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

Lesser Whistling Duck Pied Avocet Ryukyu flycatcher Glossy Ibis Crested serpent eagle

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

久しぶりの夜探でコノハズクとアカショウビン

撮影機材をSONYに入れ替え、フラッシュを純正にしようかサードパーティーにしようか迷っていたのですが、評判のよいGodoxにしました。中でもリチウムイオン電池でチャージが早いV860IIとコマンダーにXproを購入。さっそく夜のリュウキュウコノハズクやリュウキュウアカショウビンを被写体に試してきました。久しぶりの石垣島でのナイトバードウオッチングです。^^

TTLもしっかり働き、露出のことは何も考えずに撮れて非常に便利でした。ガイドナンバー60の大光量ですが、電池もかなり持ちそうです。もうエネループなど乾電池タイプのフラッシュには戻れませんね。^^

Elegant Scops Owl
Elegant Scops Owl

A male Oriental Scops Owl — a breeding individual here. The female was nowhere to be found; not sure whether she is incubating or not.

The pattern of feather loss on the crown is similar to the male Oriental Scops Owl I photographed in exactly the same spot last year, so this may be the same bird.

Elegant Scops Owl
Elegant Scops Owl

An Oriental Scops Owl on the forest road. Also a male.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

A Ruddy Kingfisher on the forest road. Judged to be male from its morphology.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

A Ruddy Kingfisher resting on a slender branch. Sex unknown.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

Also a female Ruddy Kingfisher on the same forest road.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

The male paired with the individual above. The fact that both male and female are resting outside the nest suggests either that the chicks have grown to some extent, or that egg-laying has not yet taken place.

Categories: 野鳥

近所の手乗りアカショウビン

近所の非常になれたリュウキュウアカショウビンが水浴びしていました。

今季、五つ目となるリュウキュウアオバズクの巣も見つけました。来月にはかわいらしいヒナが巣立つことでしょう。^^

現在、アカショウビン3、コノハズク3、アオバズク5の巣を観察中。アオバズクの巣の一つは、親鳥の気配がなく、先日の大雨でダメになったかもしれません。

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

Preening after a bath.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

Tending the feathers all the way to the tips of the primaries.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

It worked through them carefully, again and again.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

Tending the other wing as well. This individual has partial leucism around the ear coverts.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

After finishing its bath, the Ruddy Kingfisher went off to look for food.

Categories: 野鳥