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

Daurian starling Lesser Whistling Duck Ashy drongo Ryukyu flycatcher Black Bittern

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

アカハラダカの渡り始まり

昨日17日まで九州へ行っていたので、本日からアカハラダカの渡りの観察開始です。仕事前や仕事の合間になるべく見に行こうと思います。^^

初日は、70羽ほどが飛びました。本番は20日過ぎです。きょうは天気もよく、北寄りの風が吹いて絶好のコンディションでしたがそれゆえに群れは遠く高く飛び写真は全て超トリミングです…。^^;

アカハラダカの観察後、川平石崎に行ったらアカショウビンがいました。この時期にしては比較的きれいな個体でした。

Chinese Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk

A beautiful adult male Chinese Sparrowhawk.

Chinese Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk

A juvenile crosses in front of me, keeping an eye on me as it goes.

Chinese Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk

This one was also a male.

Chinese Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk

A flock of about 30 birds was circling high overhead, but they were in the clouds.

Chinese Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk

This flock wasn't obscured by cloud, but it was a small group.

Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow

Barn Swallows were also gliding high in the sky.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

There was a Ruddy Kingfisher at Kabira Ishizaki. It may be getting close to the time it heads off on migration.

Categories: 野鳥

彼岸入り、秋の渡り鳥

明日、20日は彼岸の入りです。ここ石垣島でも朝晩は涼しくなっていますが、昼間は30度を超える夏日です。

昨日に引き続き、きょうもアカハラダカの渡りの観察にバンナスカイラインの渡り鳥観察所(通称カンムリワシの卵)に行きましたが、数十羽しか確認できませんでした。

また、エゾビタキやクロハラアジサシも増えてきました。

Chinese Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk

A juvenile Chinese Sparrowhawk that passed close by.

Grey-streaked Flycatcher
Grey-streaked Flycatcher

Grey-streaked Flycatchers have been increasing along the Takada forest road. I tried shooting handheld at 1200mm with a 2× extender on the 600mm. ^^

Grey-streaked Flycatcher
Grey-streaked Flycatcher

It's remarkable that the Grey-streaked Flycatcher migrates all the way from its breeding grounds in Siberia to the Philippines and New Guinea — in such a tiny body.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

A White-winged Tern was bathing in a rice paddy.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

While watching the Chinese Sparrowhawks, a juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle was also gliding at quite a high altitude. Some individuals are already independent from their parents this early.

Categories: 野鳥