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

Black Bittern Purple Swamphen Iriomote Tit Javan pond heron Pintail Snipe

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

与那国島でバードウオッチング

与那国島出張で仕事の合間に少しだけ探鳥してきました。観察できたのは45種と少なめ…。

小鳥が大変多く、コホオアカとジョウビタキが特に多かったです。ついでマミジロタヒバリ、ムネアカタヒバリ、ハクセキレイ、シロハラ、シマアカモズ、ノビタキの順。ルリビタキとハチジョウツグミ、 シベリアアオジは1個体ずつ撮影できました。

撮影できなかったけど数が多かったのが、アカヒゲとノゴマ。ノゴマは2回ほど目の前に現れたのですが、狭い道路で一瞬の出来事で撮影できず。アカヒゲは地鳴きをあちこちで聞きました。クロツグミやミヤマホオジロ、ウグイスあたりは粘れば撮れそうです。

猛禽類はノスリやサシバ、チョウゲンボウ、ハヤブサ、ミサゴなどを確認。ノスリのみ撮影。カタグロトビは写真に収めたかったのですが、警戒心が強すぎてかないませんでした。カタグロトビは石垣島のように繁殖している可能性もありますね。

カモはキンクロハジロが数十羽とハシビロガモが十数羽。オシドリも2羽いました。そして、沖縄では珍しいスズガモを2羽撮影することができました!! トビ、ハシボソガラス、モズと同様にスズガモを撮影できたことは沖縄の人にしか分からない感動。^^;

Little Bunting
Little Bunting

There were plenty of Little Buntings, but twigs kept getting in the way for photos.

Black-faced Bunting
Black-faced Bunting

A single Masked Bunting among a flock of Little Buntings.

Naumann's Thrush
Naumann's Thrush

My first Naumann's Thrush confirmed this season.

Pale Thrush
Pale Thrush

Pale Thrushes, which started turning up in greater numbers a few days ago. I hear their calls often, but this is my first time photographing one this season.

Red-flanked Bluetail
Red-flanked Bluetail

Red-flanked Bluetail, male, first-winter plumage.

Daurian Redstart
Daurian Redstart

Daurian Redstart, female. Both males and females were present in good numbers.

Siberian Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat

Siberian Stonechat, male, winter plumage.

Siberian Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat

Siberian Stonechat, female, first-winter plumage.

Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit

Buff-bellied Pipit found on the evening of the first day. It was forming a large flock together with Red-throated Pipits.

Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit

The majority were Buff-bellied Pipits, though a few Red-throated Pipits were mixed in.

Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit

The next day, Buff-bellied Pipits at the same spot. The flock had dispersed over a wide area.

White Wagtail
White Wagtail

White Wagtail, male, first-winter plumage. You'd think they'd get along, being both white birds, but it was squabbling with a Kentish Plover.

Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup

A ridiculously distant Tufted Duck. Tufted Duck is a rarity in Okinawa. ^^

Mandarin Duck
Mandarin Duck

There were two female Mandarin Ducks, but these were also far away….

Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard, juvenile. Three individuals confirmed. There have been a lot of Common Buzzards on Ishigaki this year — Yonaguni may be the same.

Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull, second-winter plumage. It was bathing in a rice paddy.

Isabelline Shrike
Isabelline Shrike

Brown Shrikes were plentiful. I searched for other shrike species, but every one turned out to be a Brown Shrike.

Categories: 野鳥