JAPAN!
February
4 - 15, 2024
Cranes, Eagles,
Owls,
& Snow Monkeys
CONFIRMED! One space left!
Contact
[email protected] to reserve
your space!
Trip
Cost & Travel
Planning> Registration
Form>
Tour
Registration,
Terms, Cancellation
Policies>
To
visit Japan in winter
is a unique and wonderful
experience. Tens of thousands
of Cranes of at least
5 species can be seen
dancing and displaying
on the snowy fields or
flying into roost against
the backdrop of glorious
sunsets. As well as the
highlight of seeing these
cranes, we will also
get to see the awesome
Steller’s
Sea-Eagles and hordes
of seabirds, and winter
ducks on Hokkaido. Our
stay at Rausu will give
us opportunities to see
the highly sought after
Blakiston’s
Fish-Owl right from our
bedroom windows. We will
take the famous Bullet
Train to see the ever
popular and famous Snow
Monkeys (Japanese Macaques)
of Jigokudani as they
entertain us in their
hot thermal pools. Among
the many special birds
here we will look for
Japanese Accentor, Baikal
Teal, the very difficult
Copper Pheasant, plus
a short boat trip to
see Japanese Murrelet
near their
breeding grounds.
This trip will be filled
with stunning scenery,
and many photographic
opportunities, which
will include several
very special birds.
It’s with great
delight that once again
we have used the expert
knowledge of our friends
at Birdquest to set up
this amazing itinerary
which will focus on seeing
an amazing variety of
winter specialties.
Their years of experience
in running numerous successful
tours to this country
will see us in good hands
and our guide Dave Farrow
(Birdquest) has led many
tours, including our
2017 tour to this fascinating
country.
Japan
is a very expensive country
to visit and we are very
happy that our tour
costs represent great
value, especially as
they include all of the
internal flights.
Join
us on a Sunrise Birding tour
to experience the winter wonders
of Japan!
ITINERARY
Day
1 • Arrive
Tokyo, Japan
Please plan on an arrival
day of the 4th Feb to Haneda
International Airport,
Tokyo.( Airport code: HND).
Note that this is purely
an arrival day and no activities
are planned. The official
start of the tour will
be meeting at the lobby
of the Royal Park Hotel
which is adjacent to Haneda
Airport. Time will be advised
once we have our train
tickets reserved. Note
the tour starts with breakfast
(tomorrow) on Feb 05th.
Night Royal Park Hotel,
Haneda Airport International.
Day
2 • Bullet
train to Karuizawa
We will meet up in the
lobby of the Royal Park
Hotel (time to be advised)
and then transfer by shuttle
to the train station.
We will then take the famous
Bullet Train to the City
of Karuizawa approx 1hr.
On arrival we will transfer
to our minibuses and make
a few birding stops along
the way to Yudanaka which
is close the famous Snow
Monkey reserve. We should
get to see our first birds
which could include Rustic,
Meadow and Black-faced
Buntings, Dusky Thrush,
White-cheeked Starling,
Varied Tit, Brown-eared
Bulbul, Gray-capped Greenfinch,
Oriental Crow, Japanese
Wagtail, Bull-headed Shrike,
Oriental Turtle Dove, and
with luck maybe Green Pheasant
or Azure-winged Magpie.
Night Yudanaka.
Day
3 • Jigokudani
Snow Monkeys / Karuizawa
Today we head to Jigokudani
the world-renowned place
to see Japans famous
Snow Monkeys. More correctly
named they are Japanese
Macaques and we will
be able to enjoy these
very photogenic creatures
lounging around up to
their chests in the hot
natural pools. It’s obviously a
bit of a tourist attraction
but well worth a visit
and a very unique mammal
experience, as family groups
sit around the pools, or
if its cold in the hot
pools, diving underwater
and playing and offering
wonderful photo opportunities.
