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

Schrenck's little bittern Black-winged Cuckooshrike Ruddy Kingfisher Purple Swamphen Asian koel

GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR

Go where the birds are. The SHIMASOBA Tour launches.

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.

Max. 3 guests 4 hours in the morning Beginners welcome
Check availability and book

サシバ、ハチクマ、チゴハヤブサの渡り

昨日、一昨日と悪天候でサシバの渡りを見に行けませんでした。今日は、雲が空一面に広がり、青空は全く望めませんでしたが、サシバは2000羽強が飛びました。

サシバの他に、ハチクマやチゴハヤブサも渡って行きました。サシバもハチクマも同じような場所で越冬するのですが、ハチクマは大陸を通る経路をとるのでサシバよりも長距離を飛びます。今回観察したハチクマの幼鳥はサシバと同じ琉球弧経由で近道をいくのでしょうか? 近年、台湾で留鳥化したハチクマは、もしかしたら琉球弧コースを通るハチクマだったのでしょうか? 興味は尽きないですね。^^

天気予報によると明日は晴れそうなので、青空に舞うサシバのタカ柱が期待できます。^^

Oriental Honey-buzzard
Oriental Honey-buzzard

I noticed something large mixed in with a flock of Grey-faced Buzzards coming from a distance — it turned out to be a juvenile Crested Honey Buzzard. They rarely pass through Ishigaki-jima, so it was a treat. ^^

Oriental Honey-buzzard
Oriental Honey-buzzard

It showed me its back as well. Would love to get a shot against blue sky.

Oriental Honey-buzzard
Oriental Honey-buzzard

Most of the Crested Honey Buzzards I see on Ishigaki-jima are juveniles. I wonder if they just get swept along with the Grey-faced Buzzards?

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Grey-faced Buzzard, adult.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Grey-faced Buzzard, juvenile.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Grey-faced Buzzard, adult.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Grey-faced Buzzard, juvenile.

Eurasian Hobby
Eurasian Hobby

One odd bird in a flock of Grey-faced Buzzards — it turned out to be an adult Eurasian Hobby.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Apparently a large kettle formed early in the day, but after 15:00 there were only a few kettles of around 50–70 birds.

Categories: 野鳥

オオクイナ、コアオアシシギなど

オオクイナはなぜか10月ぐらいから冬の間は道路を横断したり、目立つ場所に出てきたりします。八重山方言では、「ファードゥル」と言い、「クワーッ」という鳴き声に由来します。

ウズラシギ、エリマキシギ、コアオアシシギは同じ田んぼにしばらく滞在中です。^^

Slaty-breasted Rail
Slaty-breasted Rail

Male Slaty-legged Crake. The base of the bill is actually green!!

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper. Numbers are low; when I do come across one in the island's paddies, it's almost always a single bird.

Ruff
Ruff

Ruff. Relatively large numbers have arrived this year.

Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper

A small flock of a few birds earlier, but on this day there was just one Wood Sandpiper.

Categories: 野鳥