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

Ryukyu scops owl Lesser Whistling Duck Short-eared Owl Purple Swamphen Javan pond heron

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

2023年、鳥初め

みなさん今年もよろしくおねがいいたします。

新年は、正月早々に新型コロナウイルスで家族全員がダウンしていました。どこにも行けずに8日まで寝正月な幕開けとなりました。^^;

鳥初めは、9日からとなりました。昨年からクロヅル、アカツクシガモ、ツクシガモ、コハクチョウ、チョウセンチョウゲンボウ、サシバ、チュウヒ、ハイイロチュウヒ、ツグミ類、セキレイ類、ノビタキ、アカガシラサギ、ムクドリ4種などが越冬中です。

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

For New Year's, you can't leave out a juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle — the bird celebrated in the Okinawan song "Washi nu Tui-bushi."

Lesser Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel

Lesser Kestrel, juvenile. Wintering in the same spot. An individual with no wariness at all — easy to watch.

Common Kestrel
Common Kestrel

Common Kestrel, juvenile. This one also showed no wariness whatsoever.

Hen Harrier
Hen Harrier

A Hen Harrier appeared while I was watching the Rosy Starling. It seemed to be eyeing the starling flock but failed. Please, just don't hunt the Rosy Starling… ^^;

Black-winged Kite
Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite, juvenile.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Grey-faced Buzzard, juvenile. It was catching grasshoppers in a mown pasture.

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

Three Chinese Pond Herons are staying at two locations.

Hooded Crane
Hooded Crane

A wintering Hooded Crane. Lately it has been moving from feeding site to feeding site almost every day.

Ruddy Shelduck
Ruddy Shelduck

Ruddy Shelduck, juvenile. Starting to come into first alternate plumage.

Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper

Marsh Sandpiper, first-winter plumage.

Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing

Northern Lapwing. A flock of about ten birds, all juveniles, currently staying in the area.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Swinhoe's White Wagtail, first-winter plumage. Two birds were among a flock of about twenty White Wagtails.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

A different individual from the one above — Swinhoe's White Wagtail, first-winter plumage.

White Wagtail
White Wagtail

White Wagtail (leucopsis), adult male.

White Wagtail
White Wagtail

White Wagtail, adult male.

Siberian Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat

A wintering male European Stonechat.

Common Starling
Common Starling

A Common Starling associating with Common Mynas.

Common Myna
Common Myna

The Common Mynas were in a flock of a dozen or so birds. They were eating Ficus (gajumaru) berries.

Naumann's Thrush
Naumann's Thrush

Naumann's Thrush, adult. The tail feathers were almost completely missing.

Dusky Thrush
Dusky Thrush

Dusky Thrush, first-winter.

Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush

Blue Rock Thrush, male, first-winter.

Categories: 野鳥