We saw the mountain thrusting through the clouds as we flew to and from Shikoku. The most interesting sighting was a couple of foot or more long, fluorescent purple earthworms, Siebold’s Earthworm (Google it). Other birds were also scarce causing frustration. It was so elusive that we spent hours looking for it, but only heard it call distantly twice. The island is Japan’s fourth largest, and the goal was the Fairy Pitta, an elusive, but beautiful bird. Our first stop was the area near Kochi, Shikoku Island southwest of Tokyo. Each place had a little brazier that cooked meat and vegetables in a broth heated by a candle. These consisted of an array of small portions of traditional items with sauces or soups. We had wonderful traditional Japanese dinners and breakfasts a few times. Lunches came from convenience stores or restaurants, while dinners came from restaurants or at the hotels. The Seven-elevens did not offer Slurpees. This isn’t as bad as it seems, since the stores had a wide range of both Asian and western foods. To do this, we often had to buy breakfasts the previous night at convenience stores such as Family Marts or Seven-elevens. Most mornings started early, so breakfast was delayed or eaten on the road. We stayed mainly in western style “business” hotels with one memorable night in a traditional Japanese inn. ![]() In one case, we took an overnight ferry to an island. ![]() The nine of us (7 clients, 2 guides) traveled in small buses and by air. ![]() There is an extensive intra-country air system and excellent highways, so travel is easy. Most of us don’t realize that these islands are quite mountainous and forested with the population concentrated in a relatively small portion of the land. We all know that Japan is an industrialized, first world country made up of several islands off the coast of Asia. Our guides on both trips were Phil Gregory and Jun Matsui. The second trip was pointed more at breeding residents as well as some unusual and rare endemics. The first in February, 2014, had the goal of seeing the wintering migrants such as the White-naped, Hooded, and Red-crowned Cranes, and the Steller’s Sea Eagle as well as regular residents. My wife, Chris, and I have just returned from a 17 day birding trip to Japan that was offered by Field Guides, Inc., Austin, TX ( This was our second trip there.
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