In the Sea of Japan
Hegura Island
(Hegurajima)

some notes by Armas Hill, 
& a list of birds during 7 FONT tours on the island 

It's an intriguing place, Hegurajima, where during the spring and fall migrations, there's some of the most fascinating birding anywhere. Hegura is a small island, actually tiny. It's less than 1 kilometer wide and less than 2 kilometers long. One can walk the path around the entire coastline of the island in less than an hour.

Some people live on the island. But not many, about 50. There was a small store (no longer), but there is an inn (where fortunately, where one can overnight and have meals). Also on the island: some homes, a school (just recently closed; there was an enrollment of 5), and 1 doctor. The most prominent structure on the island is a lighthouse (the white tower in the photo above). 
In the morning, the women of Hegura dive for seaweed. Later in the day, if  sunny, they put it out to dry. Men go out on boats to fish.

There's a ferry once a day, in each direction, to and from the island. It's just under a two-hour ferry ride from mainland Honshu, during which there can be some good seabirding. In the spring, the endemic Japanese Murrelet, the "Kanmuri-umisuzume" (a wonderful bird with a wonderful name) can be seen from the boat, along with Rhinoceros Auklets that breed nearby. Streaked Shearwaters and Red-necked Phalaropes can be numerous.

But it's on the island itself where birding can really get interesting. At night, when many landbirds in the spring are migrating north, they come upon the small island in the sea. Given optimum conditions, in the morning, the island can be bursting with birds. They're in the open on fields, in bushes, small trees, under debris by the homes, and along the rocky coast. In short, they're everywhere. 

Birds that elsewhere can be notorious skulkers, are often more out in the open. In that category, for example, are the shy Japanese Robin, Siberian Blue Robin, and the White's Ground Thrush. 

Routine migrants are enroute from where they've wintered in the Asian tropics to where they'll breed as far north as Siberia. These include the Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Stonechat, and Yellow-breasted Bunting.  

Birds migrating north, generally more common on the Asian mainland in China and Korea, are readily seen. There are a number of birds in that category that we've seen during our 6 previous FONT tours on Hegura Island. These birds include: Chinese Egret, Chinese Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Hoopoe, Richard's Pipit, Tree Pipit, Pied Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, White-throated Rock Thrush, Swinhoe's (or Rufous-tailed) Robin, Dusky Warbler, Radde's Warbler, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Tricolored Flycatcher, Taiga (formerly part of Red-breasted) Flycatcher, Purple-backed (or Daurian) Starling, Black-naped Oriole, Black Drongo, Chinese Grosbeak, Chestnut Bunting, Little Bunting, Yellow-browed Bunting, and Tristram's Bunting.

A list of all the bird species (totaling 172) that have been seen during our 6 FONT Hegura Island tours during the spring (in late-April & in early and mid-May) follows, including those seen nearby from the ferry. In 2007, we added 22 species to the list.   

If you'd really like to go a place in this world, that's totally removed from everything, from hustle, bustle, troubles, whatever, Hegura is it. And it's a place that's fun to bird - a bit like a fantasy, where a birder can be completely immersed in birds. 

There's another fascinating aspect of this "bird island" during migration. It's the mingling that can be done with Japanese birders. They're very helpful in sharing what's about. And the whole experience we would have with them is one never to be forgotten. 

During a good day in early or mid-May, with a fallout of landbirds, shorebirds, and waterbirds, nearly a hundred species could be seen on the tiny island of Hegura. That's more birds during a day than virtually anywhere else in Japan. And every day can be different, each with a surprise or two, something totally unexpected.

During our next Spring Birding Tour in Japan (May 10-27, 2008), we'll be spending parts of 3 days (2 nights) on Hegura Island. The tour also includes other parts of the main Japanese island of Honshu, including mudflats with an assortment of shorebirds and marshes with singing Japanese Reed Buntings and displaying Japanese Marsh Warblers. 
As good as Hegura Island can be (and it can be very good), it's just one part of our fascinating Japan birding tour in the spring.  

