リュウキュウキビタキ、アカショウビン、リュウキュウコノハズク、アオバズク
いつも鳴き声は聞こえるのですが、なかなか姿が見えないリュウキュウキビタキが林道の脇でさえずっていました。地上から1メートル以下の低い位置で鳴いています。本土のキビタキは高いところにいますが、石垣島などはコマドリなどがいないので競合せずに地面近くを使っているのでしょうかね?
リュウキュウアカショウビンの繁殖ステージはいろいろで、いまだに巣作りしていないペアもいます。
リュウキュウコノハズク、リュウキュウアオバズクの繁殖はどこも順調。
Ryukyu Fantail, adult male.
Same individual as above. It was singing frequently while moving at low height, less than one metre from the ground.
Ruddy Kingfisher, male.
A different male individual.
Also a different male individual. They are paired, but have not yet started digging a nest hole. They are in a small patch of greenery — perhaps they cannot find a suitable spot?
Ryukyu Scops Owl breeding at the same nest tree for several consecutive years. This male is strikingly rufous and very handsome.
A male Brown Hawk-Owl standing guard at the nest. The spot sees a lot of foot traffic, but it shows no reaction to people.