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.

    1. Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus [Kanmuri-kaitsuburi] On Tonegawa
    2. Little grebe Podiceps ruficollis [Kaitsuburi] On Tonegawa
    3. Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo [Kawa-u] On Tonegawa
    4. Mute Swan Cygnus olor [Kobu-hakuchou] 3 ex on Kokai-gawa
    5. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus [Ou-hakuchou] 1 juv. on Ushikunuma
    6. Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos [Ma-gamo] On Tonegawa
    7. Spot-billed duck Anas poecilorhyncha [Karu-gamo] On Tonegawa
    8. Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca [Ko-gamo] On Tonegawa
    9. Gadwall Anas strepera [Okayoshi-gamo]
    10. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope [Hidori-gamo]
    11. Herring gull Larus argentatus [Seguro-kamome] two ex bathing in shallow Kokai-gawa
    12. Little egret Egretta garzetta [Ko-sagi]
    13. Great egret Egretta alba [Dai-sagi]
    14. Grey heron Ardea cinerea [Ao-sagi] Along Tonegawa
    15. Common sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos [Iso-shigi] Along Tonegawa
    16. Common buzzard Buteo buteo [Nosuri] Near Tonegawa
    17. European sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus [Hai-taka] Female near Ushikunuma
    18. Merlin Falco columbarius [Ko-chougenbou] Male near Tonegawa
    19. 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.
    20. Bamboo partridge Bambusicola thoracica [Kojukei] 8 ex near Yatabe.
    21. Rufous turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis [Kiji-bato]
    22. Japanese pygmy woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki [Ko-gera]
    23. Skylark Alauda arvensis [Hibari]
    24. White wagtail Haku-sekirei [Motacilla alba]
    25. Black-backed wagtail Houzuro-haku-sekirei [Motacilla lugens]
    26. Japanese wagtail Motacilla grandis [Seguro-sekirei]
    27. Water pipit Anthus spinoletta [Tahibari]
    28. Brown-eared bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis [Hiyodori]
    29. Bull-headed shrike Lanius bucephalus [Mozu]
    30. Brown thrush Turdus chrysolaus [Akahara] With perfect black head/neck and yellow bill !? near Ushikunuma, bright orange breast/belly though.
    31. Dusky thrush Turdus naumanni [Tsugumi]
    32. Great tit Parus major [Shijuu-kara]
    33. Coal tit Parus ater [Hi-gara] Near Tonegawa
    34. Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonica [Mejiro] Near Tonegawa
    35. Siberian meadow bunting Emberiza cioides [Hoojiro]
    36. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica [Kashiradaka]
    37. Black-faced bunting Emberiza spodocephala [Aoji]
    38. Oriental greenfinch Carduelis sinica [Kawarahiwa]
    39. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula [Uso] Near Tonegawa
    40. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes [Shime] Near Ushiku-numa
    41. Tree sparrow Passer montanus [Suzume]
    42. Gray starling Sturnus cineraceus [Mukudori]
    43. Carrion crow Corvus corone [Hashiboso-garasu]
    44. Jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos [Hashibuto-garasu]
    Back to previous page Last modified: December 16, 1997. Fer-Jan de Vries, ferjan@etl.go.jp