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

Asian koel Asian Glossy Starling Pheasant-tailed jacana Ryukyu scops owl 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

ツグミ、シロハラ、ツメナガセキレイなど

公園にツグミが複数羽入ったり、田んぼや畑ではシロハラやアカハラも増えています。トラツグミも複数羽入って、林道でも見つけたのですが警戒心強すぎて撮れない。^^;

ハクセキレイは少なめ、ツメナガセキレイやタヒバリの仲間は島内を群れで移動しているようで増えたり減ったり。ツメナガセキレイの群れの中で変わり種も探したいのですが、雨が強くて根気が続かない…。

スズメは寒くなるにつれ、群れがどんどん大きく膨れ上がっています。

Dusky Thrush
Dusky Thrush

First Dusky Thrush of the season. Adult male. Several in the park.

Pale Thrush
Pale Thrush

Pale Thrush, female, first-winter plumage.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, first-winter plumage.

White Wagtail
White Wagtail

White Wagtail, male, first-winter plumage.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

A large flock of Eurasian Tree Sparrows was feeding on fallen grain.

Categories: 野鳥

数日前から滞在のアカガシラサギ

アカガシラサギは滞在5日目。この田んぼが気に入っているようで、コサギやアマサギと一緒に雨の中、虫を捕まえていた。

カンムリワシも多く観察。雨に打たれながらびしょ濡れで獲物を探していた。

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron in winter plumage. The strong wind and rain had lowered its guard.

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron locking onto prey.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

A soaking-wet adult Crested Serpent Eagle.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

This one appeared to have caught some small prey.

Categories: 野鳥

ソリハシセイタカシギ飛来

沖縄本島に1週間前、ソリハシセイタカシギが入っているので、石垣島でももうすぐかなと探していたらいました。^^

田んぼにはアオアシシギやコアオアシシギ、アカアシシギ、ハマシギ、ヒバリシギなど。

数日前ですが、ホシハジロも初確認。単独の飛来でした。

ユリカモメは3羽のうち、1羽が油爆していました。

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

Pied Avocet, adult female.

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

When I contacted a birding friend, they said it hadn't been there in the morning, so the timing worked out perfectly.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Common Redshank, adult, winter plumage.

Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing

Northern Lapwing, first-winter plumage.

Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck / Common Pochard

First Common Pochard of the season. Female, first-winter plumage. On the right, a male Tufted Duck in breeding plumage.

Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull

Adult Black-headed Gull in winter plumage, covered in oil. It was preening, trying to work the oil out.

Categories: 野鳥

田んぼでベニバト、ハチジョウツグミ、ムネアカタヒバリなど

昼休みに田んぼをのぞいてみるとベニバトのオス2羽と幼鳥1羽がいました。今年は例年になくベニバトの多い年です。秋から途絶えることなくあちこちの畑で確認できています。

同じ田んぼにハチジョウツグミも入っていました。シロハラ、アカハラは大変数が多くどこでも見られます。ツグミも増えてきました。ツグミより北に繁殖分布するハチジョウツグミも確認できるようになりました。

今日のタヒバリの仲間はムネアカタヒバリとタヒバリ、マミジロタヒバリの順に数が多い感じですが、日によって変わるので入れ替わりは激しいようです。

近くの漁港にはユリカモメが飛来しており、田んぼに水浴びにくる個体が観察できました。

ほかにもサカツラガンやヒシクイ、マガン、ブラックサシバ、アオシギ、ソリハシセイタカシギ、アカガシラサギなども元気に越冬中です。^^

Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove

Adult male Ruddy Ground Dove. It looked small among a flock of Oriental Turtle Doves, but its beautiful plumage stood out all the more.

Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove

Another adult male. Compared to the individual above, the shaft streaks on the tertials are more prominent.

Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove

Ruddy Ground Dove juvenile. First-winter feathers are coming in to some extent, but it is mostly still in juvenile plumage.

Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove

Feeding on rice husks in a paddy field after the harvest.

Naumann's Thrush
Naumann's Thrush

Adult Naumann's Thrush. An intermediate individual between Naumann's and Dusky Thrush. Sex unknown.

Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit

The most numerous are Red-throated Pipits. Next are Water Pipits. Buff-bellied Pipit was confirmed by call only.

Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull

Adult Black-headed Gull in winter plumage. It came to a paddy field and was bathing.

Categories: 野鳥