A COMPLETE LISTING OF THE BIRDS FOUND DURING OUR 6 TOURS ON HEGURA ISLAND FOLLOWS.

Links:             

Itineraries for upcoming FONT Japanese Birding Tours
(including Spring 2008)

Complete list of Birds found during FONT Japanese Birding Tours 

Birds found during FONT Japanese Birding Tours in the Spring

White-throated Rock Thrush, Monticola gularis,
during the FONT tour on Hegura Island, Japan, May 21, 2005.

This species is an ultra-rarity in Japan. 
It is normally on mainland Asia, breeding mostly in Manchuria and eastern Siberia, 
and wintering in southern China, and further south in Southeast Asia. 
Note in the top photo the white patch on the throat.

(top photograph by Iwasaki Shohgo, 
other 2 photographs by Katsuyuki Genma)

This Isabelline Wheatear was seen along the rocky coastline of Hegura Island
during the FONT tour in May 2007.
The species normally occurs in central and western Asia,
and winters in Africa.
(We've seen the bird during FONT tours in Turkey.)  
Somehow, this bird made its way to Hegura Island in the Sea of Japan.
When "A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan" was published in 1982,
there was only one record of this species for Japan. 

More bird photographs are included the following bird list.

BIRDS SEEN DURING FONT SPRING TOURS 
ON HEGURA ISLAND (and in nearby waters) 
(in mid-April & early and mid-May) 

mid-apr:   April 11-20
early- may:   May 1-10
mid-may:   May 11-21 


The dates of the FONT tours on Hegura have been: 
01 - April 16-17, 2001
02 - May 6-7, 2002
04 - May 15-18, 2004
05 - May 19-21, 2005
06 - May 10-12, 2006
07 - May 9-12, 2007

Bird names given in both English & Japanese.  

1. Pacific Loon (or Diver) ______ mid-apr, early-may  01, 06
   Shiroeri-ohamu  
   
   
2. Little Grebe ______ early-may, mid-may  07
   Kaitsuburi
   
   
3. Great Crested Grebe ______ mid-apr  01
   Kanmuri-kaitsuburi
   
   
4. Streaked Shearwater ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
   O-mizunagidori
   
   
5. Short-tailed Shearwater ______ mid-apr  01
   Hashiboso-mizunagidori
   
   
6. Temminck's (or Japanese) Cormorant ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07 
   Umi-u
   
   
7. Pelagic Cormorant ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 04, 05, 06, 07
   Hime-u
   
   
8. Black-crowned Night-Heron ______ mid-apr, early may, mid-may  01, 04, 05, 07
   Goi-sagi
   
   
9. Striated Heron ______ early-may  07
   Sasa-goi
   
    
10. Cattle Egret ______ early-may, mid-may   02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Ama-sagi
    
    
11. Little Egret ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 06, 07
    Ko-sagi
    
    
12. Chinese (or Swinhoe's) Egret ______  early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  06
    Kara-shira-sagi
    
    
13. Intermediate Egret ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
    Chu-sagi
    
    
14. Great Egret ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Dai-sagi
    
    
15. Grey Heron ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Ao-sagi
    
    
16. Purple Heron ______ early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  06, 07
    Murasaki-sagi
    
    
17. Pacific (or Eastern) Reef-Heron ______ mid-may  04
    Kuro-sagi
    
    
18. Chinese Pond Heron ______ early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  06, 07
    Akagashira-sagi
    
       
19. Eurasian Wigeon ______ early-may, mid-may   02, 04, 06
    Hidori-gamo
    
    
20. Mallard ______ early may, mid-may  04, 05, 07
    Ma-gamo
    
    
21. Eastern Spot-billed Duck ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Karu-gamo
    
    
22. Red-breasted Merganser ______ mid-may  04
    Umi-aisa
    
    
23. Black (-eared) Kite ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Tobi
    
    
24. Osprey ______ mid-may  04
    Misago
    
    
25. Crested  (or Oriental) Honey-Buzzard ______ mid-may  05
    Hachikuma
    
    
26. Eastern (or Asian) Marsh-Harrier (was considered conspecific with Western Marsh-Harrier of Europe, and was then called Northern Marsh-Harrier)  ______ mid-may  04
    Chuhi
    
