GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR
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.
8月に初確認となったウズラシギ から2カ月遅れで幼鳥が到着しました。トウネンは十数羽が田んぼに入っていました。海岸にはヨーロッパトウネンが1羽いました。
First Sharp-tailed Sandpiper juvenile of the season.
The backlight and the distance made conditions poor, but I think this might be a Little Stint....
Red-necked Stint, winter plumage.
Red-necked Stint and Long-toed Stint.
今季3羽目のイワミセキレイ登場。前回見つけた個体と同じ場所でした。前回のは警戒心がとても強かったのですが、今回は全くありません。近くで可愛らしいイワミセキレイを見ることができました。
ツバメは南下個体が大量に滞在中。田んぼや畑で群れとなって餌をとっている光景があちこちで見られます。
Grey Wagtail, adult.
It was foraging by flipping over fallen leaves.
It was frequently catching small grasshoppers.
This one's prey was also a grasshopper.
An individual with low wariness — it came quite close.
Barn Swallow in flight. Whether there were insects near the ground or not, it was skimming just above the surface.
Barn Swallow, juvenile.
Flying even lower.
Once the α1 locks onto a subject it doesn't let go, so even with a background this close the AF never hunts to the rear. All shots handheld.
ベニバトは安定した餌場のおかげで複数羽が長期滞在中。
9月中旬に台風とともにやってきたハジロクロハラアジサシは群れのほとんどが抜けてもさみしく逗留中。
オオバンは数日前から確認していましたが、今年は石垣島に 越夏個体が2羽 いたので記録を忘れていました…と思ったら、 7月末に確認 していました。^^;
Pale-capped Pigeon, male. At first glance it looks like an adult, but it is a juvenile in advanced moult.
Pale-capped Pigeon, juvenile male. In transition to first-winter plumage.
Pale-capped Pigeon, adult female.
White-winged Tern, juvenile.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, juvenile.
Long-toed Stint, late juvenile plumage.
Red-necked Stint, transitioning from summer to winter plumage.
Red-necked Stint, winter plumage.
Wood Sandpipers bathing. All juveniles.
The second Eurasian Coot of the season — not a first record, just the second bird.
今季初のオジロトウネンが成鳥、幼鳥と続けて飛来しました。石垣島では少なく、入ってもすぐに抜けてしまいます。
ウズラシギは幼鳥がぱらぱらと飛来中。アオアシシギとコアオアシシギは成長に交じって幼鳥が数羽いました。幼羽は擦れて第1回冬羽が目立ち始めています。
ヒバリシギは増減を繰り返しています。南下していく中継組と思われます。アカアシシギは成鳥、幼鳥とも数を増やしています。タカブシギは幼鳥が目立ちます。
Temminck's Stint, juvenile.
Temminck's Stint, adult. Moulting into winter plumage.
It was catching tiny prey resembling red midge larvae.
Even in the wide paddy fields it seems to have a favourite spot — even when startled by something, it kept foraging in the same place.
Pectoral Sandpiper, juvenile.
Common Greenshank, moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Marsh Sandpiper, moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Long-toed Stint, adult (foreground) and juvenile.
Wood Sandpiper, moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Common Redshank, moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Large numbers of Long-toed Stint juveniles, Common Redshank juveniles, Common Sandpiper juveniles, and others.
Pacific Golden Plover winter plumage birds are starting to appear.
田んぼによっては全くいなくなってしまったのですが、この日は十数羽のジシギが集う田んぼを見つけました、
Both are Pin-tailed Snipe. Moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage is progressing. It's gradually becoming harder to tell juveniles from adults.
Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile.
Two Pin-tailed Snipe and a Swinhoe's Snipe (background).
Pin-tailed Snipe, adult.
Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.
Same individual as above. Tail feathers checked.
Two Swinhoe's Snipe. The bird on the left is the same individual as above. The tail feathers are visible on the right bird. At first glance they look like Pin-tailed Snipe tail feathers, but it is only because we are viewing from the side that they appear narrow.
A plump juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. It must be building up fat reserves ahead of its onward southward migration.
Most Swinhoe's Snipes in Okinawa tend to be on the pale side, but this one is an even more confusing rufous-tinged individual among them. The spots within the lateral crown stripes add another layer of confusion. This is the same individual as the Swinhoe's Snipe visible in the background in the photo 6 images above.
Same individual as above. Swinhoe's Snipe.
