Preliminary report on a trip to Furenko

in southeast Hokkaido during December 22-27, 1998

The trip consisted of two parts:

The Kushiro-Nemuro area

Coastal / Land birding by train and foot on 22-26 December 1998.

The weather

I guess I was lucky. There was considerable snowfall in West and North Hokkaido, but the Kushiro-Nemuro area had only little snow, which at most places was already gone. Some small forest roads had icy patches. During my stay it was sunny and cold. Only on December 25 on the exposed Cape Nosappu the wind felt strong and very cold. During day time it was mostly a little below 0, in the early morning it must have been - 7. On Dec 26 it started snowing.

Tsutsumi-san from Kanagawa-ken has seen a Pine bunting at Kiritappu at Dec 24, 98.

Pelagic birding

Sea birding during the trip Kushiro (departure 12.00 hr 12/26) - Port of Tokachi (stop 15.30-17.30 hr 12/26) - Tokyo (arrival 20.40 hr 12/27).

Note: It seems that the company which runs the ferry will stop doing so next year September.

The weather

Along the south coast of Hokkaido December 26 was a sunny and clear winterday, with a temperature around 0. There was wind of variable strength: the waves had small white crests. (Well, actually the wind could be strong at moments, in the harbor an unexpected gust of wind toppled the tripod/scope. The fall broke the connecting screw.) In the evening during the crossing to Honshu the waves and wind must have been stronger. The ship rocked noisely. The next day, December 27, the sea was calmer. At places there were white crested waves at most places, but south of Chooshi it was calm. South of Kinkasan it was cloudy. First very thin clouds, but after Chooshi the sky was grey. The temperature went clearly up. Must have been 5-7 around Chooshi. Visibility was good both days.

Comments and highlights

Travel detail

Thereand back again Furenso is the name of the minshuku of the Takada family along the forest road (parallel to and east of road 953) between Bettoga and Tobai. It is a friendly place to stay. (But not the only option in the area, for more info see Mark Brazil's A Birdwatcher's guide to Japan.)
  • WSBJ info

