GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR
We'll drive you around Ishigaki Island to wherever the birds are showing best that day. Observation is mostly from inside the vehicle, and we keep it to a maximum of 3 guests so everyone can take their time.
やっぱり石垣島がいいな。
A Crested Serpent Eagle on the way home. It had a leg ring, but I couldn't make out any markings on it….
The most dominant Crested Serpent Eagle in this area. It was driving off the other two. ^^;
Chased into a sugarcane field after being threatened, only to be pursued and driven out.
牧草の刈り取りが始まると4羽のカンムリワシとチョウゲンボウが集まってきました。^^
Eating a mantis in mid-air.
A miss.
Fighting over prey.
The pasture is so wide that the Crested Serpent Eagle is far away… ^^;
Feathers in tatters.
Caught a Sakishima stream frog.
This individual was here yesterday too. It seemed to be the strongest one in the area.
毎年、たくさん咲くところ。
There were several hundred clumps spread across the area.
Ants and millipedes were swarming all over it.
The large round one appears to be the female flower, and the smaller ones around it the male flowers.
サシバは毎年同じ場所にやってくる。牧草地のカンムリワシは今日も遠かったー。^^;
Something seemed to be on the branch.
A Grey-faced Buzzard bathed in the evening sun.
この佇む感じがかわいい。^^
There were many Ryukyu Night Herons along the forest road.
今日は、合計8羽のカンムリワシ。^^
A Crested Serpent Eagle juvenile growing up strong.
I never expected it to fly this close — quite a surprise. ^^;
A Crested Serpent Eagle juvenile that caught a crab.
An adult driving out the juvenile, which is blurred in the lower right of the frame.
Kurome.
A Crested Serpent Eagle I don't often see like this.
先日はあんなにたくさんいたのに、今日は、1羽だけ。^^;
It was caught by the wind and flew off somewhere.
2羽のクロツグミがいました。石垣島では珍しいです。 自分で発見するとうれしいもんですね。^^
It just won't come out of the thicket. ^^;
幼鳥がサキシママダラを食っていました。
A Crested Serpent Eagle flying over the pasture.
A juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle tearing apart and eating a Sakishima racer.
The prey was too big and it was really struggling.
Hunting for prey.
幼鳥が衰弱していたので救護しました。師匠と挟みうちで私が捕まえました。^^ 初めてカンムリワシを触った。
It was huddled in the same spot where I'd seen it the previous evening. It seems it didn't return to its roost and slept on the ground overnight. I called my mentor and we took it in for care.
Oh, it's coming this way!!
A Crested Serpent Eagle, seen occasionally.
There were two in the same paddy field — this is the stronger one charging at the weaker one.
クロツグミはたまに出てくるんですが、シロハラが攻撃して飛ばしてしまう…。^^; クロツグミは沖縄ではかなり珍しいです。
Considerably smaller than the White's Thrush. It was flipping over dead leaves and catching small insects.
White's Thrush. This year, as last year, thrushes are plentiful. ^^
Japanese Thrush. Fewer in number compared to the White's Thrush.
ここ数日間、石垣島では雨がやみません…。^^; でも、カンムリワシは元気に狩りをしています。^^
I was adjusting the camera settings when it flew off — panicked. ^^;
A juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle with a bad right eye.
A Crested Serpent Eagle waiting for prey from a spot where it can stay as dry as possible.
農業用水路で動けなくなっている幼鳥を保護しました。今週2羽目。 2羽とも命名権は放棄しました。^^;
The nictitating membrane of the right eye didn't seem to open fully. There are no injuries, so once its weight recovers it should be releasable back to the wild.
The adult was actively foraging even in the rain.
After eating, it cleaned its bill on a branch. ^^