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

A juvenile Black-winged Kite that has left the nest but is still staying close to the nesting tree.

The adult Black-winged Kites resting in the shade. The one on the right is the male, the one on the left is the female.

A female Japanese Sparrowhawk arriving with prey.

I expected the young to come and take the food, but while she was processing it, the prey fell to the ground below.

A Pheasant-tailed Jacana in beautiful breeding plumage. It gave me a great show at close range. I could clearly see what it was catching and eating.

What on earth are those feathers on the hindneck, radiating that golden glow? Simply elegant.

A Pheasant-tailed Jacana stretching. The tips of the primaries have spur-like projections. Stylish right to the last detail.

A size comparison between the Pheasant-tailed Jacana and the Common Moorhen behind it.

The Pheasant-tailed Jacana's breeding plumage is gorgeous from the front too.

It was catching and eating what appeared to be larvae of aquatic soldier flies lurking in the water.

Those large feet that can walk across lotus leaves. Unfortunately I met this one in a rice paddy, so no lotus to be seen.

The second Pheasant-tailed Jacana was far away. I hear the species is steadily expanding its range, so it will be interesting to see how long it stays.

Behold!! That sheen!! It shines with a brilliance worthy of the name Glossy Ibis. Breeding plumage. In non-breeding plumage the gloss apparently disappears and pale streaking appears on the head.

The Glossy Ibis was relaxed throughout, preening and the like.

After preening, a good shake of the body.

A size comparison between the Glossy Ibis and the Intermediate Egret.

When I first spotted the ibis, I had to look twice. There are past records from Okinawa-hontō, but I never expected to see a Glossy Ibis on Ishigaki-jima as well.

When it moved to the adjacent paddy, it was time for feeding.

A Glossy Ibis drinking water. Even with that curved bill, it was deftly scooping up water and drinking.

A Ryukyu Scops Owl crouching down, eyes fixed on something it is wary of. The black spot on its right eye should make individual identification possible.

It was calling with an unusual voice. Could there have been a far more dangerous predator around than crows or the like?

A Collared Scops Owl encountered in a dim secondary forest. Probably a female, but it was calling with a soft, low "hoo" rather than "myat, myat." I wonder if it was wary of me because fledglings were somewhere nearby.

A Collared Scops Owl that was with the individual above. This one is probably the male. It flew quietly up into the tree overhead.

A Brown Hawk-Owl fledgling found at a new spot. It looked to have been out of the nest for several days and was flying around freely. It was a little wary of people too.

The parent and a sibling of the individual above. The parent is probably the male.

The Brown Hawk-Owls in the neighbourhood have all fledged safely. Three siblings — there is one more nearby that didn't make it into the frame. Of the parents, the male is on the left and the female on the right.