GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR
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.
田んぼでシギなどを見ていると、空からツメナガセキレイの20羽ほどの群れが降ってきました。とりあえず目の前に降りた3羽を見てみるとシベリアツメナガセキレイ、マミジロツメナガセキレイ、(キマユ)ツメナガセキレイが横一列に並んでいました。突然の奇跡に驚き!!
The second Siberian Wagtail of the season. Last month's bird was in winter plumage, but this one was in breeding plumage.
Citrine Wagtail in breeding plumage.
(Yellow-browed) Wagtail in breeding plumage.
シギ、チドリの渡りがピークを迎えつつあるようで、田んぼが大変賑わっております。石垣島で唯一、繁殖するシギのタマシギもカップルで活動的です。
サルハマシギは夏羽から冬羽までさまざまなステージの換羽状況の4羽が滞在。今季、3個体目となるヨーロッパトウネンやキリアイ3羽、今季初オジロトウネンのほか、トウネン、ヒバリシギ、ウズラシギ、セイタカシギ、コアオアシシギ、アオアシシギ、イソシギ、ムナグロなどが一つのエリアに飛来しています。
Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage. Beautiful frosted patterning.
Curlew Sandpiper retaining a little winter plumage.
Curlew Sandpiper retaining much of its winter plumage.
Dunlin in winter plumage.
Greater Painted-snipe, female in summer plumage.
Greater Painted-snipe, male in summer plumage.
Greater Painted-snipe female (foreground) and male. They appeared to have paired up.
Always a pleasure to find a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in spring.
Three Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in all.
The third Little Stint of the season.
Hoping for a Little Stint in full summer plumage to turn up.
A Temminck's Stint slow to moult, still in winter plumage.
This one appeared to have injured its left leg.
Long-toed Stint moulting from winter to summer plumage.
Marsh Sandpiper in summer plumage. I think this grey-toned summer plumage is the most beautiful of the lot.
Greenshank showing a little summer plumage coming through.
Pectoral Sandpipers confirmed in numbers running into the dozens. This individual was flagged, but I couldn't read the code….
The moult stages of Pacific Golden Plovers were richly varied as well.
シギの飛来数は増えているのですが、ジシギは数を減らしています。この日は、ジシギが5羽ほどいる田んぼを発見。ハリオシギが2羽いたので、そのうちの撮りやすい方の個体の尾羽を狙ってみました。もう一羽はほとんどの時間を草の陰で過ごしていて撮影できずでした…。
Pin-tailed Snipe having a stretch.
I thought this was the same individual as above, but it seems they had swapped at some point. Also a Pin-tailed Snipe. It was foraging in the grass along a paddy bund.
Another Pin-tailed Snipe. It was threatened by a White-breasted Waterhen and came out into the open briefly, but quickly retreated back into the grass.
This Common Snipe had a swollen joint.
Purple Heron with a little winter plumage still remaining."
A Javan Pond Heron in full breeding plumage.