The Japanese, so I’ve discovered, are REALLY into New Year. I’m a bit surprised given that the dates for the New Year are based around the Gregorian calendar rather than Moon/Sun phases which is more usual in the Far East. Surprised or not, what this means in practical terms is that the little village of Narita - normally the sort of quiet backwater where you have the streets pretty much to yourself - is turned into tourist central for a few days, and all because it is home to one of the largest temple complexes in this part of Japan. I have never seen so many people here before, but - again surprisingly - I did still manage to find a few decent birds in the few hours available this morning (Jan 2nd in this part of the world - and if you’re wondering why I’m writing this instead of still birding, it’s because our flight is delayed which I didn’t learn until I’d got back to my room, and I have an extra hour before we leave).
For any birders who’ve been to Japan before the following short list will seem rather ordinary, but for everyone else (unless you’re an American birder who’s been to Attu several times) it’s not too bad for just a few hours of walking - and importantly from my perspective it contains a few species I’m unlikely to see anywhere else this year.

Aside from the regular and totally expected birds like Large-billed Crow, Black-backed Wagtail, Japanese White-eye and Tree Sparrow, I found my first Common Kestrel of the year circling over the railway station at first light. In a quiet corner in the Temple gardens I found two Pale and one of each of Dusky and Brown Thrushes (Pale and Brown are particularly good to see and both were new for the year), had good views of a Red-flanked Bluetail and a group of five jittery but very lovely Olive-backed Pipits (both new), brief views of the regionally endemic Varied Tit and Japanese Bush Warbler (both new again), found three very tame Rufous Turtle Doves, and kept getting tree-top views of both Hawfinches and Siskins (both of which were new for the year). I also heard a Goldcrest, but as I’m not sure what we’re doing about audibles yet I’ll wait until I see one at home before adding it to the year list (which I think now stands at 55: a quiet start really (Corey saw as many species in about 30 minutes in California yesterday, but this is the northern winter, I’ve not birded the UK at all yet of course, and I should be in Miami for day in a week [anyone in Miami care to help me out?]) - so I’m expecting the list to grow in the next fortnight or so).

Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes

 Typical “screech” call of Brown-eared Bulbul (with Large-billed Crow at 26 secs): 560kb

Now how about a quick quiz question:

• What do you think this sound recording is of? Click here.

No prizes for getting it right, but I’ll tell you now on my first visit to Narita (many years ago) when I heard this I had no idea what it was…I’ll post the answer in a day or two.

UPDATE Jan 12th: Not a single guess! Okay, it’s actually an automated pedestrian crossing signal indicating that it’s safe to cross the road I recorded by Narita Railway station…caused me much head-scratching at first I have to tell you…