Japan, February 2018: Overview
This somewhat last-minute birding trip to Japan was spurred by an announced change in my work schedule, one that would make taking long trips a bit more logistically difficult. Eager to sneak in one more trip before the change, Japan in February seemed the logical choice. Dave Provencher and Julian Hough were enthusiastically on board with this idea, and the three of us began planning in November, just three months from departure. This trip would promise quality birds, photographic opportunities, and a unique cultural experience. None of us had visited Japan before.
We decided to hit what seem to be the top 3 Japanese birding islands
at this time of year, which are, from south to north: Kyushu, Honshu (Tokyo),
and Hokkaido. Okinawa is also quite popular, but we did not have time for that.
As most international flights from the US go through Tokyo, we began and ended
our trip on Honshu. In short, we went from Honshu to Kyushu to Hokkaido and
back to Honshu.
A winter birding trip to Japan won't net you a large trip list, but you will see several highly sought-after species. On Kyushu you will find a crane spectacle involving 4+ species, fantastic gull variety, and nice diversity of wintering East Asian passerines. Honshu will give you the opportunity to see three species of albatross via ferry and hang with Japanese Macaques ("Snow Monkeys") in the Japanese Alps. On frigid Hokkaido you will be treated to dozens of Steller's Sea-Eagles, one of the rarest and coolest owls in the world, and 6+ species of alcid.
In this space I will post a summary of the birding with photos. We are going to post a much more comprehensive trip report, with plenty of logistical and planning information, to Cloudbirders.
Itinerary:
Feb 3 - Depart JFK late
afternoon
Feb 4 – Arrive Tokyo (HND) 9:10pm local time
Feb 5 – Karuizawa
Feb 6 – Early Karuizawa, midday Snow Monkeys, PM drive back to
Tokyo, board Miyakejima ferry
Feb 7 – Ferry pelagic with brief stop at Hachijojima Island, ferry
back to Tokyo, arrive Tokyo evening
Feb 8 – Fly HND>KOJ, drive towards Izumi, birding at Sendai
River en route, Arasaki PM
Feb 9 – Arasaki, Kogawa Dam
Feb 10 – Arasaki early, then Yatsushiro
Feb 11 – Lake Miike, Kota Ponds, Sadowara, drive back towards KOJ
for the night
Feb 12 – Fly KOJ>KUH, Otowa Bridge, drive to Yoroushi Hot
Spring
Feb 13 – Yoroushi Hot Spring, Shari, to Rausu
Feb 14 – 9am eagle boat from Rausu, PM birding Shiretoko peninsula
Feb 15 – Notsuke Peninsula, Nemuro Peninsula
Feb 16 – 9am Habomai alcid boat, Nemuro Peninsula
Feb 17 – Cape Kiritappu, Biwase, Lake Akkeshi, Otowa Bridge,
Tsurui Red-crowned Cranes, fly KUH>HND
Feb 18 – (Julian flies home) Tokyo East cleanup (Chiba/Ibaraki)
Feb 19 – Dave & Nick fly home
- Nick
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