マキバタヒバリ、タヒバリ、ムネアカタヒバリほか
新年最初のバードウオッチングで見つけたマキバタヒバリ は今日も健在でした。このまま石垣島で越冬してほしいですね。
タヒバリやムネアカタヒバリの群れと一緒に行動していました。タヒバリ属3種の混群は姿をまったく消すこともあるのですが、そこは餌場に執着するタヒバリ属でしばらくすると舞い戻ってきます。
マキバタヒバリは一番、草に潜る傾向が強く、飛んでシャッフルされるたびに探し出すのが大変ですが、そこが面白いでもありますね。
The Buff-bellied Pipit was there again today. First-winter plumage, perhaps. One field guide states that the darkened claw can be used as an identification feature, but from what I saw today, individuals of both Buff-bellied Pipit and Red-throated Pipit with darkened claws are perfectly common… ^^;
Buff-bellied Pipit is paler than Buff-bellied Pipit and the like, but when only the upperparts are visible the paleness is not so obvious.
The breast markings of Buff-bellied Pipit are dotted-line in character.
Buff-bellied Pipit is often found deep in grass like this, but with patience it can be located.
Heaving its small body over the grass, one clambering step at a time.
It's hard to get a clear view of the whole bird.
It rested on the rice-paddy bund for a while.
This one is Buff-bellied Pipit, first-winter plumage.
Red-throated Pipit, winter plumage.
(Yellow-browed) Citrine Wagtail, first-winter plumage.
White-faced Wagtail, summer to winter plumage transition.