Ryukyu Flycatcher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Ryukyu Scops Owl, Northern Boobook
A Ryukyu Flycatcher — whose calls I always hear but rarely get a proper view of — was singing beside a forest road. It was singing from less than a metre off the ground. On the mainland, Narcissus Flycatcher tends to use higher perches, but perhaps on Ishigaki Island, with no Japanese Robin to compete with, it is free to use the lower storey?
Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfishers are at various breeding stages; some pairs have still not started nesting.
Ryukyu Scops Owl and Ryukyu Northern Boobook breeding is going well everywhere.
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.