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.
昨年は1羽だけでしたが、今年はペアでやってきました。
A male Blakiston's Fish Owl. The left eye is injured.
The female Blakiston's Fish Owl. After receiving a fish from the male as a courtship feeding, she flew off immediately.
When the sun rose, a crow caught a fish. It's one size larger than the crows on Ishigaki Island. ^^;
朝方はマイナス15℃まで冷え込みました。石垣島を出発する時は、20℃以上あったのでものすごい温度差。^^;
そんな寒いところでも小さな鳥たちは元気に飛び回っていました。
A male Great Spotted Woodpecker.
A Eurasian Treecreeper turned up while I was watching the Ural Owl.
A Long-tailed Tit also appeared, but I was shooting from directly below… ^^;
Eurasian Jay.
虹別のエゾフクロウ。他に、標茶、中標津、釧路など4カ所を回りましたがどこも留守。^^;
Ural Owl at Nizubetsu.
There was just one. I'd love to see a pair side by side someday.
今回はキタキツネをたくさん見ました。
It leapt and caught a mouse.
I also saw two Red Foxes together a few times.
Hokkaido Sika Deer were everywhere. There were especially large numbers around Lake Furen.
Sika Deer at sunset.
鶴居村、阿寒町でタンチョウ。
It was bitterly cold….
Big, aren't they.
A White-tailed Eagle came to steal food from the Red-crowned Cranes.
Black Kites also came after the food, but the sheer presence of the White-tailed Eagles seemed to keep them from getting much.
It looks like the avian flu has died down — this time, the swans were no longer being chased off by snowmobiles.
5時ごろ出港し、晴天にも恵まれ日の出とオオワシ、オジロワシが見られました!!
Just before sunrise. The eagles are already up and about on the drift ice.
It's not a Crested Serpent Eagle, but is this the kind of scenery that inspired the song "Washi nu Tuidushi"?
Steller's Sea Eagle at dawn.
A juvenile Steller's Sea Eagle with the Shiretoko mountain range behind it.
White-tailed Eagle.
A close-up of a White-tailed Eagle. What a dignified look.
White-tailed Eagle standing on drift ice.
Steller's Sea Eagle flying toward me. Everything about it is enormous. ^^;
Juvenile White-tailed Eagle.
Two Steller's Sea Eagles in battle. Quite fierce.
Juvenile Steller's Sea Eagle and adult Steller's Sea Eagle. It ended with just a minor skirmish.
Enormous. ^^;
Rugged. ^^;
White-tailed Eagle flying toward me.
Wingspan about 2 metres.
Head-on, the face has a surprisingly endearing quality. ^^
Steller's Sea Eagle body-slamming a White-tailed Eagle.
Steller's Sea Eagle landing on the ice.
Aerial combat between Steller's Sea Eagles. Talons fully extended.
数羽の群れがあちこちに。
Moulting has begun and it's looking rather scruffy. ^^;
求愛シーズンなのですが、カップルになかなか巡り合えず。
Looks cold, body and soul… ^^;
Is this one single too, I wonder?
道路沿いの芝生にクロウタドリが。島内2カ所は毎年渡ってくるな。もう1カ所は牧場。シロハラやアカハラと同じような環境が好きなようです。
A jet-black bird. With birds that are pure black or pure white, they look better without direct sunlight hitting them. ^^
ヤツガシラの季節がやってきました。3羽見たのですが、写真におさめられたのは2羽だけ。
公園でトラツグミも見たんだけど、数秒現れた後、薮に入って出てこなくなりました…。^^;
I was driving along when I spotted a Eurasian Hoopoe being relentlessly chased by a crow, so I followed them. ^^
A Eurasian Hoopoe was perched in a banyan tree in the park. Afterwards it was startled by a person and flew off somewhere.
昨日とは別の場所にヤツガシラいました。1羽だけ。^^
A Eurasian Hoopoe with adorable round little eyes.
It buries its bill this deep into the ground when foraging!!
Impressive crest.
Taking a rest in the shade. ^^
オスが捕まえたオオヒキガエル(特大)をメスが横取り。^^;
The male Crested Serpent Eagle drops a large Asian Common Toad after being charged by the female. ^^;
The male in the background looks forlorn….
地面にいることが多いクロウタドリですが、枝に止まってくれました。
A charming Common Blackbird.
The characteristic posture of a thrush. The deep bluish-black is beautiful.
昨年、野球場にネットがかかり、環境が大きく変化しましたが、その柱をおおいに利用しています。 昨年は幼鳥羽 でしたが、今年は見事な成鳥羽になって島に戻ってきてくれました。今年で2才ですね。
こうして毎年戻ってきてくれると嬉しいですね。^^
Same as last year, even as a juvenile this individual shows little fear of people.
It seemed to have lost its prey and stood frozen for a while.
またまた、別のヤツガシラ。今年は多いです。隔年の周期で多いのかな?
Stretching as if to show off its vivid plumage. ^^
昨年、2羽のカンムリワシの幼鳥を保護( シーラ放鳥 と 崎ちゃん放鳥 )したのですが、そのうちの1羽( シーラ)と思ったのですが、左足に赤い脚環をしているので、どうやらアッガイみたいです( アッガイ放鳥 )。ちなみに、この アッガイをサイクリストの女性が保護しているところを通りかかり、「環境省に電話しましたか?」とたずねたらすでにされていました。さすが、石垣島のひとは対応が早いです。^^
It has a leg ring on its left foot. Probably Aggai, I think.
It stared intently at the paddies where Sakishima rice frogs were calling.
久しぶりのハチジョウツグミ。
The branch is in the way. ^^;
サギの中では、羽ばたきが速くリズミカルなんで遠くで飛んでてもわかります。
A Chinese Pond Heron coming into breeding plumage.
独身カンムリワシかな?
It was along the forest road. Didn't budge even when a walker passed right by. ^^;
たまにはサギなども。^^;
The plumes were fully developed.
コチドリがたくさん田んぼにいました。^^
A flock of about 30 in the paddies.
初撮影に行ってきました。下見は、10日ほど前から行っているのですが、昨年よりかなり少ないです。
また、19:10ごろ今年初のリュウキュウアカショウビンの鳴き声が聞こえました!!
Hmm. Not many. ^^;
Things really get going once April arrives.
ペアだと思われるカンムリワシ。
昨日、アカショウビンの初鳴きを聞いたので林道を探すのですが、カンムリワシだけ。^^;
A Crested Serpent Eagle hunting along the forest road.
A pair with the Crested Serpent Eagle above.