There will be a few birds
around such as Eurasian
Treecreeper, Goldcrest,
Eurasian Jay and possibly
Alpine Accentor. After
our encounter with the
wonderful Snow Monkeys
we may have time to check
a small lake for ducks
which could include Chinese
Spot-billed Duck, Gadwall,
Common Pochard, Goosander
and sometimes the gorgeous
looking Smew or Baikal
Teal. We could also see
Little Grebe, Eurasian
Coot, Great Cormorant and
the Black-backed race of
White Wagtail (M.f lugens).
We will then return to
Karuizawa for an overnight
stay. Night Karuizawa.
Day 4 • Karuizawa
Today
we will seek out all
of the special birds
of this beautiful and
fascinating area. Our
hotel has a bird feeder
and hopefully visitors
will include Japanese
Tit, Willow Tit, Coal
Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch,
Eurasian Tree Sparrow,
Gray-capped Greenfinch,
Brambling, Hawfinch and
sometimes Japanese Accentor
and in invasion years
even Japanese Grosbeak.
Nearby we will check
woodland trails that
pass fast tumbling streams
where we will concentrate
our efforts to try and
locate one of Japans
most difficult birds
the elusive Copper Pheasant.
We will need some luck
as this species is still
hunted and as such very
wary and not easily seen.
If we do not find it
here we will slowly drive
the mountain roads to
try and locate one.
Here
we also have chances
to see the strange goat
like mammal called the
Japanese Serow. There
will be plenty of other
bird species to keep
us busy with Japanese
Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed
and with luck the erratic
Pallas’s Rosefinches,
Japanese Pygmy and Japanese
Green Woodpeckers, Japanese
Grosbeak, Red-flanked
Bluetail, Brown Dipper,
Hawfinch, Pale and Dusky
Thrushes, Varied Tit,
Brambling, Gray-bellied
Bullfinch and Chinese
Hwamei. A nearby lake
and surrounding fields
will produce a few different
species and we could
soon pick up buntings
such as the superb Elegant,
Rustic and Meadow Buntings,
Black-backed and Japanese
Wagtails, Daurian Redstart,
White-cheeked Starling
and some commoner ducks.
With luck we could also
find Japanese Accentor
or Solitary Snipe. Night
Karuizawa.
Day
5 • Karuizawa
/ Haneda / Hyuga
Today will mostly be a
travel day. After some
early morning birding around
Karuizawa to try and see
anything we may have missed
we will then take the Bullet
train back to Haneda, where
we catch a flight to Kagoshima,
and from there we will
drive to Hyuga. Depending
on our flight times we
may or may not get chances
to make short stops along
the way. Night Hyuga.
Day
6 • Hyuga
/ Arasaki
This morning we will go
in search of one of Japans
more difficult birds the
globally threatened and
endangered Japanese Murrelet.
We have several small harbors
we can check as well as
viewpoints along the rugged
coast, and because we are
near its largest known
breeding colony which is
on a offshore island and
because this is a good
time of year to find them,
our chances are high. Depending
on the weather we may also
take a boat trip a short
distance out to try and
get closer views of this
sought after species. We
can also expect to see
Black-tailed Gulls and
possible Japanese Cormorant,
Pacific Reef Heron, Black-faced
Spoonbill and Blue Rock
Thrush of the red-bellied
philippensis subspecies.
Hopefully after a successful
morning we will make our
way toward the crane capitol
of Japan and arguably the
world, Arasakai. If we
have time we may make a
few stops along the way
to look for select species
such as Long-billed Plover,
Crested Kingfisher and
if we have any news of
Scaly-sided Mergansers
we will of course detour
to try and see this enigmatic
bird. Night Arasaki.
Day
7 • Arasaki
The big attraction of Arasaki
is its huge winter gathering
of cranes which can peak
with numbers in excess
of over 10,000 birds. We
shall be woken by the bugling
calls of huge flocks of
Hooded Cranes right outside
our perfectly situated
Guesthouse, and enjoy our
first views through the
windows of our rooms or
from the breakfast table.
