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

Common Hoopoe, Malayan Night Heron, Pacific Swift, Red-throated Pipit and more (video)

The second wave of Common Hoopoes seems to be winding down. Somewhere between 40 and 50 Common Hoopoes have arrived on Ishigaki this season. While searching for them I came across several Malayan Night Herons whose nuptial colouring has deepened noticeably.

Red-throated Pipit and Siberian Pipit numbers are fluctuating wildly — flocks seem to be passing through one after another. The season's first Pacific Swift and Temminck's Stint also appeared. Little Ringed Plovers are fully in summer plumage and moving through. There was a beautiful male Common Ringed Plover in summer plumage too, but I missed the shot… ^^;

For snipe it's all Common Snipe. The Pin-tailed Snipe I found on 20 February and the Swinhoe's Snipe on 21 February remain the only records, with nothing since.

Eurasian Hoopoe

A Eurasian Hoopoe looking tired, apparently just arrived on migration.

Eurasian Hoopoe

Slowly driving past the reliable Eurasian Hoopoe spots, I found one perched on a branch.

Eurasian Hoopoe

Hoopoes were thin on Ishigaki today, but numbers picked up again from the next day.

Malayan Night Heron

A male Ryukyu Crake in strong breeding colours.

Malayan Night Heron

A female Ryukyu Crake.

Red-throated Pipit

Red-throated Pipits in moult. The stages vary from bird to bird, making it a fun time to observe them individually.

Water Pipit

The moult progress among the Buff-bellied Pipits looked much the same across individuals.

Pacific Swift

A flock of around ten swifts overhead.

Temminck's Stint

The first Temminck's Stints of the season arrived as a pair.

Little Ringed Plover

The Little Ringed Plovers are fully in summer plumage now and looking lovely.

Common Snipe

Common Snipe numbers are increasing as birds cycle through.

Common Snipe

In February they came in a sizeable flock, but now they seem to be drifting in in ones and twos.

Common Snipe

A Common Snipe transitioning into breeding plumage.

Categories: 野鳥