アオバズク、リュウキュウコノハズク、アカショウビン巣立ちラッシュ
石垣島のリュウキュウアオバズク、リュウキュウコノハズク、リュウキュウアカショウビンの琉球御三家の巣立ちラッシュが続いています。アオバズクは5巣、リュウキュウコノハズクも5巣、アカショウビンは7巣を観察中ですが、数が多過ぎてとてもじゃないですが、全部は見られません…。^^;
田んぼには、ソリハシセイタカシギやセイタカシギ、クロハラアジサシが飛来。
カンムリワシはいつものところにいつもの繁殖に参加していない若い個体がいました。アカショウビンと餌場を共有していますが、軋轢はないようです。
夜探では子連れのオオクイナが藪の中で寝ていました。
Brown Hawk-Owls have already fledged at three sites. Brood sizes are on the small side, one to two chicks. At this site only one chick fledged. Left is the chick, right is the female.
The male parent of the chick above. Keeping watch a short distance away.
Two fledglings of a Ryukyu Scops Owl pair. Last year three chicks fledged from this pair, but this year it looks like only two.
A Ryukyu Scops Owl at a different site. One chick fledged that night.
I am monitoring five Ryukyu Scops Owl nests. Ryukyu Scops Owls have good breeding success every year. This individual is gazing at the tree hollow where the chick is. Fledging is imminent. At this site two chicks fledged last year.
A male Slaty-breasted Rail. At this site, two pairs are together tending three chicks.
A Ruddy Kingfisher standing guard in front of the nest. It fledged the following day. The site where this Ruddy Kingfisher is breeding is a dangerous one — a Japanese Sparrowhawk is also raising young there, and a Black-shouldered Kite's three recently fledged chicks and their two parents are wandering around.
A Ruddy Kingfisher keeping watch over the nest from a little distance away.
A Ruddy Kingfisher that came to bathe in a concrete-lined channel near the urban area. A regular bathing spot every year.
The Pied Avocet, which had disappeared for a time, has returned.
Three White-winged Terns arrived.
The Black-winged Stilts had also disappeared along with the Pied Avocet, but they too have come back.
A young Crested Serpent Eagle not taking part in breeding. Taking it easy at its usual feeding ground.
