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

Pheasant-tailed jacana Crested serpent eagle Iriomote Tit Eurasian Hoopoe Pied Avocet

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、ハチクマの渡り

2時間ほど時間が空いたので、仕事中にバンナの渡り鳥観察所でサシバの渡りを見てきました。少し時間が早かったので、100羽ほどしか確認できませんでしたが、ハチクマを1羽見ることができました。 先日のハチクマ と比べてみると初列風切の破れ具合と尾羽の模様が違うので別個体のようです。

Oriental Honey-buzzard
Oriental Honey-buzzard

It appears to be a different individual from the Oriental Honey Buzzard the other day.

Oriental Honey-buzzard
Oriental Honey-buzzard

The pattern on the back looks slightly different too.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Today's Grey-faced Buzzards seemed to be mostly adults.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Numbers were low and they never formed an impressive kettle.

Categories: 野鳥

クロハラアジサシ飛翔

熱研近くの宮良川をクロハラアジサシが上流と下流を行ったり来たりしながら餌となるバッタなどを捕まえていました。橋の上に車を止めて橋を越えようと私と同じ目線になったところで撮影しました。なぜかクロハラアジサシは橋の下をくぐらずに必ず高度を上げて橋を越えていきます。

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

White-winged Tern in winter plumage. They look like they're fluttering along lazily, but the approach speed is surprisingly fast and they're overhead and gone in an instant. ^^; Even so, the autofocus on the 1D X and 600mm combo locked onto the White-winged Tern and never let go. ^^

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

Fully in winter plumage — the salt-and-pepper head. ^^

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

They occasionally rest on the bridge railing, but the moment a Grey-faced Buzzard passes overhead they all take off at once.

Categories: 野鳥

メボソムシクイ

今年はサシバの渡りを観察するバンナスカイラインの渡り鳥観察所からメボソムシクイの群れがよく観察されます。私は眼鏡をしても視力が、0.7に届くか届かないかなので師匠が見つけてくれました。今年はこの観察所の下をメボソムシクイがよく通ります。

ウグイスらしきのも通ったのですが、すぐに藪にもぐってしまい撮影には至りませんでした。

Japanese Leaf Warbler
Japanese Leaf Warbler

Kamchatka Leaf Warbler can be quite tricky to photograph, but shooting from above means no branches in the way — much easier. ^^

Japanese Leaf Warbler
Japanese Leaf Warbler

They were moving through the trees in a small flock of a few birds, apparently catching small insects and the like.

Categories: 野鳥

ツルシギ、アオアシシギ、ジシギ

アオアシシギの群れにツルシギ幼鳥が1羽交ざっていました。近くにアオアシシギの白化個体がいたのですが、稲の影で写真を撮らせてくれませんでした。^^;

ジシギは多分チュウジシギと思われます。

Spotted Redshank
Spotted Redshank

The one in the middle is a Spotted Redshank juvenile.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Common Snipe, maybe.

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

A Common Greenshank was dozing.

Categories: 野鳥

サシバの渡り

今日もサシバの渡りを見てきました。場所もいつものバンナスカイラインです。数十羽の群れがいくつか出るのですが、いまいち絵になるタカ柱にはなりませんでした。かなりの数がねぐら入りしたので明日も渡りが楽しめるでしょう!!

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

A juvenile Grey-faced Buzzard glowing in the evening sun. What a stunning bird. ^^

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

With a northerly wind blowing, there were few Grey-faced Buzzards I could shoot in good light.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Even when a kettle formed, it was at most just a few dozen birds.

Categories: 野鳥