Chasing Noise: Capturing Brown-Eared Bulbuls During Hanami

Brown-eared bulbuls and flowers—specifically, cherry blossoms—are a chaotic but beautiful combination. For the last few months, I’ve been itching to do more bird spotting, but life kept getting in the way. Finally, I decided enough was enough. With Tokyo deep in the hanami season, there was no better time to get back out there.

I grabbed my Fujifilm X-T3, attached the 100-400 mm lens, and headed out. My target for the day was Suginami Ward’s Zenpukuji River Green Space. It is famous for its stunning rows of cherry trees, and I was banking on finding some bird life among the petals.

The challenge of the bloom

Upon arrival, I realized one bird absolutely dominated the park: the Brown-eared bulbul. However, photographing them presented a unique challenge. They were perched high up in the cherry trees, and with the flowers in full bloom, the dense canopy gave them excellent cover. I had a big job ahead of me.

Since they were hard to spot visually, I had to change my strategy. It became a game of listening. Bulbuls are noisy, so I used their squeaking calls to identify their general location. Once I pinpointed the sound, I scanned the trees for moving branches. Only then could I raise the camera to get a closer look. It required patience, but it worked out well.

Field notes: The brown-eared bulbul

If you are looking to spot these birds yourself, here is what you need to know:

Visual ID: A medium-sized bird native to East Asia, growing up to 28 cm (11 in). They are generally greyish-brown with distinctive brown cheeks (the “ears”) and a long tail.
Audio ID: They are known for their very noisy, high-pitched squeaking calls.
Habitat: While they prefer forested areas, they have adapted incredibly well to urban environments and are found all over Tokyo.
Scientific Name: Hypsipetes amaurotis.

Gear and settings: Lessons learned

Capturing birds in such a chaotic environment required specific settings on my Fujifilm X-T3.

Drive Mode: Continuous
Focus: Single-point focusing
ISO: Auto (Base 400, Max 800)

What worked: Continuous mode was the key here. The birds jumped around constantly, so I needed to fire off rapid bursts to ensure at least one shot was sharp.

What didn’t work: In hindsight, single-point focus was a mistake. That mode is best for stationary subjects. With the bulbuls darting between branches, a zone focus or tracking mode would have likely yielded a higher keeper rate.

A note on ecology

One thing surprised me during this trip. Aside from the bulbuls, there were very few birds of other types in the park. I spotted some crows, pigeons, and exactly one Rose-Ringed Parakeet, but the Brown-eared bulbuls were undeniably dominant.

Have they pushed the others out? I’m not sure why this population imbalance exists. If you have any theories, let me know.

Summary: Photographing bulbuls at Zenpukuji River

The Location: Zenpukuji River Green Space is a prime spot for Hanami, but the dense flowers make bird spotting a challenge.
The Subject: Brown-eared bulbuls are loud and active. Use their calls to locate them before trying to spot them visually.
The Technique: Use a telephoto lens (like a 100-400mm) and ensure your camera is set to continuous drive. Avoid single-point focus if the birds are active; opt for zone or tracking instead.
The Takeaway: Don’t let the “common” nature of the bulbul deter you; their interaction with cherry blossoms offers a fantastic photographic opportunity if you have the patience.