Flycatcher Migration Happening Now! Nogyo Park, Amagasaki

After a hectic week at work with little time for birding, I decided to have a look around a small park close to home that I had read about on some local Japanese birding blogs.  The park has a reputation being reliable for passage migrants despite its small size and urban location.  Nogyo Park is located in Amagasaki city, but is actually closer to Itami city, not far from Itami Airport (see map below). 

After arriving at the park early in the afternoon, I was surprised to see a group of about eight or nine local birders with scopes and binoculars all aimed at something in the middle of a fenced bamboo grove.  Peering into the darkness between the towering bamboo stalks, I saw a tiny brown bird shoot past me just above ground level. "ヤブサメ," said someone next to me. It was an Asian Stubtail—a nice start to the afternoon.

Nogyo Park

The birding only got better, with two male Blue-and-white Flycatchers オオルリ taking everyone's attention away from the stubtail for a while.  In sunlight these birds are striking, and the "blue-and-white" in the common name doesn't really do justice to the beauty of these birds. The Japanese name does better, translating as "Great Ultramarine." Unfortunately, the only shots I could get of the flycatchers were from below when they were in the canopy, transforming their brilliant blue plumage into black.

A good afternoon of birding was topped off when a Brown-headed Thrush アカハラ (another unimaginatively named bird) made an appearance in the rose garden. 

My first clear shot of a Brown-headed Thrush 

In Japanese, the Brown-headed Thrush translates as "red belly."

The birding was good enough that I decided to return the following morning despite a less than promising weather forecast of rain and strong winds.  But as luck would have it, there was a short window of calm weather between the rain and strong winds at around 9:30.

After a 15-minute drive, I was back at Nogyo Park.  This time the park was virtually empty—yesterday's birders were nowhere to be seen.  Once again, the birding was good.  The Brown-headed Thrush was in the same area, this time feeding alongside its more common congeners: Dusky Thrush ツグミ and Pale Thrush シロハラ. 

Zitting Cisticolas セッカ and a Green Pheasant きじ were calling from the grassy banks of the river bordering the eastern edge of the park.  Walking back towards the center of the park, I saw a brilliant flash of orange.  I knew what it was immediately. I'd seen one a week earlier at Osaka-jo Park.  It was a male Narcissus Flycatcher キビタキ.  It was close; less than 3 meters away.  I was able to follow it for long enough to get a few shots.

Male Narcissus Flycatcher--highlight of the day!

Unlike its congener, the Brown-headed Thrush, Pale Thrush turn up everywhere in big numbers in Kansai during the cooler months.

Another thrush!  Dusky Thrush prefer more open, less-shaded places than the Pale Thrush.  

As predicted, the wind picked up and it was time to call it a day.  I'll definitely be heading out to Nogyo Park again. I'll keep you posted.