Gray Heron, (aosagi), Abishiri campground, Hokkaido, Japan.

One of the reasons we chose Hokkaido for our first bicycle trek were the reports that wildlife viewing on this northern Japanese island can be quite good. We’ve not been disappointed. Almost every morning we’ve woken to the songs and calls of birds, and our rides this summer have taken us through mile upon mile of gently rolling farmland, forested hills, river valleys and along coastlines. To date we’ve identified over 60 species of birds and have encountered bears, deer, foxes, mink, seals, porpoises and small whales. Some of the highlights have included:

• 9 Brown Bears
• over 20 Red Foxes
• Dozens of Ezo Deer
• 32 Red-crowned Cranes
• Over 20 White-tailed Eagles
• 2 Blakiston’s Fish Owls (and nighttime voices of other species of owls)
• the world’s largest breeding colony of Rhinoceros Auklets
• 3 species of cuckoo
• 4 species of woodpecker
• 2 species of snakes
• Ezo Red Squirrels (and Siberian Chipmunks)
• Peregrine Falcons
• Dall’s Porpoises
• over 100 seals
• more butterflies and moths – and more different kinds of butterflies and moths – than we’ve ever before seen anywhere

Wildflower viewing as well has been fantastic. When we return to Alaska, we’ll post more detailed articles about Hokkaido wildlife.