The Shiretoko peninsula in northeast Hokkaido, October 4-8,1996

Some bird observations by Fer-Jan de Vries.

In the left most corner of this map of the Kuril archipelago one can finds the Shiretoko penisula. Besides this map, the homepage of the International Kuril Island Project (in which Japan participates) contains also a list of nesting birds of the Kurils.

The trip was organised by the ECO-club of Takako Takano. Yamanouchi Scond Annex 1F, 3-2 Kobuna-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Tel: 03-5641-1602. Fax: 03-5645-8595. E-mail: CXJ04637@niftyserve.or.jp
Reasonable soft autumn weather. Not much wind. One day with light rain.

  1. Little grebe Podiceps ruficollis Kaitsuburi : Totutsuko
  2. Temminck's Cormorant Phalacrococax filamentosus Umi-u : Raus
  3. Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos Ma-gamo : Totutsuko
  4. Spot-billed duck Anas poecilorhyncha Karu-gamo : Totutsuko
  5. Gadwall Anas strepera Okayoshi-gamo : Totutsuko
  6. Wigeon Anas penelope Hidori-gamo : Totutsuko
  7. Pochard Aythya ferina Hoshi-hajiro
  8. Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Kinkuro-hajiro
  9. Common merganser Mergus merganser Miko-aisa: female and or eclipse at several small inland waters.
  10. Marbled murrelet Branchyramphus marmoratus Madara-umisuzume: Raus. Several individuals, one in summer plumage.
  11. Short-tailed shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris Hashiboso mizunigadori: Raus. (both sides entirely dark)
  12. Slaty-backed gull Larus schitisagus Ou-seguro-kamome: Raus.
  13. Herring gull Larus argentatus Seguro-kamome: Raus.
  14. Black-tailed gull Larus crassirostris Umineko : Raus.
  15. Mew gull Larus canus Kamome : Raus.
  16. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Yuri-kamome : Raus.
  17. Black legged kittiwake Larus tridactilus Mitsuyubi-kamome : Raus.
  18. Gray heron Ardea cinerea Ao-sagi : Odaito-ko, 25 ex.
  19. Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos Isoshigi : Odaito-ko
  20. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Misago : Abashiriko
  21. Stellar sea-eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus Ou-washi : Odaito-ko, 3 ex. left the forest and flew to the sea at 9.15 am. Immature birds with impressive large yellow bils.
  22. Common buzzard Buteo buteo Nosuri: 30 ex. soaring above a hilltop west of Shari.
  23. Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus Hayabusa: west of Shari.
  24. Black Kite Milvus migrans Tobi : Very common, inland and along coast, especially fishing ports.
  25. Rufous turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis Kiji-bato
  26. Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius Kumagera : near Rausudake
  27. Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major Akagera : near Rausudake
  28. Japanese pygmy woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki Kogera : near Rausudake
  29. Japanese wagtail Seguro-sekirei Motacilla grandis
  30. Indian tree pipit Anthus hodgsoni Binzui : beach of Odaito-ko
  31. Siberian thrush Turdus sibiricus Mamijiro : Shibetsu-gun. Flying female.
  32. Willow tit Parus montanus Ko-kara
  33. Great tit Parus major Shijuu-kara
  34. Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus Enaga
  35. Nuthatch Sitta europaea Gojuu-kara
  36. Yellow breasted bunting Emberiza aureola Shima-aoji : near Rausudake <
  37. Oriental greenfinch Kawarahiwa Carduelis sinica : near Rausdake.
  38. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Uso : near Rausdake.
  39. Tree sparrow Passer montanus Szume
  40. Jay Garrulus glandarius brandtii Kakesu Mashuko. Brown head!
  41. Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes Hoshy-garasu : near Rausdake
  42. Carrion crow Corvus corone Hashiboso-garasu : common near fishports
  43. Jungle crow Hashibuto-garasu Corvus macrorhynchos : common near fishports
  44. Raven Watari-garasu Corvus corax Shibetsu-gun: In hindsight (July 97, I am in doubt whether this has not been a large northern subspecies of Jungle crow... See report of summer trip to Hokkaido.)
Back to previous page Last modified: October 12, 1996. Fer-Jan de Vries, ferjan@etl.go.jp