2 February 2013
Arasaki
One of the World's greatest birding spectacles and one of the main reasons for our winter trip to Japan. The Arasaki Crane refuge on Kyushu hosts upto 15,000 Cranes each winter, attracted by the safety and daily handouts of grain. Most are Hooded and White-naped, but most winters sees a few Common and Sandhill Cranes and occasionally something much rarer.
We left our hotel in Izumi at dawn and drove the short distance to the Kogawa Reservoir. Stopping on the small bridge over the stream we quickly found two Brown Dipper and enjoyed the rather typical Japanese view with the mist rising from the water.
 |
| The typically Japanese view upstream |
Passing the rice paddies we found three Black-faced Bunting beside the road in the early morning gloom.
 |
| The rice paddies at Kogawa Reservoir |
 |
| Black-faced Bunting |
It was still raining so we followed the road all the way around the reservoir, stopping whenever we saw bird activity. It was very dull and difficult birding, but over the next hour we found a few birds. Pale Thrush and Varied Tit were most common and Oriental Turtle Dove plentiful. On the water several hundred Mandarin showed nervously, joined by a few Mallard and a small flock of Wigeon. Four Red-billed Leothrix looked very at home, despite being an introduced species here.
 |
| Ryuku Minivet |
A smart pair of Ryuku Minivet performed in a small tit flock along with Japanese White-eye and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker. Siberian Meadow Bunting were regularly seen and a single female Red-flanked Bluetail gave brief views on the roadside. On a large stony river we found our first stunning male Japanese Wagtail feeding with several of the much commoner White Wagtails.
 |
| Kogawa Reservoir |
After departing the reservoir we drove to the Arasaki Crane Reserve. As we passed through Izumi beside the river in the town centre we found a roost of Black-crowned Night Heron in a huge Bamboo and in the stream below them two immature drake American Wigeon with the Eurasians.
 |
| Black-crowned Night Heron roost in the centre of town |
 |
| Black-crowned Night Heron |
Arasaki is just a short 15 minute drive out of town and we were soon away from the sprawling conurbation. Immediately we found our first small groups of Cranes - three Hooded beside the road followed by three White-naped. We turned onto the observatory access road and there were Cranes everywhere - thousands. It took us quite some time to drive the last mile as we stopped to photograph and enjoy the views.
 |
| Hooded Cranes on the approach road |
 |
| The spectacular White-naped Crane |
 |
| Showing off |
 |
| Stunning birds |
 |
| White-naped Crane |
 |
| Wow! |
 |
| Hooded Crane is the commonest species |
 |
| Displaying |
 |
| Look at me! |
 |
| Very close views from the car |
 |
| Feeding close to the road |
 |
| So many photo opportunities |
 |
| Fields full of Cranes |
However the approach road did nothing to prepare us for what lay ahead. We parked outside the observatory and walked in. From the huge windows was the most amazing sight - 10,000 Cranes! After a while we found out we could get on the roof to another open air viewing area. Walking out onto the platform was incredible - the noise as the cranes called, displayed and bugled was just awesome. From here the flight views as birds passed literally inches overhead was brilliant. We stayed for some time....
 |
| The sight that greeted us! |
 |
| Hooded Crane |
 |
| White-naped Crane |
 |
| White-naped Crane |
We had been here for about half an hour when I put down my camera and just took in the spectacle. I started to scan the flock hoping to find a Common or Sandhill Crane. As I glanced down to the birds feeding close to the building a large orange and white bird materialised from the masses - a juvenile Siberian White Crane!
 |
| A very rare sight - it dwarfed even the White-napes |
Cranes were not the only birds present, though surprisingly just a single Whooper Swan was enjoying the free hand outs. Buff-bellied Pipits were found in most damp fields. Black-eared Kites were circling around the observatory, occasionally giving good views. Huge numbers of Rooks, Carrion Crows and a few Daurian Jackdaws were feeding in the fields. An adult Duarian Jackdaw eventually flew in and showed well on the telephone wires beside the observatory.
 |
Adult Daurian Jackdaw
|
In the car park a confiding Japanese White-eye showed well in a flowering camelia.
 |
| A cloud formed tree - the Japanese love topiary |
And as we drove east away from the observatory we just couldn't resist a few more Cranes.....
