Our last adventure in Japan was to fly into the Kagoshima airport on the southern island of Kyushu and bird between there and Izumi. We were searching for wintering cranes at the Izumi Crane Observation Center, ducks and forest birds at the Kogawa dam, and then finished up our trip at the Kagoshima Prefectural Forest. What a way to end an exciting trip!

Adventure begins at: 8:00

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Tufted Puffin Walks
eBird Big Day; GoBirdingTeam
Koko Stay Izumi
Izumi Crane Observation Center
Koji Tagi Japan Bird Guide

eBird Trip Report

Intro Bird Call: Varied Tit (Recorded Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Green Pheasant (Recorded Japan, February 2026)

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Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Hokkaido has a lot of really neat birds and one-in-a-lifetime experiences. The Steller's Sea-Eagles and Blakiston's Fish-Owls what attracted us to go on the trip, but amazing places, good food, and other wildlife made it even better!

Adventure begins at: 10:20

Show notes

Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Seicomart
Hotel Live Max in Shiretoko
Shiretoko Nature Cruise
Yoroushi Hotspring Lodge

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Blakiston’s Fish-Owl
Steller’s Sea-Eagle

Intro Bird Call: Large-billed Crow (Recorded Hokkaido Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Steller’s Sea-Eagle (Recorded at sea near Japan, February 2026)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

In our first few days in Japan, we did a bit of sightseeing in Tokyo, including the Sensō-ji Temple and a few days in Tokyo Disney...just a tiny bit of birding there! We also chatted a bit about traveling around Tokyo and some tips for folks who haven't been there before.

Then we headed to Hokkaido to get the real birding adventure started! Cranes, seabirds, ducks, and owls...and freezing cold temperatures. There is so much to see!

Adventure begins at: 10:51
Tokyo and Disney: 14:00
Hokkaido adventures: 33:45

Show notes

Spring Chirp
Naturalist Journeys Go Birding with Hannah and Erik
Stephen Fry and the Kakapo
Seicomart, the Hokkaido local convience store
Senso-Ji Temple
Tokyo Disney
Tsurui-Ito Red-crowned Crane Sanctuary
Koji Tagi

eBird Trip Report

Birds/Animals mentioned

Red-crowned Crane
Long-tailed Tit
Dusky Thrush
Azure-winged Magpie

Intro Bird Call: Red-crowned Crane (Recorded: Hokaido Japan, February 2026)
Outro Bird Call: Brown-eared Bulbul (Recorded: Hokkaido Japan, February 2026)

Support the show

Connect with us at...

IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @Erikgoesbirding
Facebook: @HannahandErikGoBirding
Email us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.com
Website: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.com
Venmo: @hannahanderikgobirding

Get a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB