A House Sparrow, appearing again after last year. Within Okinawa Prefecture, in 2018 I found a male on Okinawa Island at Itoman City — the first island record — and last year (2021) I found a female in central Ishigaki Island. This time, unfortunately, it was not my own find; it was discovered by a birdwatcher visiting from outside the island.

Size comparison between a female House Sparrow (centre) and Eurasian Tree Sparrows. It looks noticeably larger.

A House Sparrow bathing.

Seen head-on, the House Sparrow's pallor really stands out.

After bathing it perched on some pampas grass and relaxed.

An adult male Pink-necked Green Pigeon. It was mixed in with a flock of Oriental Turtle Doves.

A juvenile Red Knot. In the process of moulting into first-winter plumage.

Red Knots are more often seen on the coast, but they do appear in rice paddies from time to time.

An adult Dunlin. Summer plumage transitioning to winter plumage.

A flock of around ten Dunlins arrived in the rice paddies.

A small number of Red-necked Stints remain. Late juvenile plumage.