    
27. Hen Harrier  (has been considered conspecific with American Northern Harrier) ______ mid-may  04
    Haiiro-chuhi
    
    
28. Eurasian Sparrowhawk ______  mid-may  07
    Hai-taka
    
    
29. Japanese (or Lesser) Sparrowhawk ______ early may, mid-may  04, 06, 07
    Tsumi
    
    
30. Grey-faced Buzzard ______ mid-may
    Sashiba
    
    
31. Eurasian Hobby ______ early may, mid-may  04, 06, 07
    Chigo-hayabusa
    
    
32. Peregrine Falcon ______ mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
    Hayabusa
    
    
33. Ruddy (-breasted) Crake ______ mid-may  04
    Hi-kuina
    
    
34. Common Moorhen ______ early may, mid-may  04, 07
    Ban  
    
    
35. Eurasian Coot ______ early-may, mid-may  06
    O-ban
    
    
36. Ringed Plover ______ early-may  07
    Hajiro-ko-chidori
    
    
37. Little Ringed Plover ______ mid-apr  01
    Ko-chidori
    
    
38. Lesser Sandplover  (or Mongolian Plover) ______ mid-may  04, 06
    Medai-chidori
    
    
39. Pacific Golden Plover ______ early may, mid-may  04
    Munaguro
    
    
40. (Red) Knot ______ mid-may  04
    Ko-oba-shigi
    
    
41. Sanderling ______ mid-may  04
    Miyubi-shigi
    
    
42. Red-necked Stint ______ mid-may  04, 06
    Tonen
    
    
43. Long-toed Stint ______  mid-may  07
    Hibari-shigi
    
    
44. Ruddy Turnstone ______ mid-may  04, 06
    Kyojo-shigi
    
    
45. Common Snipe ______ mid-apr, early may, mid-may  01, 04, 06, 07
    Ta-shigi
    
    
46. Latham's Snipe ______ early may, mid-may  04, 06, 07
    Oji-shigi
    
    
47. Jacksnipe ______ mid-apr  01
    Ko-shigi
    
    
48. Wood Sandpiper ______ early-may, mid-may  07
    Takabu-shigi
    
    
49. Common Greenshank ______ early may, mid-may  04, 07
    Aoashi-shigi
    
    
50. Green Sandpiper ______ mid-apr, early may, mid-may  01, 06, 07
    Kusa-shigi
    
    
51. Common Sandpiper ______ mid-apr, early may, mid-may  01, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Iso-shigi
    
    
52. Grey-tailed (or Polynesian) Tattler ______ early may, mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
    Kiashi-shigi
    
