There was a single Spoon-billed Sandpiper among a large roosting flock of shorebirds. I had to scan for ages with binoculars before finally finding it. ^^ When I checked at home later, I found that this Spoon-billed Sandpiper had been first recorded three days earlier on September 12th. Good timing. ^^

It was very distant, so heavy cropping. ^^ ;

Only small flocks come to Ishigaki Island, but at Higashiyoka tidal flat there were thousands of Dunlins flocking together.

Whimbrels were also resting in a group of a dozen or so.

Eurasian Curlews were there too, in a group of a few birds. On the right is a Whimbrel.

There was just one Bar-tailed Godwit, standing there alone.

Dunlins were the most numerous.

It was an impressive sight — Great Knots, Dunlins, Grey Plovers and others all taking off at once with a thunderous rush of wings.

A flock of Grey Plovers. The faint shapes visible behind them are a flock of Whimbrels.

Because it was high tide, small birds like Dunlins and Lesser Sand Plovers would touch down and then take off again, the water too deep for them.

A small group of Whimbrels.

Whimbrel landing. Large waders in flight are hard to photograph on Ishigaki Island, but with so many birds here it was easy. ^^

There were plenty of Eurasian Magpies within Saga city, but I had a hard time finding one that wasn't perched on a power line. ^^;