Heading east we drove out across fields, along tracks and around the sea wall to check a couple of hidden pools. However access had been restricted to certain areas, including the sea wall to protect an area for cranes. This was probably not a bad idea as the few duck on the first pool were incredibly shy and despite the blue fabric fence spooked as the car approached. There were further large groups of Rooks and a few Daurian Jackdaw, and Dusky Thrushes were commonly encountered though difficult to approach.
We explored the area from the main road that bisects the fields and eventually rejoins the sea wall beside a creek, then headed inland to check some farm ponds and ditches. On the east marsh we were able to park beside the road and watch behind a screen. Out on a shallow pool we found two Eurasian Spoonbill and a group of Shoveler and Lapwing. While watching I spotted a couple of grey geese feeding in a distant field. A couple of contractors out on the restricted sea wall spooked them and they came flying in onto our pool. As they circled around we called them as serrirostris Tundra Bean Geese, and fortunately they came in onto the pool. I noticed that one bird had separated and on checking was surprised to see it was actually a middendorfi Taiga Bean Goose. What a result. As I scanned back to the other five the first bird I saw was a frontalis Greater White-fronted Goose - three species in a flock of just six birds! Despite the range I managed a couple of record shots.
 |
| Two serrirostris Tundra Bean Goose |
 |
| Five serrirostris Tundra Bean Geese and a frontalis Greater White-fronted Goose come in to land |
 |
| The stunning middendorfi Taiga Bean Goose - what a bill! |
 |
| The four serrirostris Tundra Bean Goose and the frontalis Greater White-fronted Goose |
While watching the geese I noticed large numbers of ducks flying in over the seawall onto a hidden reservoir in front of the sea wall. I started checking the incoming flocks of mainly Teal and Pintail, with lesser numbers of Mallard, Shoveler and Wigeon. In among one flock of Pintail I spotted a superb drake Baikal Teal, and after calling Gary two more dropped in. However we couldn't see them land behind and the brief views were not ideal. Still there was no chance of them appearing and we decided to continue our birding exploits. Up at the creek we checked another flock of Teal and Pintail, enjoyed an Osprey or two fishing and the gorgeous sunshine that had finally appeared. More crane flocks out on the fields, some super Brambling with a huge flock of Oriental Greenfinch and a couple of dapper Daurian Redstart in the ditch.
 |
| Brambling |
 |
| Daurian Redstart |
Later we drove back to the west of the observatory where the river flows out to the estuary. A large reedbed here sometimes attracts Chinese Penduline Tit, and after a little effort we found a feeding flock of some twenty birds. We also enjoyed views of Siberian Meadow and Black-faced Bunting, and a Black-tailed Gull showed in the harbour.
 |
| Black-faced Bunting |
 |
| Siberian Meadow Bunting |
 |
| Female Siberian Meadow Bunting |
 |
| Chinese Penduline Tits |
 |
| Black-tailed Gull |
Our final stop of the day was a specific site where a Russet Sparrow had been regularly seen. Checking down the road produced a few Siberian Meadow, Black-faced and Rustic Bunting, but no sparrow. Returning along the road I re-checked the GPS and stopped, saying this is the exact spot I was given. Just as I said that, through the open window, I heard a sparrow 'cheep'. It sounded a little different and I looked up to see the Russet Sparrow sat on the overhead wires! Amazing.
 |
| Russet Sparrow |
With a little light left we ended the day back at the east marsh feeding centre. We stopped by the small building and watched out of the wind from behind it. I was surprised to find that the ducks on the hidden pool had decided to roost out of the water around the edges. There was a nice line of duck along the front, mainly Pintail and the back and sides, mainly Teal and Wigeon. Fortunately my wonderful Kowa TSN883 came into its own and carefully scanning along the distant line of ducks found initially two female Baikal Teal with the Eurasian Teal at the back, and a smart drake Baikal Teal in the Pintail at the front. The geese were feeding out in the stubble and a few cranes were walking around close to the road - a great end to a wonderful days birding.
 |
| Hooded Crane |
Comments
Post a Comment