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

7 Oriental Plovers, Black Redstart, Citrine Wagtail, Common Hoopoe, Pin-tailed Snipe (video)

I did some birdwatching during free time on a work trip to Yonaguni Island.

The timing was good — in a short while I was able to see Oriental Plover, Black Redstart, Citrine Wagtail, Common Hoopoe, Pin-tailed Snipe, and Swinhoe's Snipe. It was all thanks to the senior birders staying on the island!!

Greater Sand Plover

Seven Large Sand Plovers arrived early in the morning at the go-to spot on Yonaguni Island. I got the message while I was at work, so I was fidgeting.

Greater Sand Plover

I enjoyed close-range views of a Large Sand Plover. A male coming into summer plumage.

Greater Sand Plover

Scratching its head.

Greater Sand Plover

Is this one a female?

Greater Sand Plover

There were seven Large Sand Plovers in total, but getting five into a single frame was the best I could manage.

Black Redstart

A Daurian Redstart — recorded on Ishigaki Island only about twice in the past.

Black Redstart

Same individual as above. It was moving between a ranch and the hedges of a private house. This female was at Hikawa, but apparently a male was also present at Sonai. I was given directions but couldn't find it….

Citrine Wagtail

There were four Citrine Wagtails on the island. A good spring migration here is heaven, but a bad one is hell. The old hands stay about a month every year, so they seem to have experienced both. ^^;

Eurasian Hoopoe

Four Eurasian Hoopoes confirmed. Nobody gave them a second glance….

Buff-bellied Pipit

A suspicious-looking pipit in the distance. The image quality is poor due to atmospheric shimmer, but I believe it is a Australasian Pipit.

Olive-backed Pipit

I heard a call and went looking — found one Olive-backed Pipit.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

The Eastern Yellow Wagtail seemed to be on bad terms with the Citrine Wagtail.

Citrine Wagtail

A Sykes's Wagtail with a noticeably narrow supercilium. The breeding plumage is beautiful.

Grey Wagtail

The Grey Wagtail was also in breeding plumage and was singing from time to time.

Black-faced Bunting

There was a Black-faced Bunting and a Siberian Bunting, but the Citrine Wagtail kept chasing them around, so I only managed to photograph the Black-faced Bunting.

Jankowski's Bunting

Yellow-breasted Buntings arrived in a small flock.

Swinhoe's Snipe

A Swinhoe's Snipe in the rice paddies.

Swinhoe's Snipe

Here, a Swinhoe's Snipe on the footpath. There's a real sense of migration about it — nice.

Pin-tailed Snipe

A Pin-tailed Snipe on the lawn.

Red-necked Stint

A few Red-necked Stints arrived together.

Eastern Cattle Egret

The Eastern Cattle Egret is also beautiful in breeding plumage.

Categories: 野鳥