We drove off to another birding spot at the Ruins of Hachioji Castle. This is an important habitat for the Black Paradise Flycatcher so it is very popular with birders. First another stop at Family Mart for a pit stop. This time there were bicyclists instead of motorcyclists, I guess it takes longer to get there on a bike. We headed to the ruins of an old castle built in the 1570's. Not much is left of the castle but a few smaller buildings and a bridge have been reconstructed. This area is prime habitat for the elusive black paradise flycatcher. Tall trees and pools of fresh water are what this bird likes. I say elusive because I have never seen so many folks with huge lenses gathered in so small an area. We walked back and forth on one of the trails with a group of 15 to 20 other birders all trying to get a good picture. I never did get a decent shot for a few reasons, first the bird likes the canopy and the trees here are 60 to 80 feet tall. Secondly it is a mostly black bird and the tree tops are dark. Thirdly the bird moves quickly from branch to branch until it works itself into a dense area of the tree and then it stays there for a while. I did remark to the guide that the people looking for the bird were acting much like a flock of birds, all going hither and yon as a group.
Many flowers were all around
I ate my Family Mart egg sandwich, it was good!
A tiny tunnel, one car at a time
The police were out and a motorcycle rider was getting a ticket
Back at Family Mart for a pit stop and there were 20 bicycle riders this time
Great tree
Crossing over a river
Big bulge in the concrete
Catfish mascot
A sign reminding everyone that capturing birds is illegal
These folks were staking out the Black Paradise Flycatcher
A female narcissus flycatcher
Brown Eared Bulbul
Big lenses camped out at a prime spot
It is roped off to the public
Some very pretty irises
Detailed and delicate
This little French bulldog was up to no good
He stopped and chomped on a stick
Then started coming up the steps before his owners cams back to grab him
Sitting and watching
It is a very beautiful spot
Thick bamboo
Great manhole covers
Two great ones very near each other
A neighborhood garden
Great choice of flowers
Tiny car
A shogun cover but not enameled
Folks looking for the bird here
The bridge that is roped off
No flycatcher here
We took a walk off into the woods
Some nice trails
Offerings
It is a Tokyo Regional Nature Preserve
The large reconstructed bridge
This may have been a weak point in the castles defences
Nice bridge nonetheless
By a waterfall and a steep ravine, this guy was painting
Don't get up too fast and loose your footing!
Back we walked
Some terraced defences
Steep wooded hillside
More birders
There it is!
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The best shot of all the attempts
Looks like thistle
A topographic map of the local area. The castle was on the high point
A tubby pooch
2 miles of walking
Back to Tokyo
Soon to be back in Toshima City
Getting sleepy on the ride home
