Migratory Bird Season on Teuri Island

Here are some of the birds we observed on Teuri Island in May 2024.

This is a busy time of year for migratory birds on the island. One week, one species of bird is in certain parts of the island, the next week it is nowhere to be found and another appears in its place. Teuri Island in May happens to be on a migratory route, making it a real joy to explore every day.

First are the birds that arrive in early May, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
Cherry blossoms bloom in May on Teuri Island. A Japanese white-eye and Eurasian bullfinch were hard at work looking for food.

Japanese White-eye(Zosterops japonicus)
Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

In coniferous forests, blue-colored birds such as the blue-and-white flycatcher and red-flanked bluetails shine.

Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana)
Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus)

In a slightly more open area, we spotted a hawfinch.

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

The Eurasian siskin, common redpoll, rosefinch, and brambling also come to the island to feed, as seeds here are plentiful. The brambling can be seen throughout the island, but they only stay for about a week.

Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)
Common redpoll (Carduelis flammea)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibiricus)
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)

We observed red-necked phalarope in a puddle on the shoreline.

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

A purple heron made a visit to the back of a house.

Perple heron(Ardea purpurea )

In the meadow, the call of the common cuckoo echoes out.

Common cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)

We also spotted harlequin ducks along the shoreline.

Harlequin duck(Histrionicus histrionicus)

Birds visit Teuri Island one after another! This year, rosy starlings also dropped by!

Eyebrowed Thrush(Turdus obscurus)
Asian brown flycatcher(Muscicapa dauurica)
Japanese Thrush(Turdus cardis)
Mandarin duck(Aix galericulata)

 

Rosy Starling(Sturnus roseus)

From the second half of May to the first half of June, birds that come to Teuri Island to breed are busy searching for mates and preparing their nests.

Long eared owl(Asio otus)
Siberian rubythroat(Calliope calliope)
Chestnut-cheeked Starling(Sturnus philippensis)
Eurasian Woodcock(Scolopax rusticola)
Siberian Stonechat(Saxicola torquata)

It is also a relatively easy season to observe the latham’s snipe which arrive from Australia without making any stops to feed along the way.

Latham’s Snipe(Gallinago hardwickii)

In May, when many migratory birds arrive on Teuri Island, the variety of birds that can be observed changes almost daily. Visit Teuri Island in May for a chance to meet those beautiful birds!

 

Photo & Text : Wataru HIMENO

Observation : May 2024, Teuri Island, Hokkaido

★ Visit our web site of  TEURI ISLAND. ☜

Contact us to make arrangements for photographing seabirds on Teuri Island and Wildlife of Japan.

★Wildlife videos are also available on Youtube – we have the playlist as well.

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