Slaty-backed Gull

―Photo: Shigeki　Sogame 　　　

　Many waterfowl winter in the Bay of Tokyo. It is very convenient for those who visit the Tokyo area in winter to birdwatch around a few good sites along Tokyo Bay in a day.
　Kasai should be the first stop for such a birdwatcher. Kasai Rinkai Park is located around the natural environment of the seashore at Kasai. You can expect the sighting of Little Grebe, about ten species of ducks including occasional Smew, herons and egrets, Coot, Common Gallinule, some shorebirds, Rufous Turtle Dove, Brown-eared Bulbul, Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian Redstart, Pale, Brown and Dusky Thrush, Bush Warbler, Black-faced Bunting, Oriental Greenfinch, Gray Starling, Azure-winged Magpie, Jungle Crow, and so on. Also, Marsh Harrier occasionally flies around over the reedbeds.
　Kasai Marine Park, which directly overlooks the horizon of Tokyo Bay, is another park adjacent to Kasai Rinkai Park. Masses of Great Crested Grebe and Greater Scaup are an overwhelming view. There are several species of gulls including Black-tailed and Slaty-backed Gull on the posts sticking out of the sea. The flocks of Eared Grebe are to be seen most of the times, while Red-necked and Horned Grebe are less common. You will be able to enjoy different species of birds at each of the parks.
　Kasai provides not only a perfect introduction to the common birds, but also a possibility of rarities. Two young Black-faced Spoonbill wintered there a few years ago.

　When you are satisfied with birdwatching in Kasai, you should visit other birding sites around Tokyo Bay according to current information.
　Nowadays, some Saunders's Gull visit Yatsu-higata every winter; the largest flock of about eighty Oystercatcher in Japan is often there in Sanbanze; you will be able to see a variety of waterfowl at close range in Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park; some rarities occasionally turn up at the mouth of the Tama and the Obitsu River. You can visit one or two of them in addition to Kasai in a day by car.

　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Spot-billed Duck　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A Cloud of Ducks　

―Photos: Tatsunori Tada 　
　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Japanese White-eye

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　―Photo: K. Fukuda