Odd Daurian Redstart, Dusky Warbler, Masked Bunting
The overwintering small birds are increasing on Ishigaki Island.
Among them, I found a strange Daurian Redstart. At first I thought it might be a male juvenile transitioning into its first-winter plumage, but that doesn't seem to be the case — it's been suggested the bird may be a female-type individual with unusual plumage. Either way, it was an interesting Daurian Redstart.
Dusky Warblers appear to be arriving in decent numbers in the riverside thickets. Getting a good photo of them is not easy.
A fair number of Black-faced Buntings were lurking in the sugarcane fields. Some individuals that looked more like Masked Buntings were mixed in as well.
I thought the area around the throat might be partway through changing to adult male plumage, but it looks as though feathers have been lost, exposing the black area beneath. Even so, the whitish feathering from above the eye toward the cheek area looks like a male's.
That said, when Daurian Redstarts transition from juvenile to first-winter plumage, male individuals apparently develop vivid orange feathers. This individual shows some orange in places, but is otherwise brown.
The hindcrown and hindneck are a pale brownish buff, more like a female. A genuinely puzzling and intriguing individual.
A Pale-legged Leaf Warbler — I could hear several calling. One came up into view.
A female Black-faced Bunting. I could hear many calls coming from the sugarcane field, and after waiting a short while it came in very close.
The small birds fell silent when the rain started, but were active again once it stopped.
