Kentish Plover, Whiskered Tern, Eurasian Spoonbill and Others
A Kentish Plover turned up that looks slightly different from the birds that breed on Ishigaki. I haven't paid much serious attention to Kentish Plovers before, but this individual stood out.
First Whiskered Terns of the season confirmed — two birds quartering over the rice paddies. A juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill is also still present; it's an individual with a noticeably pale bill. Wood Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilt numbers are up, though the peak for waders in the paddies hasn't really arrived yet this season. Little Ringed Plover and Long-toed Stint are also gradually increasing.
Isabeline Shrikes are thinning out as they head to breeding grounds. The pair of overwintering Peregrine Falcons is still here. The one-eyed Crested Serpent Eagle near my home is somehow hanging on. Ishigaki Tit appears to be busy with nesting.
Male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage. Beautiful. The breeding population in Okinawa is considerably paler.
Same individual as above. The breast-band looks like this.
First Whiskered Tern of the season. Just a hint of summer plumage showing.
A juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill. Going back and forth between the paddies and the dam.
Wood Sandpipers up slightly in number.
Black-winged Stilts also in the early stages of migration.
Little Ringed Plover is the most numerous species in the paddies.
A small flock of Long-toed Stints. Numbers should keep climbing. Looking forward to seeing them in summer plumage soon.
Adult female Bull-headed Shrike.
A pair of Peregrine Falcons has been staying for a while. The male was perched nearby too, but it was skittish and flew off.
A Crested Serpent Eagle with a blind left eye. It has somehow made it through a hard winter and is holding on.
An Ishigaki Tit that was raising chicks kept moving around near the nest while giving alarm calls.
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