This is the first of three blog posts covering my fabulous 7 day birding trip to Japan earlier this month.  The trip was spurred by my search for the bird on the top of my bucket list - a male Smew.  We were successful, and this post covers that experience as well as many other great birds especially Baikal Teal and Mandarin Ducks.  Other posts will follow shortly.
https://blairbirding.com/2025/02/23/my-bucket-list-takes-us-to-japan-part-i/

Enjoy and I am happy to share info if you wish to contact me.
Blair Bernson