We’re coming up to Golden Week, a Japanese holiday in late April/early May.
n Hakodate it usually co-incides with the cherry blossoms in full bloom and is also the start of the 2-3 week spring migration peak.
The last 3 years have seen local rarities turn up during Golden Week at exactly the same spot in the west of town. The above Caspian Tern showed up 2 years ago. This is a very scarce bird in north Japan and only the second one I’ve seen here. There were loads in Hong Kong when I visited earlier this month.
Ditto Black-faced Spoonbill, which turned up here 3 years ago. 1 of only 3 I’ve seen in Japan.
It was accompanied by a Eurasian Spoonbill. 1 of only 4 I’ve seen in Japan.
And last year this Saunder’s Gull stayed about a week. 1 of only 4 I’ve seen in Japan.
I wonder what will turn up this year?
