A White-winged Tern in breeding plumage. It looks especially striking from the back.

In light rain, three birds were flying around over the rice paddies.

The head, body, and flanks are jet black.

Watching from inside the car, I had them flying busily right in front of me.

The prey they were catching appeared to be spiders and grasshoppers.

A Pied Avocet that arrived on the late side. A reasonable number turn up every year, but last autumn and this spring were particularly busy, with a large number of individuals passing through Ishigaki Island.

Greenshanks in a fallow field. Several birds are staying.

Wood Sandpipers, which along with Long-toed Stints are among the first to arrive in both spring and autumn, were still present this late in the season.

Pectoral Sandpipers confirmed at multiple sites, with a dozen or more birds.

Black-winged Stilts also at multiple sites, a dozen or more. Most individuals are in first-summer plumage.