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.
Southward movement has already begun, but a few Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfishers are still present near home. Every individual is deep in moult and looking rather bedraggled. ^^;
Ruddy Kingfisher in moult. Those with trypophobia may find these pin feathers off-putting, so I recommend visiting before July. ^^;
I found a Javan Pond Heron on Yonaguni Island — almost certainly a first record. Veterans who have visited the island for decades have not seen one, and it does not appear in any checklist.
Up to about seven Yonaguni Wood Pigeons came to Tacchigami Rock on the south-east side of the island. What draws them there, I wonder?
On the schoolground of Kubura Elementary School after rain there was 1 Pin-tailed Snipe and 2 Swinhoe's Snipes. The rice fields on Yonaguni have completely dried up, so they presumably have nowhere else to go. A few dozen Pacific Golden Plovers had also come down.
A Javan Pond Heron — a first record for Yonaguni Island. It was at Agariizaki. This individual was fairly wary.
A Ryukyu Wood Pigeon sunbathing with wings spread.
The Ryukyu Wood Pigeons formed a flock of up to around seven birds.
The first Isabelline Shrike of the season — a female.
A Siberian Wagtail, female, winter plumage.
A Siberian Wagtail, first-winter plumage.
Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile.
Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.
Another Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.
Pacific Golden Plover transitioning from summer to winter plumage.