Common Crane Arrives on Ishigaki Island (with video)
The Common Crane observed on the 17th as a first island record by one of our newspaper's readers was still present. I managed to photograph it successfully. ^^
The Common Crane I saw at Izumi on the Kagoshima plain had a deep orange iris, but this individual's iris is pale yellow. I find myself wondering whether that reflects the bird's age, a subspecific difference, or simply individual variation.
Incidentally, this autumn this is the second first island record, following the Plaintive Cuckoo from the other day. Last year the Ishigaki birding scene went into an unprecedented frenzy from November onward, but this year, including these two species, things are getting even more remarkable!!
I stopped by on the way to work and the Little Curlew found three days ago was also still present and looking well.
A Common Crane on Ishigaki Island. Blown in by the northerly winds that had been raging until a few days ago, perhaps?
A Common Crane in flight. I thought I might be able to read the age from the moult condition, but… I really can't tell. ^^