Jeju Birds: 2025-01: Kyoto and Osaka, Japan

2025-01-30

2025-01: Kyoto and Osaka, Japan

We visited Kyoto and Osaka during the last week of January. While it wasn't strictly a birding trip, birding did indeed happen as it does for traveling birders. I had four targets (Japanese Woodpecker, White-bellied Green Pigeon, Grey-headed Lapwing, Green Pheasant), and dipped on all of them despite spending time in appropriate habitat and areas with very recent sightings on eBird. Living in Korea, there aren't many other options for lifers in this area in winter as there is a very significant overlap of species between the two countries.

However one surprise was a group of 20 Red-billed Leiothrax in Arashiyama area, not a native species but certainly cute and a new one for me. Some surprise Japan ticks for me were Brown-headed Thrush (strictly a spring migrant in Korea, and perhaps also in fall but not recorded often), a Brown-cheeked Rail that jumped out right in front of me at a wetland, and a pair of very confiding Grey Buntings (regularly overwinters in the southern coastal region of Korea, but usually very shy and difficult to see). Really wonderful to revisit some famous sites and eat delicious food, and overall a great visit.

eBird trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/383695