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

Pied Avocet Glossy Ibis Ashy drongo Crested serpent eagle Pintail Snipe

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

Wintering Eurasian Bittern (video)

A Eurasian Bittern that has been staying since last year. There are several individuals, but one of them shows no wariness at all and can be watched closely. It has been appearing reliably of late, and its behaviour — so utterly unlike the other herons — is a real pleasure to observe. ^^

Eurasian Bittern
Eurasian Bittern

A Eurasian Bittern appeared right in front of me. It noticed me but showed no alarm.

Eurasian Bittern
Eurasian Bittern

It kept coming closer. Seen head-on, it has quite a menacing look.

Eurasian Bittern
Eurasian Bittern

The Eurasian Bittern came within a few metres. Small fish were the main prey.

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

A wintering Chinese Pond Heron. Around four individuals are on the island.

Purple Heron
Purple Heron

Adult Purple Heron.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

Not as many as last year, but several Yellow Bitterns are wintering again this season.

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS / SEL14TC / Chinese Pond Heron / Eurasian Bittern / Purple Heron / Yellow Bittern

Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank and others wintering in the paddies

The wintering Swinhoe's Snipe I found at year-end could not be relocated. Common Snipe were present in numbers exceeding 100.

Others included wintering Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, and Marsh Sandpiper.

Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper

A Marsh Sandpiper wintering in the same rice field. First-winter plumage.

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

Common Greenshanks wintering in rice fields and along the coast. First-winter plumage.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Common Redshank, first-winter plumage. A small flock of Common Redshanks has been staying in the rice fields.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Common Redshank, first-winter plumage.

Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper, first-winter plumage.

Green Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper, 1st-winter.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Common Snipe flock.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

No Swinhoe's Snipe found.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

The largest Common Snipe flock was around 40 birds.

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS / SEL14TC / Common Greenshank / Common Redshank / Green Sandpiper / Marsh Sandpiper / Wood Sandpiper / Common Snipe

First-ever Black-throated Loon recorded in Okinawa Prefecture!!

A Black-throated Loon has arrived — a first record for Okinawa Prefecture!! It was distant, so I pulled out the 2× teleconverter and shot at 1200mm. Even at that range the white on the breast was conspicuous.

Black-throated Loon
Black-throated Loon

Adult Black-throated Loon. Perhaps it rode the fierce northerly winds that had been blowing for several days all the way down to Ishigaki Island in the south.

Black-throated Loon
Black-throated Loon

Pacific Loon has been recorded in the prefecture, but I never expected a Black-throated Loon to turn up!!

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS / SEL20TC / Black-throated Loon