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

Iriomote Tit Eurasian Hoopoe Black-winged kite Schrenck's little bittern Lesser Whistling Duck

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

ミフウズラと白いスズメ

麦畑の落穂を拾いにミフウズラがやってきていました。スズメもたくさん集まり、中には白っぽいスズメが1羽交ざっていました。ミフウズラは最近よく見ますが、写真を撮ろうとすると草むらに隠れてしまいなかなか撮れせてくれません。^^;

Barred Buttonquail
Barred Buttonquail

Barred Buttonquail, female. She has her bill open and looks hot.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

A leucistic Eurasian Tree Sparrow eating fallen wheat grains.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Cinnamon rather than white?

Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

A Eurasian Tree Sparrow dust-bathing also has its bill open and looks hot.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

This one goes straight into a dust bath after a water bath. It's going to end up covered in sand….

Categories: 野鳥

干潟、田んぼでシギなど

田んぼや三角池、佐敷の干潟などシギが少しずつ増えだしています。チュウシャクシギ、ジシギ、アオアシシギ、コアオアシシギ、ヒバリシギ、サルハマシギ、キアシシギなどなど。

チュウシャクシギはあちこちに現れだしています。サルハマシギは、個人的に今季初確認で、幼鳥は初見です。サルハマシギの幼鳥はとても珍しいようです。なんか見たことないなーと思って写真に残しておいてラッキーでした。^^

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

I thought it was a Dunlin, but it turned out to be a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in juvenile plumage. SHORE BIRDS IN JAPAN kindly pointed this out. I thought that distinctive buffy look was unusual and I'm glad I went ahead and photographed it. ^^

Long-toed Stint
Long-toed Stint

Long-toed Stint, juvenile plumage.

Whimbrel
Whimbrel

Adult Whimbrel in winter plumage.

Grey-tailed Tattler
Grey-tailed Tattler

Adult Grey-tailed Tattler in late summer plumage.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

A Common Snipe probing along a paddy bund in search of food.

Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Herons have been showing up at Sankakuike in large numbers lately. Apparently there is a colony nearby, and some immatures are mixed in as well.

Eastern Cattle Egret
Eastern Cattle Egret

I don't see Cattle Egrets in large flocks here like I do on Ishigaki-jima.

Categories: 野鳥