Tiger Shrikes and Manchurian Bush Warblers

Late migrants were still pouring through Hegurajima last weekend (Sunday June 4th), Kamchatka Leaf Warblers were abundant, I had three Manchurian Bush Warblers and saw three or four Tiger Shrikes. There were at least five of the latter on the island. There were also several cuckoos around, both Common and Oriental. However many of the commoner Japanese spring migrants had all but dried up, I only saw one Asian Brown Flycatcher, there were no Blue and White or Narcissus and only locally breeding buntings remained.


The relatively large number of Tiger Shrikes was a surprise. I was delighted to actually see the first of them after hearing it in dense cover in the middle of the island. Later I heard a second towards the north end but only got a glimpse as it dived into cover. About 100 metres on I came across two more together but I couldn't tell if one of them had been the bird I'd just seen. These two birds offered better views and I was finally able to get a shot of one of them.

One of several Tiger Shrikes on the island.

Manchurian Bush Warbler isn't a rare bird in Japan (it winters in the extreme south of the country) but it's a scarce enough migrant to be noteworthy. I first heard one while walking along the coastal path but it was too far off to have any hope of seeing. Then later, again at the south end of the island, a more obliging bird was singing beside the centre path, another a little further into the thickets was responding to it's song.

Manchurian Bush Warbler.

It's interesting to compare those images with another borealis (same song) I saw on Yonaguni a few years ago on April 8th. The Yonaguni bird looks far warmer in colouration, perhaps two months could account for that difference, but also looks much heftier with a more powerful bill. Though there's significant difference in size between male and female both of these birds were in full song and so ought to be of comparable size I'd have thought. Incidentally I've only ever once heard cantaurians song, a bird on Mishima a few years ago that was impossible to see in dense secondary growth.

A powerful-looking borealis on Yonaguni a few years ago.

Another poor quality sound recording of call and song courtesy of my iPhone.

Marsh Grassbird to acros

Marsh Grassbird used to be a scarce winter visitor to Ogura when I first arrived in Kyoto but it no longer seems to occur. There used to be 3-4 Japanese Reed Bunting each winter in the same area too but I haven't seen one for over 15 years. Given their similar breeding range and habitat it's interesting that both should drop off the local birding map.

Marsh Grassbird display flight, Hotokenuma, Aomori, 7 August 2009.

It was a pleasant surprise that such a localised species was so numerous at Hotokenuma.

Asian Stubtail is quite a common breeder on the hills around Kyoto. It's a forest floor skulker but not shy and can be easily call in.

A poor shot of a migrant Asian Stubtail on Mishima, Yamaguchi. 1 May 2010.

Japanese Bush Warbler is a very common species in and around the city. I've yet to see Korean Bush Warbler here but I have seen ssp borealis on Hegurajima in October so they certainly could occur. I've also heard singing Cettia c. canturians (Manchurian Bush Warbler) on Mishima in spring.

Japanese Bush Warbler in the Kyoto botanical gardens, 3 February 2013.

The nominate race diphone on Chichijima, Ogasawara. A potential split.

Korean Bush Warbler C.c.borealis on Yonaguni, early April 2013.

Pleske's Warbler is the only locustella breeding in Kansai, on islands off the Kii Peninsular. Others are possible on migration, Lanceolated has occurred in Osaka Castle Park for example and I've seen a Middendorff's at Ogura, but none should be expected.

Some years quite a number of Middendorff"s pass through Hegurajima and sometimes just sitting in the undergrowth is enough to get reasonable views. 10 October 2010.

Middendorff's on Hegurajima, 14 October 2013.

Pleske's Warbler, Wakayama, July 2007. The bill is obviously much larger than that of Middendorff's.

Pleske's Warbler, Wakayama, 23 June 2013.

Oriental Reed Warbler is the only breeding acrocephalus in Kansai and it's common in suitable habitat. I once heard about six Black-browed Reed Warblers singing in May at a site near Kyoto city and more recently a summer bird at Lake Biwa.

Oriental Reed Warbler at Ogura, Kyoto city, 3 May 2004.

Oriental Reed, Mie 14 August 2014. 

Oriental Reed, Lake Biwa 7 June 2014.

Breeding Black-browed Reed Warblers at Hotokenuma, Aomori, 7 August 2009.

Migrant Black-browed Reed Warbler on Hegurajima, 7 October 2011.