Because we are staying
in the heart of the reserve
we will be able to witness
huge gatherings of cranes
that include mostly Hooded,
followed by the elegant
White-naped and then a
few Common and Sandhill
Cranes. This is truly one
of the world’s great
birding spectacles with
sights and sounds never
to be forgotten. These
birds come to feed on the
maize and fish put out
for them by the reserve
warden and this provides
great opportunities to
get close up photos of
Japans famous dancing cranes.
The odd rarity sometimes
occurs and we may be lucky
to find a Demoiselle or
even Siberian Crane. The
Arasakai area also holds
a huge diversity of habitats
and as such it offers one
of the richest places for
winter birding in Japan.
Amongst rice fields, rivers,
mudflats, canals, reed
beds, scrub, and woodland
we will search for a wealth
of wildfowl that could
include the very smart
Mandarin Duck and sometimes
Baikal Teal, plus species
like Chinese Penduline
Tit, Russet Sparrow, Buff-bellied
and Olive-backed Pipit,
Black-faced Bunting (of
the yellow-bellied form,
personata), Chestnut-eared
and Common Reed Buntings,
Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian
Jackdaw, White-cheeked
Starling, Dusky and Pale
Thrushes, Eastern Buzzard
(split from Common), Eastern
Marsh Harrier, Asian House
Martin, Brown-cheeked Rail,
Ruddy-breasted Crake, Red-throated
Pipit, and if we are lucky
Japanese Quail.
Night Arasaki.
Day
8 • Arasaki
We have another full day
in this wonderful area,
so depending on what we
have already seen and what
we want to see we will
mix our time between here
and a visit to the west
coast. Along the rivers
and estuary we will search
for the delightful Saunder’s
Gull, plus other gulls
species such as Vega Gulls,
Black-tailed Gulls and
a few taimyrensis Heuglin’s
Gulls. Brown Boobies could
be seen circling offshore,
while rocky outcrops could
hold a few Japanese Cormorants.
We will search amongst
the common shorebirds and
herons to see if we can
get looks at Black-faced
Spoonbill, and then a search
amongst the many waterfowl
will hopefully reveal a
few Baikal Teal. Reed-beds
could produce small groups
of Chinese Penduline Tits
and we could try again
for Brown-cheeked Rail
and Ruddy-breasted Crake
if we missed them yesterday.
A stony river could give
us a chance to see Long-billed
Plover and with luck the
Crested Kingfisher as well
as Black-backed and Japanese
Wagtails. All in all we
will have a busy two days
based right in the middle
of one of the worlds greatest
Crane spectacles. Night
Arasaki
Days
9
-
10 • Arasaki
/
Kagoshima
/
Kushiro
This morning we will leave
behind the sight and sounds
of the thousands of cranes
of Arasakai and set off
towards our next destination.
This and the following
day will be quite a bit
of traveling as we first
drive to Kagoshima and
then take a flight to Kushiro
arriving in the afternoon.
From here we may go looking
for Ural Owl if there are
any recent sightings in
the area, and then make
our way to Kushiro hopefully
in time for our first look
at the stunning Red-crowned
Cranes. The next morning
we will have more time
to enjoy these fabulous
cranes as they fly in from
their roosting sites along
the misty rivers to be
fed by local farmers. We
have great opportunities
to witness these iconic
birds in flight and hopefully
dancing in the early morning
light. Get your cameras
ready! Later we will set
off on our drive to Rausu
with impromptu stops along
the way to look for birds
such as Pallas’s
Rosefinch, Bohemian and
Japanese Waxwings if any
have been reported. We
should also see Marsh Tit,
Japanese Tit, Long-tailed
Tit, Hawfinch, Black-faced
Bunting and the white bellied
race of Eurasian Nuthatch
asiatica. Whooper Swans
should be encountered along
the way and then as we
head toward the east coast
we will start to encounter
our first White-tailed
Eagles, Goosander and wintering
ducks, grebes and an assortment
of gulls. We will continue
along the coast to arrive
at our guest house around
dusk, just in time to start
our vigil from our rooms
or the restaurant for the
most magnificent of all
the worlds owls the huge
Blakiston’s Fish
Owl. We have two nights
to try and see this almost
mythical owl, and we have
good chances as a pair
regularly come to feed
in a small pond in the
stream that runs just in
front of the guest house.
