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

Common Redshank, juvenile plumage moulting into 1st-winter plumage.

Common Redshanks are increasing, with a dozen or so birds confirmed at multiple locations.

Common Greenshank, late summer plumage.

Terek Sandpiper, late summer plumage.

Greater Sand Plover, moulting into winter plumage.

Greater Sand Plover, winter plumage.

Whimbrel, winter plumage.

July 19 — chicks around 10 days after hatching. At this point it became apparent there were apparently about 5 chicks.

The mother.

A parent bringing a beetle.

Typhoon No. 6 snapped the nest tree and sent all 5 chicks tumbling out; they were rescued at 6:26 p.m. on the 23rd.

Five hours after the rescue. Warming and drying with two dehumidifiers had brought it around enough to sit up properly.

July 24, the day the artificial nest was installed. At first it was wary, but unable to hold out against the chicks' begging calls, it started bringing food.

The artificial nest in its full glory. Clearly suspicious-looking… ^^;

The nest box itself, up close.

A Ruddy Kingfisher carrying prey.

The prey looks like a large grasshopper.

The autofocus on the SONY α1 is remarkable. It doesn't miss focus even when a small bird is coming straight at the camera.

Day three after installing the artificial nest, one day before fledging. The chicks' feathers have filled in considerably.

I shoot with the car window open about 20 cm and a blind covering it.

Maybe the duct tape is slippery — mid-air feeding.

July 27. The Ruddy Kingfisher chicks are spending more and more time peering outside, looking ready to fledge any day now.

Five days since the rescue, four days since being returned to the parents — the Ruddy Kingfishers have finally fledged!! The first to go was neither of the two individuals shown with their heads out at the top.

It doesn't seem able to perch on branches yet and is moving around on foot. The four remaining in the nest also look healthy. It will probably take another two or three days for all of them to fledge.