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

Ashy drongo Eurasian Hoopoe Lesser Whistling Duck Pintail Snipe Glossy Ibis

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

12 Greater White-fronted Geese arrive; Lesser White-fronted Goose still present (video)

Twelve Greater White-fronted Geese joined the group of two Lesser White-fronted Geese and one Taiga Bean Goose that arrived on 8 October, making for a lively gathering all at once. I forgot to photograph them, but several Northern Shovelers also arrived.

Lesser White-fronted Goose
Lesser White-fronted Goose

Two Lesser White-fronted Geese that have been present for four days.

Tundra Bean Goose
Tundra Bean Goose / Greater White-fronted Goose

Bean Goose (left) and Greater White-fronted Goose.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

Juvenile Black-bellied Tern.

Categories: 野鳥

Pheasant-tailed Jacana arrives (video)

A juvenile Pheasant-tailed Jacana dropped into a paddy field. It appeared to be feeding on small freshwater snails. In a normal year they turn up between late October and early November, so this one is a little early.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Pheasant-tailed Jacana moulting from juvenile into first-winter plumage.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Pheasant-tailed Jacana

It was walking around the paddies foraging.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Pheasant-tailed Jacana

After a while it disappeared into the grass. With bad weather likely to persist, it should stay around for some time.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Juvenile Common Snipe.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Almost all the snipe are Common Snipe. A few Swinhoe's Snipe remain but will depart before long.

Categories: 野鳥