今季初ハリオシギ、越冬サンカノゴイ、ホウロクシギ飛来ほか
今季初となるハリオシギを確認。石垣島の春の渡りのハリオシギは貴重です。チュウジシギも入れ替わりながら滞在。一番多いのはタシギです。
シャクシギはチュウシャクシギに次いでホウロクシギが飛来しました。数日前、与那国航路に出た大学生たちが、石垣港を出航してすぐに海上で見た個体かもしれません。ちなみにこの春の与那国航路の海鳥はかなりよかったようです。その代わり海は荒れますので乗船には覚悟が必要です。^^;
昨年から越冬中のサンカノゴイに久しぶりに会えました。あいかわらず警戒心がありません。数羽滞在中のアカガシラサギは夏羽に変わりつつありました。
The first Pin-tailed Snipe of the season.
Three days later, a second Pin-tailed Snipe, separate from the individual above.
Common Snipe. It appeared to have injured its left wing.
Two Common Snipe. Fairly wary.
A Common Snipe that wouldn't wake up even when I got close.
Common Snipe are the most numerous.
A Common Snipe in the distant grass.
A Common Snipe startled by a Eastern Spot-billed Duck.
A Far Eastern Curlew in the rice paddies.
A Yellow Bittern that has been wintering since last year. I think it is starting to come into breeding plumage, but I can't really tell.
A Chinese Pond Heron with increasing breeding plumage. This individual showed no wariness either.
Three Northern Pintails were still present.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail, first-winter, transitioning into breeding plumage.
A Grey Wagtail also moving into breeding plumage.
A Common Starling was present on its own. It is gradually taking on its beautiful breeding plumage.