What an amazing way to spend a morning in Tokyo in late March during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Ueno Park–birding around Shinobazu Pond and taking breaks to snack on the festive food offerings outside Benten Do (Temple.) From our first Warbling White-eye to our last White Wagtail it was a wonderful walk.
Warbling White-eyes seem to know how to pick a perfect spot to pose!
White-cheeked Starlings and Brown-eared Bulbuls Inspect the Snacks near Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park
This White-cheeked Starling took a break from mooching and rested in a cherry tree.
Several birds were investigating any crumbs or bits that fell from snacks and picnics near Bentendo, the temple located in the middle of Shinobazu Pond. So while we nibbled on some skewers of grilled meats and a type of seafood crepe rolled onto a chopstick, we could also bird watch! Admittedly, some of the birds were the same Rock Doves found in Ontario, Britain and Europe. Others like the Starlings and Bulbuls were new to me. Even the sparrows were new: Eurasian Tree Sparrows fill the niche occupied by House Sparrows in most cities I have visited.
We did see someone feeding the crows and other birds but not near Bentendo. This Large-billed Crow seems to have been ‘scalped.’ It may be an injury from a fight, a rapid moult (though not really the right season), or from disease. It otherwise seemed healthy.
Herons and Egrets Abound Around Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park
This Great Gray Heron was stalking through the remnants of last year’s Lotuses while it fished.
This Little Egret reminded me of Snowy Egrets. Both egrets have dark legs with bright yellow feet.
We also saw several Great Egrets, the same species that visits the Rattray Marsh in Mississauga in August. They were usually in flight or further away, so I will skip the photos.
It’s possible we also saw some Intermediate Egrets. As you can guess, their size is between the Little and Great versions. I’m not familiar enough to identify them accurately.
Many of the wading birds were so accustomed to people that they would walk and hunt just a metre from shore. Lots of visitors had their phones out to take really good photos.
Picnic Table Birding beside Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park
There were several picnic tables beside the pond at the Bentendo in Ueno Park when we visited. Like everyone around me, I was very pleased with all the birds that were fishing and lazing around offering great photo ops.
In addition to the Great Egrets and Great Gray Herons, there were several Great Cormorants drying their wings between dives for the carp and other fish in the ponds. For ‘great’ birds they sure were ‘common!’
This Eurasian Coot looks a great deal like Ontario’s American Coots. I can’t speak to how crazy they may be.
This Black-headed Gull will eventually have a darker head.
My favourite bird of the day was my first sighting of a Common Kingfisher. I had no idea they are so small. Luckily its electric blue back was noticeable as it perched for a few minutes on some of the old reeds.
For 2026 The Winter Duck Deadline Was After Late March at Ueno Park Tokyo
Before our trip, I had read the eBird lists for Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park. Many ducks were reported. The one that I most wanted to see was the Tufted Ducks. A single male had been seen that winter along the shores of Toronto and many people froze their fingers trying to find it bobbing in the white-capped waves amidst a hundred Scaup. I really wanted to see Tufted Ducks easily and in warmth if I could. And I did! The Tufted Ducks had not yet left on their migration when I visited Ueno Park on March 27. (They were gone though when I returned in mid-April.)
Tufted Duck hiding its tuft.
Tufted Ducks somewhat showing their tufts.
Most of the raft of Tufted Ducks was sleeping in the spring sunshine when I visited. It was a bit hard to get a photo that clearly showed their tufts but it was fun to try.
Unlike the Tufted Ducks, I had seen Northern Pintails like this one before in Ontario. They are still a handsome duck, though, and it was fun to watch it feeding. These ducks also flew away on migration before mid-April.
This drowsing Common Pochard reminded me of the Redhead ducks in Ontario. It migrated out of the area soon after we left.
This is not a Mallard–if you look at the beak, you will see a difference. This is called an Eastern Spot-billed Duck, another new species for me. These ducks were still in Shinobazu Pond in mid-April. I believe they nest there.
If It Looks Like a Duck and Acts Like a Duck But Isn’t a Duck
Perhaps it is a Grebe. This Little Grebe was one of two that I saw. About the same size as the Pied-billed Grebes in Toronto, it was diving steadily for snacks. A second one was on a small reedy island but did not seem to be nesting, yet. I’ll have to check eBird to see whether they are seen here in the summer. Yes, they are, so they probably nest here.
This Black-tailed Gull looked more like a Herring Gull than a duck. It was another new species for me.
Cherry Blossoms and Birds in Ueno Park
The cherry blossoms were just coming into full bloom for the start of the festival when we visited Ueno Park on March 27, 2026. We were lucky and admired the flowers and also the birds that were enjoying their abundance.
Warbling White-eyes like this one were throughout the park. They seem to enjoy the nectar from the blossoms. They darted quickly through the canopy which made photos a pleasant challenge.
The Brown-eared Bulbuls also seemed to savour the flavour of the flowers.
Asian Tits also flitted through the flowers but didn’t seem to stop to taste any. They may have been after insects instead.
There was a large group of Azure-winged Magpies high in the tree tops near the Tokyo National Museum but they didn’t want to come down to the lawn for a photo shoot.
This turtle wanted to be reported here, too. It certainly posed nicely!
White Wagtail Waves Good Night As We Walk Away from Shinobazu Pond in Ueno
After a long day exploring the park and visiting one of its great museums, we walked out past the pond again on our way to Okachimachi and our hotel. Along the edge of the pond, a small black and white bird raced, catching midges off the stones and occasionally from mid-air. It was a White Wagtail. I’d seen one at the Forum in Rome but only from a distance. This was much more fun to photograph!
Little did I know that I would see more Wagtails in the weeks ahead–luckly that just increased my happiness!
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