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.
照間の海岸にダイシャクシギが2羽いました。長いくちばしをカニの巣穴に突っ込んで餌を取っていました。近くの田んぼには、コガモやクロハラアジサシなどが休んでいました。
An Eurasian Curlew probing its long bill into a crab burrow.
There had been a Far Eastern Curlew here a few days earlier, but only the Eurasian Curlew remained.
A few Eurasian Teals were floating in the paddies.
Black-bellied Tern.
今日は、二十四節気の寒露です。冬鳥たちがやってくる季節ですね。
今朝は、午前5時半に起床し、午前7時半には名護岳の天上展望台に到着しました。到着後、1時間ぐらいは何も飛びませんでしたが、午前8時半ごろから北の方角からアカハラダカの群れがやってきました。今日最大のタカ柱は100羽ほどでかなり迫力がありました。
午前9時までも観察で250羽ほどが南へ渡って行きました。
また、サシバも十数羽がアカハラダカの群に混じって南に渡って行きました。石垣島では、アカハラダカは早朝にサシバは午後15時以降に飛ぶので両者が同じタカ柱をつくることはなかったのですが、名護岳では、アカハラダカとサシバの交ざったタカ柱が観察でき得した気分!!
エゾビタキも小さな群れがいくつも南に飛び去って行きました。田んぼには、ヒシクイが5羽やってきていました。季節の移ろいを感じさせます。
10月10日追記： この日は、最終的にアカハラダカ500オーバー、サシバ40ほどが飛んだそうです。
A female Chinese Sparrowhawk. Apparently the autumn migration is running late this year.
A juvenile Chinese Sparrowhawk.
Another juvenile Chinese Sparrowhawk. It was a day dominated by juveniles.
This one is an adult female Chinese Sparrowhawk.
Several kettles formed, but they were too far away to count accurately…
Mixed in among the Chinese Sparrowhawks, the occasional Grey-faced Buzzard would cut through as well.
A disappointing Grey-faced Buzzard migration under overcast skies.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers also seemed to be moving through in good numbers. From the summit observation deck on Mount Nago, I watched a flock of over ten birds move past, and in total more than a hundred and-some individuals were observed flying south.
Five Bean Geese were standing in the paddies. Perhaps a little tired — they rested for a long time in a puddle. They have come quite far south.