NEW! Japan - winter birds and wildlife
Sat 27 November - Sat 12 December 2010
Price £5895, fully inclusive. Single Supp £395. Deposit £300
Japan is a fascinating destination for the birder, with flocks of graceful Red-crowned Cranes, White-tailed Eagles close overhead, and spectacular Steller's Sea Eagle perhaps the main attractions. We also have a good chance of Blakiston's Fish Owl, another key target. An archipelago of islands, Japan provides a classic case of isolation and evolution in action, and holds many endemic birds. This holiday is deliberately timed to catch up with the greatest number of winter species as well as exciting resident birds, and to avoid the coldest of the weather.
In December, migratory birds arrive from Russia to spend the winter in Japan’s forested mountains, coastal lagoons and along the varied shores of the islands. While mid-winter is extremely cold, driving most species out of the northern islands of Hokkaido and many species out of Japan entirely, early winter is milder (easier for us!) and more species are to be found. Watching wildlife in winter is exciting, but when we visit birds are on the move, and their migration makes our experience even more thrilling. We can certainly hope to see more species at this time of year than is possible in mid-winter and should enjoy many opportunities to watch birds in large numbers in their natural habitats. Resident mammals are also more conspicuous at this season, making viewing of Japanese Macaque, Sika Deer, and Japanese Serow much easier than at other times of year and with good chances of other species too.
Japan has a tremendously varied landscape, a wide range of ecosystems and an ancient culture, all of which we experience during our visit. Our aim is to enjoy the winter bird and wildlife of Japan while experiencing a little something of its culture and history along the way.
Because if the distances involved, it is likely that most birding visitors to Japan intend their holiday to be a one-off experience, and we hope to make this a true 'holiday of a lifetime'. This very comprehensive tour will take you to all the key birding destinations, incluing Miike (Japanese Woodpecker, Baikal Teal), Izumi (general birding including our first cranes, Ryukyu Minivet, Japanese Grosbeak, wintering gulls and shorebirds), Rausu, (Blakiston's Fish Owl, Steller's Sea Eagle, Red-crowned and other Crane species), Shirotoko and Nemuro Peninsulas, and Ochiishi (boat trip for seabirds). We also make a special detour to Jigokudani, where we expect to see Japanese Macaques (Snow Monkeys) lounging in the mineral waters of the hot springs. Winter in Japan is a wonderful season.
Please note: we have chosen December for good wildlife reasons, but also because snow conditions in Nagano Prefecture are now quite unpredictable in mid-winter. During the last ten years there has been less snow and milder winters, meaning that the experience of finding cranes and eagles on pack ice is less certain. At the time we travel, we anticipate a very enjoyable birding experience with all the key birds plus migrants.
ITINERARY
DAY 01: London to Tokyo
Transfer to our comfortable hotel near Kasai Rinkai-koen, and if there is any daylight left head into the park for winter coastal/wetland birding. Perhaps some shorebirds/gulls.
DAY 02: Tokyo
No visit to this fascinating country is complete without experiencing something of its capital. Whilst justifiably renowned for its cultural and historical elements, Tokyo is less well-known for its natural history, yet its wooded and coastal parks have much on offer. Our first day in Japan, will give us the opportunity to begin to understand how different Japan’s culture is from that of the west, through our visits to two of the city’s most spectacular shrines: the Meiji and Asakusa shrines. The grounds of the former are very well wooded and combined with a visit to Shinjuku Gyoen will give us a chance to soak up ancient culture while learning about the local flora and watching for wintering birds. The parks are home in winter to small flocks of wild Mandarin Duck (Japan is a stronghold for this bird) and a number of typical Japanese species are common here, such as Brown-eared Bulbul, Black-eared Kite and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker. Wintering thrushes typically include both Dusky and Pale, but may also include White’s, and we will have our first chances to see Eastern Great Tit, Red-flanked Bluetail and Daurian Redstart.
