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

White-winged Tern, Garganey, Arctic Warbler, Ruff Arrive

Autumn is well and truly here — White-winged Terns, Garganey, Ruffs and Arctic Warblers are all building up steadily and the paddies are getting lively. Snipe numbers have also jumped sharply: 40 Common Snipe against 2 Swinhoe's Snipe. I couldn't find any Pin-tailed Snipe.

White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern, juvenile. The third bird this season.

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern, juvenile.

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern, adult winter plumage.

Ruff

Ruff, juvenile female.

Swinhoe's Snipe

Among the snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe are being replaced almost entirely by Common Snipe and numbers are down.

Swinhoe's Snipe

A Swinhoe's Snipe in the distance. It may look like a Pin-tailed Snipe, but the moult stage, feather pattern and facial expression identify it as Swinhoe's Snipe.

Common Snipe

The snipe in the paddies are almost all Common Snipe. In the paddies of this area, only the two Swinhoe's Snipe above were found among 40 snipe.

Red-necked Stint / Long-toed Stint

Long-toed Stint, adult (left), and Red-necked Stint, juvenile.

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper, the most numerous species here.

Common Greenshank

Common Greenshank, winter plumage.

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt, juvenile. It is retaining a lot of juvenile feathers for this time of year.

Temminck's Stint

Temminck's Stint, juvenile. There were three birds.

Common Greenshank / Common Redshank / Grey-tailed Tattler

Greenshank, Common Redshank, and Grey-tailed Tattler — a traffic light.

Red-necked Stint

Adult Red-necked Stint. Among mostly juveniles, there was just one adult.

Pacific Golden Plover

Adult Pacific Golden Plover.

Garganey

First Garganey of the season. Likely a male in eclipse.

Eurasian Teal

A few more Eurasian Teal than before.

Arctic Warbler

A Dusky Warbler in the shrubbery around the fields. I could hear several calling, and while watching I had one appear right in front of me. Too close to focus….

Zitting Cisticola

Several Zitting Cisticolas had gathered.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallows wheeling above the paddies. Their job is to make the snipe fan their tail feathers. ^^

Chinese Sparrowhawk

Adult female Chinese Sparrowhawk. The weather has been poor and many birds unable to cross are staying on the island.

Chinese Sparrowhawk

Adult male Chinese Sparrowhawk.

Categories: 野鳥