Pin-tailed Snipe. Moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
A Common Snipe that won't move…. A juvenile, perhaps?
Common Snipe. Beautiful. ^^
ベニバトが田んぼに十数羽飛来していました。数えられたのは16羽までですが、木の影にもっといそうでした。ほかで7羽の群れなど複数箇所に入っており、今季はベニバトの数が異常に多いです。
シマアジは、先日の初認に続いての確認でした。コガモもぼちぼち増えてきてあちこちの田んぼで見ることができるようになりました。
Male Red Turtle-Dove. Moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Adult female Red Turtle-Dove.
Several Red Turtle-Doves were perched in the shrubs around the rice paddies.
Adult male Garganey in eclipse plumage.
Eurasian Teal numbers are picking up.
The Black-faced Spoonbill has been seen intermittently around the island, so it may be the same individual.
A dispute between Black-winged Stilts. Both birds are juveniles.
長期滞在のハリオシギや非常に紛らわしいハリオシギとチュウジシギ、タシギの群れなどジシギがいい感じになっています。
A textbook juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe. If they were all like this one, there'd be no hesitation in the field.
Same individual as above.
Believe it or not, this is a Pin-tailed Snipe. The facial expression made me think Pin-tailed, but everything else was just too Swinhoe's…. ^^;
Same individual as above.
Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.
Juvenile Common Snipe.
Also a juvenile Common Snipe. A pale-type bird, and a beautiful one.
A juvenile Common Snipe sunbathing.
A juvenile Common Snipe bathing.
A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.
いつも1日か2日で抜けるイワミセキレイですが、この個体は 9月30日 に見つかり、この日で7日目の滞在となりました。
今季はイワミセキレイの飛来が多く、翌日には7羽目となる個体が確認されました。この個体以外はすべて1日でいなくなりました。
Adult Forest Wagtail. The central tail feathers are old and badly worn.
This individual showed little wariness and came quite close.
It caught a cockroach on the forest floor.
It was moving busily along a dim forest track.
Forest Wagtails are especially charming among the wagtails.
The 'T' mark on the breast is conspicuous.
When a vehicle passed, it would startle and perch on a branch.
Perhaps because the Forest Wagtail is adapted to dark environments, its eyes seem larger than those of other wagtails. That's another reason it looks so endearing.
迷わないハリオシギと迷うチュウジシギが仲良く餌取りしていました。
ことし何羽目かのエリマキシギやオジロトウネン、海岸ではオオメダイチドリやチュウシャクシギ、キアシシギ、キョウジョシギ、ムナグロ、トウネン、ハマシギなどが滞在中。
Pin-tailed Snipe in transition from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Same individual as above. The pin-like tail feathers are visible.
A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe resembling a Pin-tailed Snipe.
Same individual as above.
Same individual as above.
A Swinhoe's Snipe resembling a Pin-tailed Snipe.
A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.
A juvenile male Ruff.
Adult winter-plumage Temminck's Stint.
Whimbrel, juvenile.
Ruddy Turnstone, juvenile.
Grey-tailed Tattler moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Pacific Golden Plover moulting from breeding to non-breeding plumage.
Red-necked Stint, non-breeding plumage.
Just one Dunlin staying.
A flock of Greater Sand Plover. About 20 birds.
非繁殖期には昼間の発見が非常に難しいリュウキュウコノハズクの貴重なねぐらシーンを観察することができました。連日、同じ場所に止まっているので定宿のねぐらに使っていると思われます。
カタグロトビ、カンムリワシはあちこちの田んぼや畑で見ることができます。自宅近くで繁殖したカタグロトビは次も同じ場所で営巣しそうで、毎日、オスかメスのどちらかが必ず見晴らしのよい枝に止まっています。
カンムリワシは幼鳥の出現も増えて、きょうは今季7羽目が記録されたそうです。
A Ryukyu Scops Owl at its roost. Almost completely unconcerned.
A Ryukyu Scops Owl staring down at the forest floor — perhaps it sensed something moving below.
Black-winged Kite, adult. It has been a long time since the juveniles that fledged this year disappeared, so perhaps it is almost time to start preparing for the next breeding season.
Crested Serpent Eagle, adult. Both juveniles and adults are becoming easier to see.
白いツバメがいるよということで見てきました。部分白化を起こした白い体は群れの中でもよく目立っていました。
Barn Swallow, juvenile. It was a little tricky to shoot from above, but the angle gave a good view of the upperparts.
