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

The eldest of three siblings. It seems able to fly short distances.

This is the second brother. He was nervously making his way along the branches.

A Ryukyu Scops Owl fledgling that left the nest on the night of 24 June. Three days since fledging.

The father of the fledgling above.

Likewise, the mother.

The Ryukyu Scops Owls at a different site from the family above have also fledged. The first chick apparently left on the night of 27 June.

This is a sibling of the one above. It probably fledged on the night of the 28th. It was in the tree next to the individual above.

The father of the two fledglings above.

Likewise, the mother.

A male Brown Hawk-Owl. The female has been appearing more often, so fledging may be imminent.

A male Japanese Paradise Flycatcher brought food to the nest. The prey was small spiders and moths, so the chicks are probably still quite small.

The female parent was sitting on the nest occasionally.

This is the male digging out the nest hole. A late start — will he make it in time for the autumn migration?

There appear to be two Japanese Paradise Flycatcher chicks. The male parent came to the nest. After feeding them, he carried their droppings away from the nest in his bill.

This is the female parent.

A Brown Hawk-Owl chick that had fledged. It returned to the nest again that same day. Like the Ryukyu Scops Owl earlier this season, it was the first time I had seen this.

The female parent watching over the fledgling.

The male parent a short distance away.

At the Ryukyu Scops Owl nest near my home, only the male is keeping watch, so the chicks are probably still small.

A Ruddy Kingfisher raising chicks in a primary school playground. It was perched in front of the nest hole, giving the impression it was encouraging the chicks to fledge.

The first Ruddy Kingfisher fledgling of the season was at a mango farm.

First Wood Sandpiper of the season. Summer plumage.

Also summer plumage.

Wood Sandpiper, summer plumage.

Black-winged Stilt, female, summer plumage.

Black-winged Stilt, male, summer plumage.

Greater Painted-snipe, female (left) and male.

Greater Painted-snipe, female, first-summer plumage.

Little Ringed Plover may also have been a first for the season. I've been busy lately and may have missed some records.

Ryukyu Little Bittern, male. Singing. It was moving between several spots within the area and singing at each one.

Breeding colour has come in.

The reef where Black-naped Terns form a colony every year. It is high tide, so the sea level is up.

An Osprey summering on the reef in the background.

A fledgling Ruddy Kingfisher perched on a rock.

The forest interior is dark — the light in this photo is about what it actually looks like. Without the call, finding one would be impossible.

A female Japanese Paradise Flycatcher putting effort into nest building.

Hoya blooming.

Fledgling Brown Hawk-Owls perched on the nest tree.

A fledgling Ruddy Kingfisher confirmed on two consecutive days.

Same individual as above.

The parent of the chick above.

The seventh Ryukyu Scops Owl nest of the season.

Only the male was keeping watch outside, so fledging still appears to be some time away.

Up in the hills, the Hoya flowers are increasing.

A Little Tern nest abandoned after a single egg was laid.

Among the flock driven off the beach, there were banded individuals.

A Little Tern catching fish at the beach.

Little Tern in summer plumage (left) and first-summer plumage.

It was a flock of about 70. I hope they find a new nesting site…

They were alarm-calling and mobbing beachgoers, but most of the nests had been crushed by heavy machinery, and no one paid the Little Terns any attention.

Common Redshank, first-summer plumage.

Long-toed Stint, late summer plumage.

Common Greenshank, summer plumage.

Common Greenshank, first-summer plumage.

Common Greenshank, first-winter plumage.

Greater Painted-snipe, male. First-summer plumage.

Whimbrel also passing through in small numbers.

A dozen or so Grey-tailed Tattlers lingering.

Distant Red-necked Stints. About four have stayed through the summer.

Around ten Greater Sand Plovers have arrived.

Bridled Terns and Little Terns are breeding. Common Greenshanks and Grey-tailed Tattlers are on the move.

A juvenile Ryukyu Least Bittern. The feathers are ragged — moult seems to be proceeding rapidly.

A juvenile Ryukyu Least Bittern that flew past right in front of me.

I went over to where the bird above had landed, and there it was. White down still remains on the head and tertials.

A different individual. White down also still remains on the head and tertials.

A juvenile Purple Heron. Encounters will become more frequent from here on.

A juvenile Ryukyu Night Heron. On its own now, catching tadpoles or something in a shallow puddle.

Eastern Cattle Egret, transitioning from summer to winter plumage.

Intermediate Egret, summer plumage.

Ryukyu Scops Owl, female.

The male, paired with the bird above. Both birds are outside the nest, so fledging appears to be imminent.

Male Brown Hawk-Owl. Three recently fledged chicks are nearby.

A singing Ruddy Kingfisher. Most pairs have finished raising their young, but three pairs are still incubating.

A Ruddy Kingfisher looking ragged as its moult progresses and feathers fall out.