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

Waders at sea and in the paddies

Made a circuit of the estuary for the first time in a while. Three Red Knots, Great Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Far Eastern Curlew, Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, and Greater Sand Plover were all observed. A Pied Avocet had turned up in the paddies.

Red Knot

A Red Knot transitioning into breeding plumage. Three appearing at the same time is unusual.

Great Knot

A Great Knot also showing a little breeding plumage coming through.

Bar-tailed Godwit

A Bar-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage, with deepening reddish tones.

Pied Avocet

A Pied Avocet also turned up in the paddies. It was alone.

Whimbrel

A few Whimbrels appeared too. They were catching Okinawa mud lobsters — washed down from the mangrove stands upstream by the heavy rain the other day, most likely.

A few Terek Sandpipers confirmed as well.

Grey-tailed Tattler

Grey-tailed Tattlers were the most numerous.

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstones are present year-round, but numbers have been fluctuating as migrating individuals join the flock.

Red-necked Stint

The Red-necked Stints were still in full winter plumage.

Greater Sand Plover

A Greater Sand Plover pulling out what appears to be a geophilomorph centipede from the sediment washed in by the previous day's heavy rain.

Oriental Pratincole

The Oriental Pratincoles in the paddies were bathing. Water has been let into the field they seemed to be eyeing for breeding. They'll probably move on soon.

Categories: 野鳥