    
53. Terek Sandpiper  ______ mid-may  07
    Sorihashi-shigi
    
    
54. Black-tailed Godwit ______ mid-may  06
    Oguro-shigi
    
    
55. "Eurasian" Whimbrel ______ mid-may  07
    Chushaku-shigi
    
    
56. Red-necked Phalarope ______ early-may, mid-may  02, 04, 06, 07
    Akaeri-hireashi-shigi
    
    
57. Red (or Grey) Phalarope ______ mid-may  04
    Haiiro-hireashi-shigi
    
    
58. Common Black-headed Gull ______ early-may  02
    Yuri-kamone
    
    
59. Black-tailed Gull ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Umineko
    
    
60. Vega (Herring) Gull ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Seguro-kamone
    
    
61. Slaty-backed Gull ______ mid-may  04, 06, 07
    O-seguro-kamone
    
    
62. Glaucous-winged Gull ______ early may, mid-may  06, 07  
    Washi-kamome
    
    
63. Common Tern ______ early-may  06
    Ajisashi
    
    
64. Japanese Murrelet ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 04, 06, 07
    Kanmuri-umisuzume
    
    
65. Rhinoceros Auklet ______ mid-apr, early-may  01, 06
    Utou
    
    
66. Common (or Feral) Pigeon ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07 
    Dobato
    
    
67. Rufous (or Oriental) Turtle Dove ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Kiji-bato
    
    
68. Japanese (or Black) Wood-Pigeon ______ mid-may  04
    Karasu-bato
    
    
69. Common Cuckoo ______ early-may, mid-may  05, 06
    Kakko
    
    
70. Oriental (or Himalayan) Cuckoo ______ early may, mid-may  04, 06, 07
    Tsutsudori
    
    
71. Lesser Cuckoo ______ mid-may  04, 05, 06
    Hototo-gisu
    
    
72. Japanese Scops-Owl (formerly part of Collared Scops-Owl) ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 06
    O-konoha-zuku
    
    
73. Brown Hawk-Owl ______ mid-may
    Aoba-zuku
    
    
74. Grey Nightjar ______ early-may  06
    Yotaka
    
    
    GreyNightjar
    
    
75. Fork-tailed (or Pacific, or White-rumped) Swift ______ early may, mid-may  04, 05, 07
    Amatsu-bame 
    
    
76. Common (or Eurasian) Kingfisher ______ early-may, mid-may  02, 04, 07
    Kawasemi
    
    
77. Ruddy Kingfisher ______  early-may, mid-may  07
    Aka-shobin
    
    
78. Black-capped Kingfisher ______ mid-may (rare in Japan)  05
    Yama-shobin
    
    
    Black-capped Kingfisher
    
    
79. Eurasian Hoopoe ______ mid-apr, mid-may (rare in Japan)  01, 05
    Yatsugashira
    
    
80. Oriental Dollarbird  (closely related to Broad-billed Roller of Africa) ______ mid-may  05, 06
    Bupposo
    
    
    Oriental Dollarbird
    
    
81. Greater Short-toed Lark ______ mid-apr (rare in Japan)  01
    Hime-kotenshi
    
    
82. Eurasian Skylark  (on Hegura, not the "Japanese Skylark", but rather Alauda arvensis pekinensis of the Asian mainland)  ______ mid-apr  01
    Hibari
    
    
83. (Barn) Swallow ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Tsubame
    
    
84. Sand Martin  (or Bank Swallow) ______ mid-apr, mid-may  01 
    Shodo-tsubame
    
    
85. Red-rumped Swallow ______ early-may, mid-may  04
    Koshiaka-tsubame
    
    
86. Richard's Pipit ______ mid-may (rare in Japan)  05, 07
    Mamijiro-tahibari
    
    
87. Olive-backed Pipit (has also been called Indian Tree Pipit) ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 07
    Binzui
    
    
88. Tree Pipit ______ early-may  07
    Yoroppa-binzui
    
    
89. "Siberian" Buff-bellied (or American) Pipit (subspecies japonicus) (formerly part of what was Water Pipit of the Holarctic, that species now in Eurasia, Anthus spinoletta) ______ mid-apr, mid-may  01, 06, 07
    Tahibari
    
    
90. Eastern Yellow Wagtail  (subspecies Motacilla flava simillima) ______ early may, mid-may (rare in Japan)  04, 05, 06, 07
    Tsumenaga-sekirei 
    
    
91. Grey Wagtail ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 07
    Ki-sekirei
    
    
92. White (or Pied) Wagtail (mostly the subspecies Motacilla alba lugens, that has been known as the Black-backed Wagtail; also the subspecies M. a. ocularis) ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  
    Hojiro (or Haku-sekirei) 
    
    
93. Brown-eared Bulbul ______ early-may, mid-may  02, 04, 07
    Hiyodori
    
    
94. Ashy Minivet ______ mid-may  04, 06, 07
    Sanshokui
    
    
95. Pied Wheatear ______  mid-may  07
    Seguro-sabaku-hitaki
    
    
96. Isabelline Wheatear ______  early-may, mid-may  07
    Inaba-hitaki
    
     
97. Japanese Robin ______ mid-apr  01
    Komadori
    
    
98. Swinhoe's (or Rufous-tailed) Robin ______ early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  02, 04, 06, 07
    Shima-goma
    