DAY 03: Tokyo to Kagoshima, Kyushu
From Tokyo we travel southwards. The volcanic landscape of Kirishima and the coastal agricultural lowlands of southern Kyushu are our southernmost destinations during the trip, taking us to the warmer part of Japan where the forests are largely evergreen and consist essentially of members of the laurel family. Among the birds unique to southern Japan are Japanese Green Woodpecker and Ryukyu Minivet. We will also look for our first Varied Tits here and with luck at a local lake, amongst the wintering waterfowl we may find the lovely Baikal Teal, and perhaps encounter our first mammals in the form of Wild Boar. General woodland birds may also include Red-flanked Bluetail and Japanese Accentor. Overnight in Kirishima Area close to Miike.
DAY 04: Kirishima to Izumi, Kyushu
Each winter over 12,000 Hooded and White-naped Cranes gather at the Arasaki Crane Reserve, a spectacular congregation in southwest Kyushu that often attracts other species of cranes or other waterfowl. With many having already arrived, further arrivals take place on an almost daily basis during early winter and amongst them we may find Sandhill Crane and Common Crane, and, as in some winters, perhaps something even rarer such as a Demoiselle or a Siberian Crane. The local farmland attracts surprising numbers of Rooks and amongst them we will look for the scarce wintering Daurian Jackdaw. Fast flowing rivers in the region are where we will look for the dramatic Crested Kingfisher and Long-billed Plover, and where we will find many of the commoner wintering Palaearctic waterfowl, with flocks of Wigeon and Pintail sharing space with birds more typical of the region such as Eastern Spot-billed Duck. Wherever we encounter waterfowl we will be on the look out for Falcated and Baikal Teal and might even find an American Wigeon or two.
Our explorations of the coastal region of southwest Kyushu will be weather dependent and will include a foray northwards to areas frequented by the rare Saunders’s Gull and to woodlands and farmland where our chances of finding a range of wintering buntings is very good. In addition to Common Reed Bunting, we can hope for Black-faced, Rustic, Chestnut-eared and Elegant Buntings. Izumi, our base in southwest Kyushu is also significant for its historical samurai quarter and a stroll here, through narrow streets and between lovely old houses, gives us an opportunity to soak up the now tranquil atmosphere of old Japan while watching for widespread birds such as Japanese White-eye, White-cheeked Starling and Japanese Grosbeak. Wonderful birding in this area! Overnight in Izumi.
DAY 05 and 06: Izumi
Depending on tides and weather over the next few days we will return to the Arasaki area to bird the surroundings of the crane fields and the bay and the woods on the hills beyond, then go inland east of Izumi to Ko-gawa Dam and the forest around it (Ryukyu Minivet, Japanese Grosbeak, Japanese Green Pigeon etc). We might make a pre-breakfast visit to watch cranes leaving their roost and visit fields, returning for breakfast in Izumi. We will head northwards to Yatsushiro-shi, bird the river at Minamata, then continue to visit the Kumagawa at Yatsushiro, checking the rivers and bays north to Ono River if time. Targets in this region are Saunders’s and other gulls and wintering shorebirds including Black-faced Spoonbill. One day we travel south to the Takae fields, just southeast of the Sendai River mouth, and look here for raptors (perhaps Great Spotted Eagle) and buntings, and on way back visit the south end of Miyama-ko to look for Mandarin Duck, other wintering waterfowl and Japanese Woodpecker. We also visit the Bukeyashiki area of Izumi – the old samurai quarter. Its flashback to the ‘samurai’ era of Japan, with lovely old houses. and always a pleasant walk around this quarter, and occasionally a few common winter birds. If timing is right, one can even go into one of the houses. Days can either begin or end at the main crane roost site, and we continue to look for scarce winter visitors throughout. Overnight in Izumi.
