December 13th, 1997: Tsukuba -> Toride -> Kokaigawa -> Tsukuba
I biked from Tsukuba more or less straight south, then in a semi circle around Ushikunuma to Sanuki. From there via (most of the time the east bank) along the Kokai-gawa to the Tonegawa towards Toride. Via the beautiful steep river bank of the Tonegawa back to the Kokai-gawa. Keeping the westbank towards presumably as far as Mamiya Rinza. Then via Nobori in Ina-machi (where one can find still perfect yatsu's = high isolated reedlands between the forested hilltops) in a straightline to Yatabe and Tsukuba. A very nice bike trip trough at time wonderfully well preserved natural and or historic landscapes.
I was hoping to meet the birding group of Asuka-san at the bank of the Tonegawa at 9.00 am, but I arrived more than one hour late after getting near Sanuki (birding being one reason, being uncertain how to proceed near Sanuki the other...)
Weather: after a cold early morning frost a sunny and blue sky. Some wind and rather fresh temperature:
2-6 degrees Celsius.
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Great crested grebe
Podiceps cristatus
[Kanmuri-kaitsuburi] On Tonegawa
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Little grebe
Podiceps ruficollis
[Kaitsuburi] On Tonegawa
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Great cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
[Kawa-u] On Tonegawa
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Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
[Kobu-hakuchou] 3 ex on Kokai-gawa
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Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus
[Ou-hakuchou] 1 juv. on Ushikunuma
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Mallard
Anas Platyrhynchos
[Ma-gamo] On Tonegawa
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Spot-billed duck
Anas poecilorhyncha
[Karu-gamo] On Tonegawa
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Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca crecca
[Ko-gamo] On Tonegawa
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Gadwall
Anas strepera
[Okayoshi-gamo]
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Eurasian Wigeon
Anas penelope
[Hidori-gamo]
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Herring gull
Larus argentatus
[Seguro-kamome] two ex bathing in shallow Kokai-gawa
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Little egret
Egretta garzetta
[Ko-sagi]
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Great egret
Egretta alba
[Dai-sagi]
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Grey heron
Ardea cinerea
[Ao-sagi] Along Tonegawa
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Common sandpiper
Tringa hypoleucos
[Iso-shigi] Along Tonegawa
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Common buzzard
Buteo buteo
[Nosuri] Near Tonegawa
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European sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
[Hai-taka] Female near Ushikunuma
- Merlin Falco columbarius
[Ko-chougenbou] Male near Tonegawa
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Eurasian Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
[Chougenbou] 1 or 2 Female near Tonegawa. The first was hunting insects on the grassy dyke, (still some black dotted orange butterflies could be seen) the second tried the Treesparrows and Greenfinches which were distracted by my presence.
- Bamboo partridge
Bambusicola thoracica [Kojukei] 8 ex near Yatabe.
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Rufous turtle dove
Streptopelia orientalis
[Kiji-bato]
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Japanese pygmy woodpecker
Dendrocopos kizuki
[Ko-gera]
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Skylark
Alauda arvensis
[Hibari]
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White wagtail
Haku-sekirei
[Motacilla alba]
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Black-backed wagtail
Houzuro-haku-sekirei
[Motacilla lugens]
-
Japanese wagtail
Motacilla grandis
[Seguro-sekirei]
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Water pipit
Anthus spinoletta
[Tahibari]
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Brown-eared bulbul
Hypsipetes amaurotis
[Hiyodori]
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Bull-headed shrike
Lanius bucephalus
[Mozu]
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Brown thrush
Turdus chrysolaus
[Akahara] With perfect black head/neck and yellow bill !? near Ushikunuma, bright orange breast/belly though.
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Dusky thrush
Turdus naumanni
[Tsugumi]
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Great tit
Parus major
[Shijuu-kara]
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Coal tit Parus ater [Hi-gara] Near Tonegawa
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Japanese White-eye
Zosterops japonica
[Mejiro] Near Tonegawa
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Siberian meadow bunting
Emberiza cioides
[Hoojiro]
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Rustic Bunting
Emberiza rustica
[Kashiradaka]
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Black-faced bunting
Emberiza spodocephala
[Aoji]
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Oriental greenfinch
Carduelis sinica
[Kawarahiwa]
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Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
[Uso] Near Tonegawa
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Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes
[Shime] Near Ushiku-numa
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Tree sparrow
Passer montanus
[Suzume]
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Gray starling
Sturnus cineraceus
[Mukudori]
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Carrion crow
Corvus corone
[Hashiboso-garasu]
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Jungle crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
[Hashibuto-garasu]
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Last modified: December 16, 1997.
Fer-Jan de Vries, ferjan@etl.go.jp