The pool is floodlit at
night and no one is allowed
outside the building so
as to not disturb the birds
while they are fishing.
We cannot predict what
time the birds will show
which is why we stay here
allowing us to be warm
and relaxed while awaiting
this special event. Night
Rausu.
Day
11 • Rausu
Hopefully the owls put
in an early appearance
early and didn’t
keep us waiting all night.
They can make several visits
to the pond during the
night which gives us several
chances, but it is of course
wildlife so there is a
chance they will not turn
up at all. After breakfast
and hopefully a celebration
of the magnificent Blakiston’s
Fish Owl we will head out
for a trip we have organized
on a boat that will take
us just a short distance
out of harbor to the nearby
ice pack. Here we will
be treated to once in a
lifetime close-up views
of the huge and beautiful
Steller’s Sea Eagles
that congregate at this
time of year. Up to 1,000
eagles fly south from their
breeding grounds to spend
the winter in this area
and a boat trip offers
the most incredible views
you could ever imagine
of these awesome creatures.
By feeding them a few tidbits
the eagles often come within
a few meters offering incredible
views and photographic
opportunities. If we are
lucky it may even be possible
to spot a Largha Seal as
they sometimes come out
and sit on the ice flow.
If the weather or ice conditions
are not favorable then
don’t worry we can
still get incredible views
of the eagles along the
rocky coast and perched
in dead trees often around
one or two of the nearby
river mouths. These huge
eagles make White-tailed
Eagles seem somewhat small
by comparison and indeed
we should see plenty of
both species side by side.
In and around the harbors
the gulls gather and we
will spend some time picking
through the Slaty-backed,
Glaucous and Glaucous-winged
Gulls to see if any other
species are present. The
stunningly beautiful Harlequin
Duck is often found inside
the harbors and can also
provide fabulous photo
opportunities. On the streams
we can look for Brown Dippers
and hopefully we will encounter
Sika Deer or a Red Fox
before heading back and
warming up in our cozy
guest house ready for another
night of owl watching.
Night Rausu.
Day
12 • Rausu
/ Kiritappu
Our last day will see us
looking for Brown Dipper
outside of our guest house
before departing and heading
toward the south coast
and Kiritappu. We will
again pass several rivers
where perched Steller’s
and White-tailed Eagles
will vie for our attention
and then the further south
we go the more opportunities
for short stops present
themselves. On several
headlands we will scan
the sea for alcids such
as Ancient Murrelet, Spectacled
Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet,
Thick-billed Murre and
Crested Auklet, Pacific
Loon and Red-necked Grebe.
Depending on how much snow
cover and ice there is
around we may also see
Whooper Swans and possibly
even Short-eared Owl, Rough-legged
Hawk or a Merlin. Back
along the coast sea ducks
could include flocks of
Long-tailed Ducks, Greater
Scaup, Common Goldeneyes,
and both Stejneger’s
and Black Scoters. Red-throated
Loons, Red-faced and Pelagic
Cormorants can sometimes
be found and then as we
get to Cape Kiritappu we
have our best chances to
find wintering flocks of
Asian Rosy Finches. There
will be few small birds
around but Snow Bunting
and Redpoll often occur
and if it’s a good
year maybe Japanese Waxwing.
Finally we will head back
to Kushiro and take an
evening flight back to
Haneda, Tokyo where this
tour will conclude after
dinner in an airport restaurant.
Please see arrival/departure
information below.
Photos:
Steller’s
Sea Eagle in flight, Japanese
Murrelet and Asian Rosy
Finch by Pete Morris (Birdquest),
All other photos by Steve
Bird.