DAY 07: Izumi, Kyushu to Kushiro, Hokkaido
A travel day as we trade the rural, quaint feel of southwestern Kyushu, Japan’s southern main island, for the relative “wilds” of east Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island. Here we will encounter a broader, more open landscape, with dramatic volcanoes as a backdrop to the north, we begin in Kushiro exploring Japan’s largest protected wetland, Kushiro National Park. In the days ahead we will visit Mashu-ko, the most beautiful of all lakes in Hokkaido, the dramatic Shiretoko Peninsula and the coastal capes and wetlands of the southeast. As we travel, we will constantly be alert for herds of Sika Deer and looking for patrolling Red Fox, while along the coast we may find groups of Largha Seal. At night, while looking for owls, we will keep watch for the secretive and elusive Sable. Overnight in Tsurui.
DAY 08: Tsurui to Rausu
As we explore Kushiro Marsh and its lakes, we will be watching for our first White-tailed Eagles as we home in on the feeding grounds of the beautiful Red-crowned Crane. These spectacular birds are highly photogenic and entertain us with their social behaviour and vocalizations as we learn about their lifestyle and about one of Japan’s great conservation success stories – from near extinction in the early part of the 20th century, they have now recovered to around 1,000 birds. Along the way we will see flocks of Oriental Greenfinches, roadside Eastern Buzzards, and visit woodlands to look for roosting Ural Owl. As we leave Kushiro we will head north first to see the wonderful volcanic scenery of the Akan National Park with its renowned caldera lake (Mashu-ko) before heading to the coast and the Shiretoko Peninsula. Overnight in Rausu.
DAY 09: Shiretoko Peninsula
In this region we can expect to encounter our next main target, the enormous Steller’s Sea Eagle. This dramatic eagle is found along coasts, at lagoons and in the mountains as it searches out prey, and we hope to photograph them. The harbours and bays along the coast of the Shiretoko and east Hokkaido are marvellous for water birds. Pretty Harlequin Duck are common along the coastline, and are joined by Black and White-winged Scoter and Long-tailed Duck further offshore. Gulls are here in plenty too, with Slaty-backed, Glaucous and Glaucous-winged all common. As we watch offshore, we keep a weather eye for a late Orca or an early Steller’s Sea Lion, watch Temminck’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and look for Ancient Murrelet and other alcids, as well as grebes and divers (including Pacific). Onshore we might bump in to newly arrived flocks of Asian Rosyfinches, or even Bohemian Waxwings. Overnight at Lake Furen or Nemuro.
DAY 10: Nemuro Peninsula
Birdwatch along the Nemuro Peninsula to Habomai, taking an offshore cruise for seabirds if weather permits. Continue afterwards to Cape Nosappu. In the afternoon we drive to the Lake Furen area where we hope to see our first Stellers Sea Eagles. There is a possibility of Blakiston's Fish Owl today, depending on local info. Exploring southwards down the east coast we visit Notsuke Peninsula a favoured locality for birds of prey in winter, which typically include both Steller’s and White-tailed Eagles, along with Black-eared Kite, Eastern Buzzard and occasionally Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl. Overnight at Lake Furen or at a hotel in Nemuro.
DAY 11 and 12: Nemuro, Ochiishi
In southeast Hokkaido we encounter flocks of highly vocal Whooper Swans and will be on the watch for late migrants including both Brent and Taiga Bean Goose. Conditions permitting we will take one or more boat trips just offshore in search of Spectacled Pigeon and Brunnich’s Guillemots, Ancient Murrelets, sea duck including Harlequin, cormorants (possibly including Red-faced) and more divers and grebes and Dall’s Porpoise. Raptors, waterfowl and seabirds will keep us busy in the Nemuro area, but in local woodlands we will be on the look out for woodpeckers too, which include Japanese Pygmy, Great Spotted, White-backed and Grey-headed, while the white-headed race of Long-tailed Tit and the cinnamon-headed race of Eurasian Jay are both distinctive and extremely attractive. Asian Rosy Finch is just one of the birds we seek later as we drive to Lake Furen and Yoroushi, to explore the local forests. Inland again, below the flanks of the volcanoes we will explore woodland where Black Woodpecker and Hazel Grouse occur, and where local rivers harbour Brown Dipper and sometimes Crested Kingfisher and wintering Solitary Snipe.
