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

Purple Swamphen Ruddy Kingfisher Collared Kingfisher Pintail Snipe Forest Wagtail

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

ソリハシセイタカシギ、沖縄的珍鳥モズ、アカガシラサギなど

今冬、何羽目かのソリハシセイタカシギ。沖縄では珍鳥なモズも飛来しました。しかもうれしいことに初列風切の基部に白斑がないタイプでした。^^

アカガシラサギは昨年からの越冬個体。水路のカモはいつものメンバーで田んぼではタシギ、セイタカシギ、アカアシシギとこちらもいつもと同じメンバーです。

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

A first-winter Pied Avocet, arriving alone.

Bull-headed Shrike
Bull-headed Shrike

This shrike was very wary, and I only just managed a shot of it perched at a distance. A type without white wing patches.

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron (right) and Purple Heron.

Great Egret
Great Egret

Medium Egret. Great Egrets rarely make it to Okinawa or Ishigaki Island.

Eastern Cattle Egret
Eastern Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret. Just a hint of breeding plumage coming in.

Eurasian Teal
Eurasian Teal / Eurasian Wigeon

Ducks resting in a waterway. Common Teal and Eurasian Wigeon make up the majority.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Common Redshank, first-winter. A few birds were gathered in the usual spot.

Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt, female, first-winter.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Common Snipe in the distance. Around five birds were flocking together.

Categories: 野鳥

カンムリワシの幼鳥と成鳥

石垣島では田植え前の代かきや牧草の刈り取りがあちこちで始まり、それにつられカンムリワシも餌を求めて現れています。

今季は、幼鳥の定着率が悪く、いたと思ったら翌日にはいなくなりしばらく姿を見ないというようなケースが多く発生しています。理由はよく分かりません。

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

Crested Serpent Eagle, juvenile. Facing its first winter with little food, it seems a bit listless.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

When frogs and other creatures were turned up from the soil during rice paddy puddling, it would swoop down and catch them.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

Caught a frog. Prey this size gets swallowed whole.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

Spotted prey and headed out again.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

A female Crested Serpent Eagle known as "Point." She gets her name from a blemish on her right eye. Calling back and forth with her paired male.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

The male paired with the 'point' bird above. Calling back and forth to each other.

Daurian Redstart
Daurian Redstart

A male Daurian Redstart beside the Point couple. It knows full well that the Crested Serpent Eagle won't attack.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle / Tundra Swan

A rare two-shot of a Crested Serpent Eagle and a Tundra Swan.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

A Crested Serpent Eagle that caught a mouse in a meadow being mowed.

Large-billed Crow
Large-billed Crow

A Large-billed Crow came to try to steal it. ^^;

Categories: 野鳥