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.
日曜日、家族で島内をドライブ中にベニバト2羽を発見。キジバトの群れにまじっていました。
A flock of Oriental Turtle Doves was startled into flight — and among them I spotted a male Pale-capped Pigeon, its red body and white-tipped tail feathers standing out. It came and perched on a nearby branch.
A female Pale-backed Pigeon. It had come down to farmland to feed.
先日の3羽のオウチュウ は5羽に数を増やしていました。4カ所で7羽いたうちのどれかが、合流して5羽になったのか新たに渡ってきたのか分かりませんが、一度に5羽のオウチュウが集まるなんて初めてのことです。
クロハラアジサシが複数入り、その中にハジロクロハラアジサシの夏羽が1羽いました。田んぼの上をひらひらと飛びながら虫をとっていました。
沖縄では珍しい、黒々とした夏羽に衣替えしたツルクイナがいました。石垣島には冬羽や幼鳥は定期的に現れますが、夏羽は珍しいです。
田んぼではウズラシギやタシギ、アオアシシギ、コアオアシシギなど渡り途中の個体が入れ替わりで立ち寄っています。
コシアカツバメ、ヒメアマツバメ、ショウドウツバメ、ツバメの4種がまざった群れも飛来。天気が悪い中、田んぼを飛び回りながら餌をとっていました。
Drongos are turning up in large numbers on Ishigakijima this season.
A Black Drongo perched on a banana leaf.
Perhaps because the rain was keeping insects from flying high, it seemed to be flying low and picking insects off the leaves.
White-winged Tern in breeding plumage.
The White-winged Tern is beautiful — jet-black body with pure white tail feathers.
White-winged Tern, head-on.
It was ranging widely, but occasionally passed close by.
Several White-cheeked Terns in breeding plumage turned up.
It is rare to see Spotted Redshank like this on Ishigakijima.
Pectoral Sandpipers increased sharply in number all at once.
Of the snipe seen on Ishigakijima, Common Snipe are the first to arrive and the last to leave.
A Black-tailed Godwit coming into breeding plumage.
Marsh Sandpiper in breeding plumage.
Common Greenshank in transition to breeding plumage.
A mixed flock of four swallow species appeared. Whether they arrived separately and joined up on the island, or came together as a mixed flock, I'm not sure.