Ottonuma in Ibaraki-ken, December 13, 1998


The monthly count of the birds at and around the Ottonuma pond between Arakawaoki and Tsukuba, just north of the Joban-highway. The pond is well known for its wintering Falcated Teals. In contrast to last year no wintering Bewick's Swans, yet. There was the unusual sighting of an immature male Smew, though.


Participants: Ikenaga Hiroshi, Mathias Jaschhof, Catrien Jaschhof, Katayama Shusaku and Fer-Jan de Vries plus various members of the Ibaraki branch of the WSBJ.


Weather: Clear not to cold winter day.

Observations:

Ottonuma

  1. Little grebe Podiceps ruficollis [Kaitsuburi]
  2. Spot-billed duck Anas poecilorhyncha
  3. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata [Hashibiro-gamo]
  4. Falcated Teal Anas falcata [Yoshi-gamo] About 45.
  5. Gadwall Anas strepera [Okayoshi-gamo]
  6. Northern Pintail Anas acuta [Onaga-gamo]
  7. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope [Hidori-gamo] At least 80.
  8. Smew Mergus albellus [Miko-aisa]
  9. Little Egret Egretta garzetta [Ko-sagi]
  10. Great Egret Egretta alba [Dai-sagi]
  11. Common Coot Fulica atra [Oo-ban]
  12. Common Gallinule Gallinula chloropus [Ban]
  13. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis [Kawa-semi] 3 ex.
  14. Rufous turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis [Kiji-bato]
  15. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki [Ko-gera]
  16. Japanese Skylark Alauda japonica [Hibari]
  17. Black-backed Wagtail Motacilla lugens [Haku-sekirei]
  18. Japanese Wagtail Motacilla grandis [Seguro-sekirei]
  19. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta [Tahibari]
  20. Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis [Hiyodori]
  21. Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus [Mozu]
  22. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus [Joobitaki]
  23. Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni [Tsugumi]
  24. Bush Warbler Cettia diphone [Uguisu]
  25. Great Tit Parus major [Shijuu-kara]
  26. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes [Shime]
  27. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus [Suzume]
  28. Siberian Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides [Hoojiro]
  29. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica [Kashiradaka]
  30. Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus [Oo-jurin]
  31. Gray Starling Sturnus cineraceus [Mukudori]
  32. Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos [Hashibuto-garasu]


Birds of Japan and Asia ,
December 20, 1998,
Fer-Jan de Vries.