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

Lesser Whistling Duck Crested serpent eagle Ashy drongo Black-winged kite Short-eared 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

与那国島で季節外れの探鳥

春の渡りには少し遅く、バードウオッチャーもほとんどいない与那国島。鳥見が出来たのは、早朝の2時間と午後1時過ぎから土砂降りになる午後4時までの3時間ほどでしたが、個人的には春での出会いが初めてのアカハラダカとオウチュウが見られたほか、ブッポウソウやシベリアツメナガセキレイ、シベリアアオジ、タイワンハクセキレイ、サルハマシギ、オグロシギ、アカガシラサギなどが見られたのがよかった。

写真が撮れなかったのでは、サメビタキっぽい何かと小さめの不明トケンとコグンカンドリ、ミズナギドリの仲間、オオヨシキリ、コノハズクもしくはリュウキュウコノハズク、インドハッカ、ミフウズラ。声だけなのは、ヨタカとアカショウビンでした。

次回は、もっと早い時期に行って春の渡り鳥を探したいですね。

与那国島航路編

Chinese Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk

First-summer male Chinese Sparrowhawk. A few juvenile feathers remain on the belly.

Oriental Dollarbird
Oriental Dollarbird

A Dollarbird on the forest road. First time I've seen one in spring.

Black Drongo
Black Drongo

The Black Drongo seemed to be in a hurry to move on — rather than making its usual sallies from the power lines, it flew steadily eastward and was out of sight in no time.

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

While I was watching the Black-winged Stilts, a Chinese Pond Heron dropped in.

Oriental Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole

Near the guesthouse, a Oriental Pratincole. Why is it still in juvenile plumage at this time of year?

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

A Siberian Citrine Wagtail in a flock of several dozen Citrine Wagtails. Afterwards the flock was flushed by a Japanese Sparrowhawk.

Citrine Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail

There were a lot of Yellow Wagtails.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

I also saw (Blyth's) Citrine Wagtails here and there.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

White Wagtail adult summer plumage. All the wagtails here were White Wagtails (Taiwan subspecies).

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

White Wagtail first-winter to summer plumage.

Black-faced Bunting
Black-faced Bunting

Jankowski's Bunting. In flight, the white outer tail feathers were conspicuous. A male was also present in the sugarcane field, but I couldn't get a photo.

Black-faced Bunting
Black-faced Bunting

It kept its bill open the whole time because of the heat.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

The Curlew Sandpiper was in transition to summer plumage.

Black-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit

The Black-tailed Godwit was also in transition to summer plumage.

Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper

Marsh Sandpipers — one nearly in full summer plumage, another still transitioning.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in summer plumage.

Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit

Red-throated Pipit in summer plumage.

Long-toed Stint
Long-toed Stint

Long-toed Stint moulting from winter to summer plumage.

Brown Hawk-Owl
Brown Hawk-Owl

A Grey Nightjar targeting insects from a power line.

Categories: 野鳥