Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 11:00 am Sep. 14 → Chichi-jima (Ogasawara Is.) at 11:00 am Sep. 15 Chichi-jima (Ogasawara Is.) at 12:00 am Sep. 15 → Haha-jima (Ogasawara Is.) at 14:00 am Sep. 15 Sep. 15-18 : Stayed in Haha-jima Haha-jima at 12:00 am Sep. 18 → Chichi-jima at 14:00 pm Sep. 18 Chichi-jima at 15:30 pm Sep. 18 → Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 15:30 pm Sep. 19
Weather : cloudy-sunny Temperature : around 30 ℃ Wind speed : 3-10m/s (at sea) Wave height : ＜2.5m
Generally, it was a very calm voyage. At off Hachijo-jima (the first day), there were strong wind and swell. The significant result was that Stejneger’s Petrel, White-necked Petrel and Bryan’s Shearwater! A White-necked Petrel looked like a Vanuatu type.
We departed fromTokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 11:00 am July 27. And arrived at Chichi-jima (Ogasawara Islands) at 12:30 am July 28. (arrived one and a half-hours late because of bad sea condition).
We departed from Chichi-jima at 15:30 pm July 28. And arrived at Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 15:30 pm July 29. Weather : cloudy-sunny Temperature : around 32 ℃ Wind speed : >15 m/s Wave height : 2-4m
Typhoon No.12 had appeared in the south of Japan. We expected that coming rare seabirds by the typhoon. The significant result was that Black-winged, Kermadec, White-necked Petrel and White Tern ! And fortunately, we could observe a Swhinoe’s Storm Petrel at close by our ship!!
Day 1 : Tokyo – Off Hachijo-jima (Izu Islands) We departed Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 11:00 am and arrived at off Hachijo-jima at 8:50 am Weather : cloudy, sunny and sometimes rainy Temperature : around 15℃ Wind speed : around 3 m/s
Day 2 : At sea – Chichi-jima(Ogasawara Islands) When we waked up, we were at off Muko-jima, Bonin Islands (800km from Tokyo). Weather : Sunny, hot and humid ! Temperature : 25-29 ℃ Wind speed : around 2m/s
Day 3 : At sea – Volcano Islands – Chichi-jima When we waked up, we were at off Minami-ioto (Volcano Islands). Weather : Sunny! Temperature : 27-30℃ Wind speed : around 1m/s
Day 4 : Chichi-jima ~ Haha-jima (an Optional) We departed Chichi-jima (Port Futami) at 7:30am and arrived at Haha-jima (Port Oki) at 9:40am Weather : Sunny! Temperature : around 30℃ Wind speed : 2-6m/s
Day 5 : Haha-jima – Chichi-jima – Off Muko-jima We departed Haha-jima (Port Oki) at 10:30am and arrived at Chichi-jima (Port Futami) at 12:40am. And we departed Chichi-jima at 15:30pm Weather : Sunny Temperature : around 29℃ Wind speed : 1-3m/s
Day 6 : At sea (off Aoga-shima) – Tokyo When we waked up, we were at off Hachijo-jima (Izu Islands). We arrived at Tokyo at 15:30pm. Weather : Cloudy and sometimes rainy Temperature : around 27℃ Wind speed : 3-4m/s
It was a wonderful voyage!! We encountered a lot of wonderful seabirds. The endemic species (Bonin Petrel, Bannerman’s Shearwater) and several rare species could be observed. We could observed Tropicbirds, White tern and Black Noddy that can be seen only around Iwo-to Islands. At Iwo-to, we looked the tragedy of war, and I prayed for the future in deepest sympathy.
Bird List
Red-tailed Tropicbird (Day3: A few birds were seen around the Minami Iwo-to.)
White-tailed Tropicbird (Day3: A few birds were seen around the Kita Iwo-to.)
Japanese Wood Pigeon Columba janthina nitens(Day4: A total of 3 birds were seen at Haha-jima. This species is endemic and endangered subspecies in Ogasawara Islands and Volcano Islands.)
Laysan Albatross (Day1: 1 bird at off Izu Islands)
White-necked Petrel (Day2: Only 1 bird was seen at off Muko-jima.)
Providence Petrel (Day6: 1 bird at off Hagijo-jima)
Kermadec Petrel (Day2: 1 dark morph bird at off Muko-jima, Day6: 1 light morph bird at off Hachijo-jima)
Bonin Petrel (Day3: about 10 bird were seen throughout a day)
Streaked Shearwater (Day 1 and Day 6 : many birds were seen)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Day 2 – 5 : many birds were seen, Day 6 :1 bird were seen)
Bannerman’s Shearwater (Day 2 : 1 bird were seen, Day 5 : 1 bird were seen ; about a individual of Day2, the face was looked whitish (suggestive of Bryan’s Shearwater) but the wings were long and body was solid. So it seemed to be Bannerman’s Shearwater.)
Bulwer’s Petrel (Day 1- 6: many birds were seen)
Red-footed Booby (Day 3: from at off Minami-iwo-to to Iwo-to several dozens birds were seen. It was the largest number around Minami-iwo-to.)
Brown Booby (Day 2-5: many birds were seen. At Haha-jima a Brown Booby was hunting in the port.)
Great Cormorant (Day 1: at Tokyo Bay)
Great Egret (Day 1: at Tokyo Bay)
Pacific Golden Plover (Day 2: about 10 birds were seen at Chichi-jima. They are regular member at Chichi-jima)
Whimbrel ? (Day 3: bird flying over the sea was seen. We can’t see.)
Ruddy Turnstone (Day 2: about 10 birds were seen at Chichi-jima. They are regular member at Chichi-jima)
Red-necked Stint (Day 4: 1 bird was seen on the beach of Hahajima)
Long-toed Stint (Day 4: 1 bird was seen on the grass ground of Haha-jima.)
Ruff (Day 4: 1 bird was seen on the grass ground of Haha-jima.)
