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.
仕事の合間に大浜海岸に行きましたが、潮があまり引いておらずシギチほとんどおらずシロチドリとキョウジョシギぐらい。ほかは、エリグロアジサシが水浴びをしていたり、コアジサシが5羽ほど休憩したりしていました。
A Black-naped Tern bathing.
They came as a pair and left as a pair.
A flock of Kentish Plovers was milling about on the beach in the foreground.
リュウキュウアカショウビンはどこも抱卵中。現在、5巣ほど観察中。
友達のコーヒー農園のアカショウビンが営巣中で、かなり大きく成長して巣立ちも近いとのことなので、明日は、午前中からブラインドに入ります。^^
It wasn't carrying food back to the nest, so the chicks have probably not hatched yet.
It had been bathing, but then someone came along walking their dog off-leash and it disappeared somewhere…
石垣島のフクロウの仲間も順調に営巣中です。アオバズクはアカショウビンの巣を観察していたらなんと頭上にやってきました。^^; こちらも、どこか近くで営巣しているのでしょう。アオバズクの営巣は3巣観察中。
コノハズクは、4巣ほど観察中です。7月下旬頃には巣立ちでしょうか。2枚目のコノハズクは思いもよらぬ明るい場所に止まっていてびっくり。^^;
For some reason, a Ryukyu Scops Owl froze with its right foot extended.
I was surprised to find it perched right in front of me. I watched and photographed it for a while — it seemed very relaxed.
A Brown Hawk-Owl appeared overhead. It had just stopped raining heavily, so perhaps it came out to dry its feathers?
A Ryukyu Scops Owl among the green. Quite charming.
A cool-looking profile of a Ryukyu Scops Owl. Both the Brown Hawk-Owl and the Ryukyu Scops Owl are wonderfully expressive.
When it closes its eyes with a smiling expression, it is genuinely relaxed and asleep. When it closes its eyes in a straight line, it is actually on guard and watching you through half-open eyes.