    
    Swinhoe's Robin
    
    
99. Siberian Blue Robin ______ early-may, mid-may  02, 04, 05, 06, 07
    Ko-ruri
    
    
100. Siberian Rubythroat ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 04, 05, 06, 07
     No-goma
     
     
     Siberian Rubythroat
     
     
     
101. Bluethroat  ______  07
     Ogawa-komadori
     
     
102. Daurian Redstart ______ mid-apr, mid-may  01, 04
     Jo-bitaki
     
     
103. Red-flanked Bluetail  (also known as Siberian Bluechat or Orange-flanked Bush-Robin)  ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 06, 07
     Ruri-bitaki
     
     
     Red-flanked Bluetail
     
     
     
104. "Siberian" Stonechat ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 06, 07 
     No-bitaki
     
     
105. Black Redstart ______ mid-apr  (rare in Japan)  01
     Kuro-jo-bitaki
     
     
106. Blue Rock Thrush (red-bellied form) ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Iso-hiyodori
     
     
107. White-throated Rock Thrush ______ mid-may  (very rare in Japan)  05
     Hime-isohiyo
     
     
108. White's (Ground) Thrush ______ late-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 06, 07
     Tora-tsugumi
     
     
109. Siberian (Ground) Thrush ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
     Mamijiro 
     
     
110. Brown (-headed) Thrush ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 07
     Akahara
     
     
111. Pale Thrush ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 07
     Shirohara 
     
     
112. Eye-browed (or Grey-headed) Thrush ______ early-may, mid-may  02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Mamichajinai
     
     
113. Dusky Thrush ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Tsugumi
     
     
     Dusky Thrush
     
     
     
114. Naumann's Thrush (was part of Dusky Thrush) ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 07
     Tsugumi
     
     
     Naumann's Thrush
     
     
     
115. Japanese (Grey) Thrush ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 06
     Kuro-tsugumi
     
     
116. Asian Stubtail (was called Short-tailed Bush-Warbler) ______ mid-apr  01 
     Yabusame
     
     
117. Japanese Bush Warbler ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Uguisu
     
     
118. Oriental (or Eastern) Great Reed Warbler ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06
     O-yoshikiri
     
     
119. Black-browed (or Schenk's) Reed Warbler ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
     Ko-yoshikiri 
     
     
120. Gray's Grasshopper-Warbler ______ mid-may  05, 07
     Ezo-sennyu
     
     
121. Eastern Crowned Warbler ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07 
     Sendai-mushikui
     
     
122. Sakhalin (was Pale-legged) Leaf-Warbler ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07 
     Ezo-mushikui
     
     
123. Yellow-browed Warbler ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 07
     Kimayu-mushikui
     
     
124. Dusky Warbler ______ early-may  (rare in Japan)  02, 07
     Muji-sekka
     
     
125. Radde's Warbler  ______  07
     Karafuto-muji-sekka
     
     
126. Arctic Warbler (subspecies borealis) ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
     Meboso-mushikui
     
     
127. Blue-and-white Flycatcher ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     O-ruri
     
     
128. Asian Brown Flycatcher ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Ko-same-bitaki
     
     
129. Dark-sided (or Siberian) Flycatcher ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
     Same-bitaki
     
     
130. Grey-streaked Flycatcher ______ mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07 
     Ezo-bitaki
     
     
131. Mugimaki Flycatcher ______ early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Mugimaki
     
     
132. Narcissus Flycatcher ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Ki-bitaki
     
     
     Narcissus Flycatcher
     
     
133. Yellow-rumped (or Tricolored) Flycatcher ______ early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  04, 06, 07
     Mamijiro-ki-bitaki 
     