The flanks and underparts look like this.
It looked as though it had been dusted with soot, but it stood out clearly among the flock of Barn Swallows.
It seemed smaller than the other individuals, but maybe that was just my imagination… ^^;
職場と自宅周辺で少しだけ鳥見。
今季初のハシビロガモとオナガガモは前日、初認していましたが写真は撮れずでしたが、この日、ハシビロガモだけは写真の記録が残せました。シマアジは5羽の群れがやってきました。
海岸ではムナグロやダイゼン、キアシシギ、トウネン、メダイチドリなどが滞在中。
サトウキビ畑には警戒心の弱いカタグロトビがいました。石垣島のカタグロトビはずいぶん増えて、田んぼやサトウキビ畑、牧草地に行けばたいてい見られます。
Garganey, adult. Sex unknown.
Five Garganey arrived; three of them here.
First Northern Shoveler of the season. A male moulting from eclipse into breeding plumage.
Eurasian Teal numbers are increasing.
Eastern Spot-billed Duck is present year-round, but in recent years the numbers have been growing.
A Eurasian Coot bathing.
Black-winged Kite, a species that has been increasing in numbers in recent years. The orange iris indicates a young individual.
Same individual as above. Juvenile feathers remain in the wing coverts.
I'd like to get a look at it in a bit better light.
Rufous-necked Stint in winter plumage.
Temminck's Stint in winter plumage.
Little Stint in late juvenile plumage.
Little Ringed Plover moulting into winter plumage.
Little Ringed Plover in juvenile plumage.
Kentish Plover moulting into first-winter plumage.
Lesser Sand Plover moulting into first-winter plumage.
Lesser Sand Plover moulting into winter plumage.
Common Sandpiper moulting from juvenile into first-winter plumage.
Grey Plover in winter plumage.
This Grey Plover has quite worn plumage. Late first-summer, perhaps?
Pacific Golden Plover. The flowers blooming on the reef — splashed by seawater year-round — also catch the eye.
Grey-tailed Tattler adult in winter plumage (right) and first-winter.
Black-winged Stilt, male, in first-winter plumage.
Purple Heron, adult.
The number of wintering Grey Herons has been increasing too.
目の前に30羽ほどのジシギの群れが降りてきました。双眼鏡で見てみると全てタシギの幼鳥でした。
Common Snipe juvenile. Yawning widely — looks tired.
Moulting into first-winter plumage.
Also in moult. The bright brown was quite distinctive.
This one is also a juvenile. Autumn Common Snipe are all juveniles, aren't they.
Common Snipe plumage comes in so many variations — never gets old.
Of the 30 birds, I managed to photograph 6, and every one was a juvenile. Perhaps juveniles flock together and migrate as a group.
2018年に幼鳥で石垣島にやってきた暗色型サシバ は4年連続でことしもやってきました。例年3月ごろまで越冬しています。
ことしは真白のサシバが和歌山県や奄美大島で撮影されているので、石垣島まで南下してこないか期待しているところです。
ブラックサシバが到着した日の15日は1500羽、翌日の16日は3000羽と石垣島のサシバの渡りはピークを迎えています。
The dark-morph Grey-faced Buzzard was perched on a banana plant an absurdly long way off.
It seemed to be glaring at another individual that had intruded into its territory.
Grey-faced Buzzard, adult male. Good numbers were also soaring above the town.
Grey-faced Buzzard, adult female.
Grey-faced Buzzard, juvenile.
Grey-faced Buzzard, adult female.
Grey-faced Buzzard, juvenile.
数日前からソリハシセイタカシギが逗留中です。ジャワアカガシラサギやシマアジも滞在しています。
Pied Avocet, present for the past several days. It looked relaxed — foraging, bathing and so on.
High temperatures and heat shimmer made for a hazy shot. ^^;
Javan Pond Heron, on an extended stay.
Garganey, adult.
Common Snipe juvenile. A dark, handsome individual.
Also a Common Snipe juvenile.
Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret.
チゴハヤブサが飛来していました。今季、初確認。サシバの渡りでも出ていたそうです。
シマアカモズは今年生まれの幼鳥が警戒心もなく観察がしやすいです。主にバッタを捕まえていました。容器に誘われてか、さえずりも見せていました。
カンムリワシは子育ても終わり、成鳥があちこちで観察できます。幼鳥も順調に親元を離れて7個体ほどが確認されています。
Eurasian Hobby, juvenile. It was being mobbed by Barn Swallows.
