Cape Tsumeki, Shimoda

Near the town of Shimoda in Izu is Cape Tsumeki, a picturesque lookout with a lighthouse. It’s particularly famous when its daffodil fields bloom in winter - so we came in a bit of its off-season, but it was still beautiful nonetheless. The main parking lot for the cape is paid, so we chose to use the free parking lot a bit further up the road. It’s a bit more of a walk, but there’s an opportunity also to enjoy an extra walking trail along the coast. There were plenty of birds about - and the first we spotted was a meadow bunting singing its heart out on top of a tree. It almost looks like a sparrow and is supposed to be quite common, so I’m surprised I’ve never seen one before. The cape also has a small greenhouse. And of course, the Tsumekizaki Lighthouse built in 1937. And we got yet another new bird sighting on this trip (our fifth!) I had assumed this one was just a black-backed wagtail - they always like to shake their tail and I often spot them in Tokyo. As it turns out, it is…