     
     Yellow-rumped (or Tricolored) Flycatcher
     
     
134. Taiga (was part of Red-breasted) Flycatcher _____ mid-may  (rare in Japan)  05
     Ojiro-bitaki 
     
     
135. Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher ______ mid-may  05, 06
     Sankocho 
     
     
136. Coal Tit ______ mid-apr  01
     Hi-gara
     
     
137. Varied Tit ______  07
     Yama-gara
     
     
138. Japanese White-eye ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 07
     Mejiro
     
     
139. Bull-headed Shrike ______ mid-apr, mid-may  01, 04, 05, 07
     Mozu
     
     
140. Brown Shrike ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 06, 07
     Aka-mozu 
     
     
141. Tiger (or Thick-billed) Shrike ______ mid-may  04, 05
     Chigo-mozu
     
     
142. Rook ______ mid-apr, early-may  01, 06
     Miyama-garasu
     
     
143. Carrion Crow ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 04, 06, 07 
     Hashiboso-garasu
     
     
144. Large-billed Crow ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Hashibuto-garasu
     
     
145. Chestnut-cheeked Starling ______ early-may, mid-may  02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Ko-mukudori
     
     
146. White-cheeked (or Grey) Starling ______ mid-apr, mid-may (actually during 2 of our tours in mid-May, this species was only seen once, 1 bird, 1 day)  01, 02, 05, 07
     Mukudori
     
     
147. Purple-backed (or Daurian) Starling  (rare in Japan)  ______  07
     Shiberia-mukudori
     
     
148. Black-naped Oriole ______ early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  04, 05, 07
     Korai-uguisu
     
     
     Black-naped Oriole
     
     
149. Black Drongo  (rare in Japan) ______  07
     Ochu
     
     
150. Russet (or Cinnamon) Sparrow ______ mid-apr  01
     Nyunai-suzume
     
     
151. Brambling ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 06, 07
     Atori
     
     
     Brambling
     
     
152. Grey-capped Greenfinch ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Kawara-hiwa
     
     
153. Eurasian Siskin ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Ma-hiwa
     
     
     Eurasian Siskin
     
     
154. Asian Rosy Finch ______ mid-apr  01
     Hagi-mashiko
     
     
155. Long-tailed Rosefinch ______ mid-apr  01
     Beni-mashiko
     
     
156. Eurasian (or Common) Bullfinch ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 04
     Uso
     
     
157. Japanese Grosbeak ______ early-may, mid-may  04, 05, 07
     Ikaru
     
     
158. Yellow-billed (or Chinese) Grosbeak  (rare in Japan)  ______  07
     Ko-ikaru
     
     
     Yellow-billed (or Chinese) Grosbeaks
     
     
159. Hawfinch ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Shime
     
     
160. (Japanese) Grey Bunting ______ early-may, mid-may  02, 04, 05, 07
     Kuroji
     
     
161. Black-faced Bunting ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Aoji
     
     
162. Japanese Yellow (or Siebold's) Bunting ______ early-may, mid-may   04, 06, 07
     Nojiko
     
     
163. Yellow-breasted Bunting ______ mid-may  04, 05
     Shima-aoji
     
     
164. Chestnut Bunting ______ mid-may  (rare in Japan)  04
     Shima-nojiko
     
     
165. Chestnut-eared (or Grey-headed) Bunting ______  07
     Hoaka
     
     
166. Meadow Bunting ______  07
     Hojiro
     
     
167. Rustic Bunting ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07
     Kashiradaka
     
     
168. Yellow-throated Bunting ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 02, 05, 06, 07
     Miyama-hojiro
     
     
169. Yellow-browed Bunting ______  07
     Kimayu-hojiro
     
     
170. Little Bunting ______  07
     Ko-hoaka
     
     
171. Tristram's Bunting ______ early-may, mid-may  (rare in Japan)  02, 04, 06, 07
     Shirohara-hojiro
     
     
     Tristram's Bunting
     
     
172. Common Reed Bunting ______ mid-apr, early-may, mid-may  01, 06, 07
     O-jurin