However, our main purpose will be to mount a vigil in search of arguably the world’s largest (and one of the rarest) owls – Blakiston’s Fish Owl. Our accommodation is within the territory of a breeding pair and our chances of finding them near the local river are good. This bird alone would be a fitting finale for our exploration of “wild Japan”, but yet to come is our excursion south, back to Tokyo and then out into the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. Overnight at a very good inn in Yoroushi.
DAY 13: Yoroushi to Tokyo
Early morning birding at the river at Yoroushi for Brown Dipper and Solitary Snipe. After breakfast we take a forest walk before transferring to Tokyo by air. We drive to Kambayashi Onsen, stopping for dinner along the way. In travelling to Nagano, we pass the highest mountain range of Japan, the Japanese Alps, and head into a narrow valley renowned for one species in particular – this is where the Japanese Macaque has learned the benefits of natural hot water. By now we will all have had opportunities to enjoy one of Japan’s finest cultural elements – the onsen or hotspring, with its out door variant the rotenburo, but here in Nagano Prefecture we will be able to approach wild macaques enjoying their own soaking experience in a geothermally heated pool. At close range they appear to pose for our photographs and endlessly entertain us with their antics; the reality is that they are merely going about their daily business, while we enjoy watching and photographing them! The steep-sided valley is flanked with trees and amongst these forests we have a chance of sighting two more of Japan’s endemic mammals, the Japanese Serow and the Japanese Squirrel, while overhead we may find Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Golden Eagle and Japanese Hawk Eagle. Overnight at a ryokan in Kambayashi Onsen.
DAY 14: Jigokudani, Nagano Prefecture
Walk to Jigokudani to visit the Japanese Macaques in the morning, lunch at the lodge near the monkey site, spend the afternoon with the monkeys bathing in hot springs surrounded by snow (the macaques not us), then walk back to Kambayashi. Overnight at a ryokan in Kambayashi Onsen
DAY 15: Jigokudani, Nagano Prefecture to Tokyo
After our two-night stay in a superb Japanese Ryokan in the mountains of Honshu it will be hard to bid Japan farewell, but eventually we must leave the monkeys and the mountains behind. Nevertheless, our journey back to Tokyo and on to Narita will not be without its cultural and wildlife distractions. First we visit Matsumoto. Matsumoto Castle is a superb example of Japanese traditional castle architecture dating back to the 16th century. Nicknamed the “black crow” castle, it stands in a moated park, with fine views to the Japan Alps. Breaking our journey again, as we begin to leave the mountains behind us, we stop at Lake Suwa, a large inland body of water renowned for attracting large numbers of sawbills before it freezes over. Goosander can number in hundreds, or even thousands, and Smew are liberally scattered among them. En-route we may collect Brown-headed Thrush and Whites Thrush as we head for Tokyo and beyond it Narita, where we overnight in preparation for our morning flight back to London.
DAY 16: Tokyo to London
Arrive London
FOOD IN JAPAN
A powerful cultural experience! Food penetrates all aspects of life in Japan, and our accommodations generally serve Japanese dinners, though you can expect a mixture of western and Japanese menus. Our luches will be a mixture of western and Japanese style. As usual on Heatherlea holidays, we will work hard to make sure that you are comfortable and well-fed! Take a look at this article, interesting reading for visitors to the country.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090829a2.html
FIELD GUIDE
Heatherlea recommend 'Birds of East Asia' by Mark Brazil.
Published by A&C Black in the Helm Field Guides series: January 2009. Further info can be found at this link.... http://sites.google.com/site/birdsofeastasia/Home
Price includes: return scheduled flight from London Heathrow – Tokyo, all internal flights, airport taxes, ground transportation, accommodation and all meals, incidental tips, and the services of Japanese speaking leader Mike Coleman and local guides. Max 14 clients.
All the images on this page were kindly provided by Mark Brazil and Peter MacKenzie. Our grateful thanks to both, and also to Mark for kindly designing this unique tour of Japanese wildlife, specifically with Heatherlea clients in mind.
Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual
holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and
elements beyond our control (eg weather).
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