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

Purple Swamphen Forest Wagtail Daurian starling Pintail Snipe Asian koel

GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR

Go where the birds are. The SHIMASOBA Tour launches.

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.

Max. 3 guests 4 hours in the morning Beginners welcome
Check availability and book

ハジロクロハラアジサシ3羽、ソリハシセイタカシギほか

今季はハジロクロハラアジサシの飛来が多く、5月に入ってから夏羽に換羽した美しい個体を7羽ほど確認しています。滞在期間はどれも短く、1〜3日程度です。

田んぼには季節外れのソリハシセイタカシギがいました。こちらは1日で渡去してしまったようです。

春の渡りも終わりかけで田んぼのシギ、チドリも寂しくなっています。それでもアオアシシギ、セイタカシギ、ウズラシギは複数箇所で確認。タカブシギは1羽のみ疲れた様子でした。

White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern

A White-winged Tern in breeding plumage. It looks especially striking from the back.

White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern

In light rain, three birds were flying around over the rice paddies.

White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern

The head, body, and flanks are jet black.

White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern

Watching from inside the car, I had them flying busily right in front of me.

White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern

The prey they were catching appeared to be spiders and grasshoppers.

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

A Pied Avocet that arrived on the late side. A reasonable number turn up every year, but last autumn and this spring were particularly busy, with a large number of individuals passing through Ishigaki Island.

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

Greenshanks in a fallow field. Several birds are staying.

Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpipers, which along with Long-toed Stints are among the first to arrive in both spring and autumn, were still present this late in the season.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpipers confirmed at multiple sites, with a dozen or more birds.

Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilts also at multiple sites, a dozen or more. Most individuals are in first-summer plumage.

Categories: 野鳥

巣作り中のアカショウビンとカンムリワシ

自宅のベランダから見えるリュウキュウマツに巣穴を掘っているリュウキュウアカショウビン。かなり掘り進んでいるようで、アカショウビンが中に入ってしまうと外からは姿が見えません。

昨年生まれのカンムリワシが元気に過ごしていました。白い幼羽から換羽が進んでいます。

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

A male Ruddy Kingfisher. Digging a hole — there are wood chips on its bill.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

This one is a female. She had been tucked deep inside the nest hole, but when an Oriental Turtle Dove landed on the nest tree, she shot out.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

A Crested Serpent Eagle in transition from white juvenile plumage to adult plumage.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

When it found prey and dropped to the ground, a crow came over to harass it.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

A Crested Serpent Eagle fleeing after being harassed by two crows.

Categories: 野鳥