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.
妻の実家へ遊びに行ったついでに30分ほど大授搦をのぞいてきた。満潮の時間帯だったけど中潮だったので鳥が遠い…。
遥か彼方をハマシギやダイゼン、ホウロクシギなどが大群で飛んでいた。クロツラヘラサギも数羽休んでいた。
帰り道は、カササギを探して見たが2羽だけ確認できた。
An enormous flock of waders, too many to count. Dunlins were the most common.
Dunlins on the upper part, Grey Plovers on the lower.
There were also 5 Black-faced Spoonbills.
I only saw 2 Eurasian Magpies.
ゴールデンウイークあたりに一斉に卵から孵ったシロチドリのヒナたちは、順調に育っています。きょう確認できたヒナは8羽でしたがもっとたくさんいそうです。一番小さなヒナは、孵化してから数日しかたっていない感じです。大きく成長したヒナは、すでに綿毛も抜け落ち羽に変わりつつあります。大きさはまだ親鳥の半分ぐらい。
ちょこまか動く小さなヒナを動画に収めるとは苦労しました…。^^;
草原には、植物の種を食いにスズメとシマキンパラもやってきた。
A Kentish Plover chick. Just a few days after hatching, it was already finding and eating tiny insects on its own.
Another Kentish Plover chick. It appears to be about two weeks post-hatching, but when danger approaches it still tries to tuck under the parent's belly.
Small insects and similar prey seem to be plentiful near the puddle, and three chicks had gathered there.
A Kentish Plover chick that has caught a small insect.
When I keep still with the camera ready, they just keep coming closer and closer.
This chick also appears to be about two weeks post-hatching.
Left: Eurasian Tree Sparrow; right: Kentish Plover chick.
There appear to be several chicks in the grass as well.
A male Kentish Plover.
This one is a female Kentish Plover.
The Eurasian Tree Sparrows and Scaly-breasted Munias were eating grass seeds. They didn't seem to bother each other.