Four Gull-billed Terns, two Chinese Egrets
I took my children to the shore to catch crabs and found four Gull-billed Terns and two Chinese Egrets. Both species seemed completely unafraid — even with the kids making a racket, they did not appear bothered at all. ^^
Bridled Terns wheeling right in front of me. Three were in breeding plumage and one was in non-breeding plumage.
The crab-specialist Bridled Tern, once it has a target, hugs the ground at ultra-low altitude and creeps up on the crab.
A Bridled Tern that caught a Soldier Crab.
A Bridled Tern eating a Soldier Crab.
When it spots a crab, it wheels sharply and dives.
Soldier Crabs are abundant on Ishigaki Island. Besides Bridled Terns, Whimbrels and Grey-tailed Tattlers also take them.
Fiddler crabs were also on the menu.
The Chinese Egrets are now up to two. They were catching juvenile mullet.
The tide came in and it moved closer.
As the tide approached full, it moved to the rocky area.
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