A daily journal.
Mainly introducing wild birds of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, through photos.

Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Short-eared Owl and other wintering raptors (video)

The raptors that winter on Ishigaki Island are now all showing up: Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Grey-faced Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, and more.

The ducks, Eurasian Coots, and small birds that serve as prey are on edge whenever a raptor appears.

Upland Buzzard

Juvenile Upland Buzzard. One appears every year, but this individual is not very wary and is easy to observe and photograph.

Upland Buzzard

The brown leggings characteristic of the Upland Buzzard are conspicuous.

Upland Buzzard

An Upland Buzzard in flight against a backdrop of Yaeyama palms. A sight you can only see on Ishigaki Island. ^^

Upland Buzzard

An Upland Buzzard stooping.

Upland Buzzard

The white patch on the primaries is clearly visible too.

Upland Buzzard

Flying low over the rice paddies.

Upland Buzzard

An Upland Buzzard returning to the leftover Cattle Egret it had not finished eating.

Saker Falcon

Male adult Peregrine Falcon (Siberian).

Saker Falcon

The female paired with the individual above.

Short-eared Owl

A Short-eared Owl that turns up every year. Last year there were three in the same paddy field, but this year just one. You can't see it in the photo, but it's in the middle of eating a mouse.

Northern Boobook

A Brown Hawk-Owl that was right beside the Short-eared Owl above. The two took no notice of each other.

Hen Harrier

A Hen Harrier that had landed in the paddy field.

Common Kestrel

A Common Kestrel targeting a small bird.

Siberian Stonechat

A female Siberian Stonechat on alert for the Common Kestrel.

Water Pipit

The flock of Buff-bellied Pipits panicked when the kestrel came in. Because the kestrel kept shuffling them around, I couldn't get a shot of the Red-throated Pipit that had been in among them… ^^;

Grey-faced Buzzard
Crested Serpent Eagle

The north wind was strong, and this Crested Serpent Eagle, raised in the tropics, looked cold.

Isabelline Shrike

A first-winter Isabelline Shrike.

Categories: 野鳥