A daily record.
Featuring photos of wild birds and nature, mainly from Okinawa Main Island and Ishigaki Island

Eating on the lawn.

Perched on a tree fern — very much a Yaeyama feel.

The biting insects are getting me again. ^^;

It kept coming closer and closer, going below the minimum focus distance… ^^;

This season has finally arrived!!

It let me photograph its back too. ^^

The green vertical streaks on the right side of the photo are Yellow-striped Fireflies.

When I hide in a blind, they come quite close.

A big yawn. ^^

It was glowing deep red in the evening sun!!

A passer-by came along and it moved up into the tree.

After this, someone came by walking a dog, so it flew off somewhere. ^^;

The prey is too small to make out. ^^;

Looks like a caterpillar, maybe.

The legs are charming, aren't they. ^^

The slope is lit yellow with fireflies.

About 3 minutes, I'd guess.

Taking on the tall ferns. ^^;

A fern forest.

Fireflies on the slope.

By the end the stars were coming out, so I was able to point the camera upward. ^^;

Should have brought the Polarie.

About 3 Pleasing Fungus Beetles came out in the shot. ^^

.

.A singing male Ruddy Kingfisher.

A male Ruddy Kingfisher with something of a soft mohawk look. ^^

The male has a striking, dignified face. ^^

Three heads tall. ^^

Hiding in the shadow of the undergrowth.

Lost sight of the prey. ^^;

It was being mobbed by a Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. ^^;

A juvenile looking a little under the weather.

It seemed to have arrived recently.

The fireflies glowed as hard as they could, not to be outdone by the moonlight. ^^

In the upper left, a green tornado of Aquatic Fireflies!!

A female Ruddy Kingfisher.

A pair. Female in front, male behind.

Female in front, male behind.

They were going through what looked like a mock courtship feeding.

First-ever photographed individual. It was far away….

Female, maybe?

A Ruddy Kingfisher with a shortened lower mandible. Same spot last year too. ^^

First-ever photographed individual.

On its usual favourite branch.

I thought a male Ruddy Kingfisher had shown up, but he came empty-handed….

They mated. Courtship feeding was not observed.

The male came to the female twice, but empty-handed both times. ^^;

A female Ruddy Kingfisher calling softly for the male.

Pellet regurgitation.

After bathing.

It's a female. The male has such beautiful yellow colouring, but he just won't come out. ^^;

My first photograph of this individual. The courtship feeding was happening deep in the undergrowth.

Also my first photograph of this individual.

Hunting from a favourite perch.

Resting.

It was digging a fine nest hole. ^^

Another fledging to look forward to.

Wood chips from the nest digging.

Again today, several thousand fireflies were dancing. ^^

As the display wound down, stars began to appear. ^^

I'd love to get a proper shot of them sometime.

You can see a car reflected in its eye. ^^;

A male was with her, but it stayed deep in the thicket and I couldn't get a shot….