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

Collared Kingfisher Short-eared Owl Pied Avocet Emerald dove Ryukyu scops owl

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

となり同士のアオバズクの営巣

アオバズクがお互い見通せる場所で営巣していました。その距離たったの30メートル。 リュウキュウオオコノハズクの巣はそこから50メートル ほどで、この林にはアオバズク2ペアとオオコノハズク1ペアが半径40メートルほどの範囲で繁殖していることになります。

現在、観察中のアオバズクの営巣は、6ペアです。

Brown Hawk-Owl
Brown Hawk-Owl

Looking up from below at what appeared to be the nesting tree — a Casuarina — I caught the eye of the female Brown Hawk-Owl. The hollow looks quite shallow.

Brown Hawk-Owl
Brown Hawk-Owl

Visible from the side as well.

Brown Hawk-Owl
Brown Hawk-Owl

This is the pair of the Brown Hawk-Owl above. Keeping guard near the nest.

Brown Hawk-Owl
Brown Hawk-Owl

A Brown Hawk-Owl nesting in another Casuarina about 30 metres away. The entrance to the hollow faces upward, so there's no way to see what's inside.

Categories: 野鳥

リュウキュウオオコノハズク3兄弟

先日、見つけたリュウキュウオオコノハズクの3兄弟 を見てきました。きょうは、同じ枝に3羽並んでいたのですが、高いセンダンの木で手前に障害物がたくさんあり、なかなかうまいこと写真は撮れませんでした。^^;

横からの姿も見ることができたのですが、初列はほぼ生えそろい自由自在に飛び回れるようです。

枯れた木の下にはオオコノハズクのものと思われる糞がたくさん落ちていました。多分、夜間はこの枝で親から餌をもらっているのでしょう。夜、ヒナへの給餌も見たいのですが、ちょっと警戒心強目なのでやめておきます…。^^;

カラスバトも毎回、複数羽見ます。小さな群れでアカギやオオバギの実を食いに来ているようです。もっとも多い時で十数羽。きょうは4羽の群れでした。

Ryukyu Scops Owl
Ryukyu Scops Owl

Three Ryukyu Scops Owl siblings deep inside a tree tangled with climbing plants.

Ryukyu Scops Owl
Ryukyu Scops Owl

They're on alert toward me, raising their ear tufts.

Ryukyu Scops Owl
Ryukyu Scops Owl

The parent was nearby as well.

Ryukyu Scops Owl
Ryukyu Scops Owl

Ryukyu Scops Owl chicks look similar to Eurasian Scops Owl chicks, but when it comes to the balance of head and body size, and the expression in the eyes, the Ryukyu Scops Owl wins for cuteness. Completely different from Brown Hawk-Owl chicks.

Ryukyu Scops Owl
Ryukyu Scops Owl

The Ryukyu Scops Owl feels like a little forest spirit. ^^

Go up a mountain trail like this and you reach the Ryukyu Scops Owl spot. There were several Japanese Wood Pigeons too — they seem to come for the fruits of Acacia and Macaranga trees.

I also found a Japanese Wood Pigeon feather. ^^

Categories: 野鳥