Dark-morph Grey-faced Buzzard for Fifth Consecutive Year; Black-winged Kite Encounters Up (with video)
The dark-morph Grey-faced Buzzard that has been overwintering on Ishigaki Island every year since 2018 has returned again this year. It was a juvenile in the first year, so it is now 5 years old. It has been gradually becoming less wary, and this year I was able to observe it at quite close range.
The Black-winged Kite first appeared on Ishigaki Island in 2015 and has been breeding steadily ever since, to the point where it can now be seen all over the island — and it has finally moved into town as well. On this day I confirmed two birds flying together over the MaxValu in Maesato. I also frequently see them foraging on the wasteland to the east of Ishigaki City Hall.
A Black Baza wintering on Ishigaki Island. This marks its fifth year visiting. It typically stays until around March.
A Black-winged Kite in a mown grassland. An extremely unwary individual.
A Black-winged Kite hovering right in front of me.
It was completely unfazed even when cars passed beneath the wire it was perched on.
A Black-winged Kite at a different location.
In the evenings, I often see Black-winged Kites hunting over rice paddies, sugarcane fields, and pastures.
White Wagtails have been increasing too.
A Grey Wagtail with a deformed bill. Whether from injury or congenital, I'm not sure.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in late juvenile plumage.
The snipe in the rice paddies are all Common Snipe. All juveniles.