I spent a couple days in far northern Honshu; the weather was great and in some low-elevation areas almost every tree in the forest was in bloom – those slopes looked really spectacular. Saw one serow at 40.505629N 140.820258E. The best place for night walks is Oraise Gorge (40.53317N 140.97493E); in one night I saw True’s shrew-mole, J. weasel, masked palm civet (introduced), J. giant flying squirrel, large and small J. mice, and Anderson’s red-backed vole. Looks like rodent numbers in Honshu are picking up after a slump of last fall. Fields near forest edges were completely dug up by J. field voles, and numerous predators were hunting them at night; with a thermal imager I saw dozens of red foxes and raccoon dogs, two distant badgers, and one marten along Akita Hwy south of Lake Towada. Japanese squirrel was common, even in isolated clumps of trees and on brushy slopes; try Towada Shrine (40.434306N 140.893629E).
I checked out Ryusen-do Cave (39.860205N 141.796921E, 8:30-17:00 Nov-Apr, 8:30-18:00 May-Oct., iwate-ryusendo.jp). I was thee at night so the main entrance was closed, but I explored a side entrance about 20 m to the left (accessible by climbing a short switchbacking trail) and saw J. long-eared bats, plus lots of greater and least horseshoe bats.
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Conservation Status of Large European Carnivores
Jon Hall, , Europe and the Palearctic, 0
With thanks to Nicolas Gaidet who recommended I post this ….I was surprised and pleased to see such a...
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New Trip Report: Romania
Jon Hall, , Europe and the Palearctic, Romania, 7
Here’s an excellent report from Romania with a very impressive haul of 46(!) species as well as some killer...
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Mammals in the News
Jon Hall, , Central and South America, Europe and the Palearctic, North American, 0
Lots of good – or at least not bad – news, for once this week (unless you are a...
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New Mega Trip Report: China
Jon Hall, , Europe and the Palearctic, Oriental, China, 3
Sophie and Manuel Baumgartner just finished 40 days in China. They saw a lot. Sichuan and the Tibetan Plateau,...
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Afghanistan, 2020
Ralf Bürglin, , Europe and the Palearctic, Afghanistan, Afghanistan travel information, Panj River Valley, 1
No, I haven’t been there. But during my trip to Tajikistan I had the chance to look across the...
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Karasu beaked whales – a possible sighting
Vladimir Dinets, , Europe and the Palearctic, Palearctic, Russia, whales, 0
My friend Olga Filatova (one of the co-discoverers of karasu beaked whale) has returned from an expedition searching for...
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New Trip Report: Morocco and the Western Sahara
Jon Hall, , Europe and the Palearctic, 0
Dominique Brugiere is just back from a successful month in Morocco and here’s his report. Western Sahara & Morocco,...
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Swiss Alps – Vole ID needed
SLahaye, , Europe and the Palearctic, swiss alps vole, 3
Earlier this month I spotted a vole in the Swiss Alps at around 2300m high together with a group...
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