Japan ~ 19th Dec '15 - 3rd Jan '16

A two week trip starting off in southern Japan at Hyuga, Kadogawa, Yatsushiro and more ..
Then up to the northern Island of Hokkaido a winter wonderland with spectacular landscapes, active volcano's and stunning birds ..
Finishing off back south at Karuizawa ..

The following bird images are a taster for each species, some of these will be expanded upon in upcoming posts .. 

Vega Gull ~ Ad. W ~ Kadogawa, Kyushu

Black-tailed Gull ~ Ad. W ~ Kadogawa, Kyushu

Black-eared Kite ~ Ad. W ~ Kadogawa, Kyushu

Forest Wagtail ~ Lake Miike, Kyushu

Saunder's  Gull ~ Ad.W ~ Yatsushiro Estuary, Kyushu

Black-faced Spoonbill ~ Yatsushiro Estuary, Kyushu

White-naped Crane ~ Arasaki, Kyushu

Hooded Crane ~ Arasaki, Kyushu

Dusky Thrush ~ Akune, Kyushu

Thick-billed Crow ~ Akune, Kyushu

Red-Crowned Crane ~ Akan, Hokkaido

White-tailed Eagle ~ Akan, Hokkaido

White's Thrush ~ Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido

Kamchatka Gull ~ 1st.W ~ Abashiri, Hokkaido

Glaucous Gull ~ Juv ~ Abashiri, Hokkaido

Glaucous-winged Gull ~ Ad.W ~ Abashiri, Hokkaido

Steller's Sea Eagle ~ Notsuke, Hokkaido

Blakiston's Fish Owl ~ Washi no Yado, Rausu

Slaty-backed Gull ~ Ad.W ~ Odiato, Hokkaido

Kumlien's Gull ~ Ad.W ~ Odiato, Hokkaido

Spot-billed Duck ~ Serow, Karuizawa

The people are truly wonderful, caring, courteous and always polite something that the majority of the U.K. positively isn't ..!!
Everywhere is clean, the roads, buildings and back streets even when there is virtually NO bins anywhere, again the majority of the U.K. positively isn't ..!!

Japan is a beautiful place go see it ..   

Meiji Jingu shrine entrance ~ Shibuya

Meiji Jingu ~ Shibuya

Hyuga

" NO BIRDS THIS WAY " so we spent a day here !!

Kadogawa

Kadogawa

Hyuga

Takaharu

Yatsushiro

Hamacho, Kushiro

Akan, Kushiro

Teshikaga

Tsurui

Teshikaga

Teshikaga

Lake Kussharo

Asahidake, Nakashibetsu

Asahidake, Nakashibetsu

Notsuke looking across at Asahidake

Notsuke looking across at Asahidake

Habomai, Nemuro

Habomai, Nemuro

Habomai, Nemuro

Futaoki, Nemuro

Futaoki, Nemuro

Mt. Asama, Karuizawa

Sengataki Falls, Karuizawa

Sengataki Falls, Karuizawa

2m long icicles, Sengataki Falls

Sengataki Falls

Sengataki Falls

Narita

Narita

A return trip to this wonderful country is a must, to spend more time at specific locations focusing more on the photography of the target species ...

RB & JJ organised a precision and well executed trip, even if some of it wasn't to my tastes, I just sat back and enjoyed the ride ..