    List of observed birds

    1. Pacific/Black-throated Loon Gavia pacifica/arctica [Shiro-eri-oo-hamu]
      • 1 ex, Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    2. Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus [Hime-u]
        Nosappu, Dec 25
      • 1 ex, Nosappu, Dec 24
      • 30 ex, Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • 4 ex, Kushiro, Dec 26
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
      Cormorant Phalacrocorax [Hime-u]
      • Pacific east of Honshu
    3. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus [Oo-hakuchoo]
      • Akkeshi, Dec 22
      • 5 ex, Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    4. Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos [Ma-gamo]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    5. Northern Pintail Anas acuta [Onaga-gamo]
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    6. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope [Hidori-gamo]
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    7. American Wigeon Anas americana [Amrika-hidori]
      • 3 ex, Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    8. Pochard Aythya ferina [Hoshi-hajiro]
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    9. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula [Hojiro-gamo]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    10. Greater Scaup Aythya marila [Suzu-gamo]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    11. Harlequin Duck Histronicus histronicus [Shinori-gamo]
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Kushiro, Dec 26
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    12. Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis [Kouri-gamo]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    13. Black Scooter Melanitta nigra [Kuro-gamo]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    14. Velvet Scooter Melanitta fusca [Biroudo-kinkuro]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    15. Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator [Umi-aisa]
      • Akkeshi, Dec 22
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    16. Common Merganser Mergus merganser [Kawa-aisa]
      • Kushiro, Dec 22
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    17. Common Guillemot Uria aalge [Umigarasu]
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    18. Brünnich's Guillemot Uria lomvia [Hashibuto-umigarasu]
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    19. Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus [Umi-suzume]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    20. Crested Auklet Aethia cristatella [Etorofu-umisuzume]
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    21. Least Auklet Aethia pusilla [Ko-mi-suzume]
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
    22. Laysan Albatross Diomedea immutabilis [Ko-ahoodori]
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    23. Streaked Shearwater Calonectris ieucomelas [Oo-mizunagidori]
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    24. Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus [Haiiro-mizunagidori]
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    25. Great Skua Stercorarius skua [Ou-toozoku-kamome]
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    26. Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus [Toozoku-kamome]
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
      Skua Stercorarius skua [Ou-toozoku-kamome]
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    27. Slaty-backed Gull Larus schitisagus [Oo-seguro-kamome]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Kushiro, Dec 26
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    28. Herring Gull Larus argentatus [Seguro-kamome]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Kushiro, Dec 26
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    29. Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris [Umineko]
      • Kushiro, Dec 26
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    30. Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens [Washi-kamome]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    31. Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus [Shiro-kamome]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    32. Mew Gull Larus canus kamschatschensis [Kamome]
      • Kushiro, Dec 26
      • Sea south of Hokkaido, Dec 26Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    33. Black-legged Kittiwake Larus tridactylus [Mitsuyubi-kamome]
      • Pacific east of Honshu, Dec 27
    34. Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola [Daizen]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    35. Dunlin Calidris alpina [Hama-shigi]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    36. Red Knot Calidris canutus [Ko-oba-shigi]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    37. White-tailed Sea Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla [Ojiro-washi]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 23-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    38. Steller's sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus [Oo-washi]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    39. Black Kite Milvus lineatus [Tobi]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Kushiro, Dec 26
    40. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo [Nosuri]
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
      • Station west of Bettoga, Dec 27
    41. Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus [Haiiro-chuuhi]
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
    42. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus [Haya-busa]
      • Nosappu, Dec 24
    43. Blakiston's Fish Owl Ketupa blakistoni
      • Furenko area, Dec 24
    44. Rock Pigeon Columba livia [Do-bato]
      • Kushiro, Dec 26
    45. Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus [Yamagera]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    46. Black Woodpecker Dendrocopos martius [Kumagera]
      • Hamanaka, Dec 22
    47. Great spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major [Akagera]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    48. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki [Ko-gera]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    49. Black-backed Wagtail Motacilla lugens [Haku-sekirei]
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    50. Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis [Hiyodori]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
    51. Goldcrest Regulus regulus [Kikuitadaki]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    52. Great Tit Parus major [Shijuu-kara]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    53. Marsh Tit Parus [Hashibuto-gara]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Furenso, Dec 23
    54. Willow Tit Parus montanus [Ko-gara]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    55. Coal Tit Parus ater [Hi-gara]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    56. Nuthatch Sitta europaea [Gojuu-kara]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    57. Siskin Carduelis spinus [Ma-hiwa]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    58. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla [Atori]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    59. Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra [Isuka]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    60. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus [Suzume]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
    61. Jay Garrulus glandarius brandtii [Kakesu]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    62. Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes [Hosh1-garasu]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
    63. Carrion Crow Corvus corone [Hashiboso-garasu]
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25
    64. Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos [Hashibuto-garasu]
      • Forest around Furenso, Dec 22-26
      • Shunkunitai, Dec 23
      • Ochiishi, Dec 25

    Encountered mammals

    1. Red fox Vulpes vulpes schrencki[Kitsune]
    2. Sika deer Cervus nippon [Shika]
    3. mouse/voleApodemus peninsula [Hanto-aka-nezumi] caught in trap next to Furenso.
    4. huge, rather triangular, grey dorsal fin. a rather fleeting image in the distance. Pacific Coast east of Fukushima at Honshu at 8.45 am.
    5. 4 black mammals at close range, presumable Short-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus 4 black mammals, about 3 meter long, rather bulbous heads without snout, Backwards curved fin about middle of sturdy body. Did not notice white lips, but did not especially look for them. Pacific Coast east of Honshu at 12.45, half an hour north of Chooshi.
    Back to previous page Last modified: December 29, 1998. ferjan@etl.go.jp