Crested Serpent Eagle, adult.
Same individual as above. Colour-ringed. Carrying a hawk-moth caterpillar in its bill.
A first-winter Bull-headed Shrike with little wariness of people.
Same individual as above, from behind.
Diving steeply at prey.
It was hunting right in front of me. The prey was a brownish grasshopper.
Hard to tell whether it went in with its feet or its bill…
Another steep dive.
A different Bull-headed Shrike. It caught a Blue Dasher.
Same individual as above. First-winter plumage.
From behind.
A Oriental Turtle Dove crossed in front of me. Some individuals were carrying nesting material.
コホオアカとノビタキが複数飛来。オオムシクイは厳しい条件でしたが鳴き声で確認。それぞれ今季初確認となりました。小鳥の渡りも始まったようです。
I heard a call and searched around — confirmed my first Meadow Bunting of the season.
Confirmed several birds at the paddy field where a flock turns up every year.
Also my first Siberian Stonechat of the season.
Birds had arrived at multiple sites in multiple numbers.
Poor conditions — backlit and deep in the bushes — but the call clinched it as an Eastern Crowned Warbler.
先日の個体 に続き、今季2羽目となるソリハシセイタカシギが飛来しました。オオハシシギとヒドリガモは今季初確認となりました。
今季2個体目のオグロシギも確認。田んぼにはアオアシシギやセイタカシギ、タカブシギ、タシギ、ハマシギ、クロハラアジサシなどが滞在中です。
A first-winter Pied Avocet, less wary than the individual from the other day.
My first Long-billed Dowitcher of the season. It was in first-winter plumage.
Mixed in with a flock of eight Dunlins.
First Eurasian Wigeon of the season.
Black-tailed Godwit, 1st-winter.
Common Greenshank, 1st-winter.
Black-winged Stilt, transitioning from juvenile to 1st-winter plumage.
Wood Sandpiper, late juvenile plumage.
Dunlins confirmed at several locations, a dozen or more birds in total.
Common Snipe, juvenile.
Also a Common Snipe juvenile. The snipe are now down to Common Snipe only.
White-winged Tern, juvenile.
Also a White-winged Tern juvenile. Nearly all the remaining White-winged Terns are juveniles.
沖縄では数少なく、石垣島では稀なヨシガモが飛来していました。ホオジロハクセキレイ、マガンも今季初確認しました。
オオハシシギは 10月20日に飛来した個体 がまだ滞在中で同じく 20日に別の場所で確認していたオグロシギ と一緒になっていました。
ヨシゴイは複数箇所で複数羽が逗留中。今季は観察する機会が多いです。
Falcated Duck, rare on Ishigaki-jima. Moulting from eclipse into breeding plumage.
First White Wagtail of the season. Transitioning from juvenile to 1st-winter plumage.
From the back.
Greater White-fronted Goose, juvenile.
It starts moving around towards evening.
It had moved into a paddy with leftover rice and was feeding on the grain.
Black-tailed Godwit and Long-billed Dowitcher. Both juveniles.
It was eating small gastropods.
Pacific Golden Plover, juvenile. Seemed unsettled, with raptors becoming more frequent.
Yellow Bittern this season — many encounters. All juveniles.
Common Snipe, juvenile. Snipe other than Common Snipe have all but disappeared now, which feels lonely.
There was a dead Common Snipe juvenile. Black-winged Kite appears around here often, so it may have fallen prey to one.
This one is a dead Brown Hawk-Owl found in a residential area near my workplace. Given the location, I believe it was a migrant.
Little Swift nest. Several nearby trees had been cut down from the roots. Illegal, of course. Probably the work of someone trying to photograph the nest. Some guides are just awful… ^^;
今月2羽目となるレンカクが現れました。1週間ほど前に出た1羽目は名古屋に帰省していて見逃していましたが、今回は見ることができました。この時期現れるのはほとんど幼鳥です。
自宅前の畑からカンムリワシの鳴き声がするので外へ出てみるとカンムリワシの成鳥とサシバの幼鳥2羽が三竦になっていました。最終的にはサシバの幼鳥が移動しました。
Pheasant-tailed Jacana moulting from juvenile plumage into first-winter plumage.
This individual wasn't very wary and came right up close.
Crested Serpent Eagle perched on a farm sprinkler.
There were two Grey-faced Buzzard juveniles.