smaller number seen at Mi-ike.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus
Japanese Accentor ◊  Prunella rubida  Good numbers of these this year, with several noted at  Karuizawa and another two at Jigokudani.
Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea
White Wagtail ◊ (Black-backed W)  Motacilla [alba] lugens
Japanese Wagtail ◊  Motacilla grandis  Not uncommon on good rivers.
Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni  A group of six feeding by Mi-ike lake.
Red-throated Pipit  Anthus cervinus  Quite a few calling birds seen in flight at Arasaki, only a couple seen briefly on the ground.
Siberian Pipit  Anthus japonicus  Many at Arasaki, also seen at Lake Toden, Koda, Satsuma and Mi-ike.
Brambling  Fringilla montifringilla  Several hundred seen around the Kaga area.
Hawfinch  Coccothraustes coccothraustes  Non-leader. One at Yoroushi.
Japanese Grosbeak ◊  Eophona personata  Some impressively large and tuneful flocks in the fields near Mi-ike.
Pine Grosbeak ◊  Pinicola enucleator  A female in the woods at Yoroushi was a nice find.
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied B)  Pyrrhula [pyrrhula] griseiventris  Non-leader. One seen at Karuizawa.
Asian Rosy Finch ◊  Leucosticte arctoa  Elusive until we reached Cape Kiritappu where we were able to watch 30+ on feeders.
Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus sibiricus  An excellent start to the tour with a pair at Nakakaruizawa, followed by two more up in the forest.
Oriental Greenfinch (Grey-capped G)  Chloris sinica
Eurasian Siskin  Spinus spinus  Some small vocal flocks on Hokkaido.
Meadow Bunting ◊  Emberiza cioides
Chestnut-eared Bunting ◊ Emberiza fucata  Some excellent examples at Arasaki.
Rustic Bunting ◊  Emberiza rustica  In quite good numbers this year, with many at Karuizawa, Koda in Kyushu and a few at Kaga.
Yellow-throated Bunting ◊ (Elegant B)  Emberiza elegans  A single at Karuizawa, then more seen in Kyushu.
Masked Bunting  Emberiza personata  Commonly found, espcially in Kyushu.
Grey Bunting  Emberiza variabilis  Some glimpses of birds in the Kyushu woods, and finally good views in the middle of Tokyo at Meiji Jingu.
Common Reed Bunting  Emberiza schoeniclus  These pallid birds seen in several parts of Honshu and Kyushu.

MAMMALS
Japanese Raccoon Dog  Nyctereutes viverrinus  Endemic. A remarkable sight at Arasaki of three together enjoying the morning sunshine, trying to ignore a cheeky gang of Large-billed Crows.
Red Fox  Vulpes vulpes
Harbor Seal (Common S)  Phoca vitulina
Sea Otter  Enhydra lutris  Great close views on our Ochiishi Nature Cruise, plus four seen at Cape Kiritappu.
Japanese Weasel  Mustela itatsi  Endemic. Non-leader. One at Karuizawa.
Siberian Weasel  Mustela sibirica  One seen at Koda on Kyushu.
American Mink (introduced)  Mustela vison  Non-leader. One at Yoroushi.
Japanese Badger  Meles anakuma  Endemic. One seen running from the roadside at Kogawa.
Eurasian Wild Pig  Sus scrofa  A lost looking piglet at Kogawa.
Sika Deer  Cervus nippon
Japanese Serow  Capricornis crispus  Endemic. Several seen at Karuizawa, a comical looking fellow!
Japanese Macaque  Macaca fuscata  Endemic.
Pallas’s Squirrel (introduced)  Callosciurus erythraeus  Seen at Maioka Park.
Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel  Petaurista leucogenys  Endemic.A real thrill to see this poking its head out of a hole at Karuizawa.
Japanese Squirrel  Sciurus lis  Endemic.Seen at Karuizawa.
Eurasian Red Squirrel  Sciurus vulgaris  Seen at Yoroushi.