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

The very first Swinhoe's Snipe of the training camp encountered in conditions like this…. ^^; A valuable adult.

Second individual — a juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Another juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. Finding them steadily. ^^

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe. The scapulars have already moulted into winter plumage.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. The fifth Swinhoe's Snipe of the day.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. As with Pintail Snipe, juveniles far outnumber adults.

Extremely distant juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. The most common plumage type among autumn juveniles on Ishigaki-jima.

The eighth Swinhoe's Snipe on the first day. Another juvenile.

The closest Swinhoe's Snipe of the first day. A juvenile. It was a particularly small and charming individual even within the flock. There was another bird that looked so similar I thought they might be siblings.

Same individual as above. Most birds that day were too busy foraging to preen much, but I managed to get a view of the tail feathers.

Same individual as above. A beautiful bird with fresh juvenile plumage — moult not progressed at all.

This was the tenth Pin-tailed Snipe of the first day, the last individual of the session. We wrapped up at 6:00 p.m. because there was a barbecue get-together at my place afterwards.

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile in the distance. Swinhoe's outnumbered Pin-tailed on the day, but since I was focused on finding Pin-tailed, photos of Swinhoe's ended up being an afterthought… ^^;

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. I really love the plumage on this type — it reminds me of a Solitary Snipe. This type is uncommon. There's a video below as well.

Same individual as above. No moult in the primaries at all.

Same individual as above. It showed me its tail feathers too. Can you make out those needle-like outer tail feathers?

Same individual as above. It was on alert because a Common Moorhen had approached, and it spread its tail right out for me. The outer tail feathers of Pin-tailed Snipe are only visible when spread this wide. When they're not visible during normal preening, that's the kind of thing that makes you think 'possible Pin-tailed'… ^^;

Extremely distant, but this is an adult Pin-tailed Snipe.

Same individual as above. A blurry shot, but the primary moult is just about visible. It looks like the primaries have been replaced except for two or three old feathers remaining on the outer edge.

Adult Pin-tailed Snipe resting on a paddy bund. Scapulars already moulted into winter plumage. One new feather visible among the tertials.

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. Are the scapulars missing?

Same individual as above.

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile preening.

Another Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

Yet another Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult. Moult well advanced on the scapulars, tertials, and so on.

The tail feathers of Swinhoe's Snipe are easy to see even during ordinary preening. On the final day, observation ended just after 4:00 p.m. due to my return flight. This individual was the last snipe of the trip.

A Javan Pond-Heron that stayed for several days.

This is the fourth Javan Pond-Heron of the season.

The first Common Greenshank juvenile of the season.

Common Greenshank moulting from breeding to non-breeding plumage.

The first Green Sandpiper juvenile of the season.

The first Red-necked Stint juveniles of the season, a flock of ten including adults.

The first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper of the season. About two non-breeding scapulars are coming in.

A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper that was with the individual above. A few non-breeding feathers are also showing on this one.

A Greater Painted-snipe parent and chicks. There were two chicks, but they were on alert and tucked themselves under the parent, out of sight.

Black-winged Stilt moulting into first-winter plumage.

Black-winged Stilt, adult female in non-breeding plumage.

Marsh Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage.

Common Redshank in first-winter plumage.

First Grey-tailed Tattler juveniles of the season. All five birds in the flock were juveniles.

Both birds are Greater Painted-snipe, first-winter females.

Also a Greater Painted-snipe, first-winter female.

Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

Also a Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe adult, moulting into non-breeding plumage.

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult. The scapulars have moulted into winter plumage. Some of the tertials have been shed.

Red-necked Stint, adult. Moulting into winter plumage.

Common Sandpiper, juvenile.

While I was watching a Eastern Yellow Wagtail, an adult Purple Heron flew in.

A flock of around 200 Eastern Cattle Egrets arrived.

The Ruddy Kingfisher in my neighbourhood. I say hello to this individual every morning before heading to the office. ^^ The head looked quite tatty a few days ago, but the moult there seems to be done now.

The primaries still appear to be old feathers. Will it suspend moult here before continuing its migration?

Crested Serpent Eagle, adult. It was hunting from a windbreak with a clear view over the paddies.

Same individual as above.

This one was hunting from a sprinkler.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, adult female, winter plumage. (leucopsis)

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, adult male, winter plumage. (leucopsis)

I thought it was a Siberian Yellow Wagtail, but it turned out to be a leucopsis Eastern Yellow Wagtail… The supercilium had simply disappeared because the bird was soaked in rain….

A juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle in flight. Always a stunning bird no matter when you see it.

It was too far away, so I shot with a 1200 mm lens plus in-camera crop. With additional photo cropping, the effective focal length is around 2700 mm.

A juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle stretching. Its crop is bulging, so it looks like it had a good meal.

The first Broad-billed Sandpiper of the season, found by my daughter. In autumn it's always a juvenile.

Same individual as above. The fresh juvenile plumage, with moult not yet started, is beautiful.

Temminck's Stint, juvenile. It was at the far end of the paddy and quite distant….

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. The moult on this individual seems to be progressing awfully fast….

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. Pin-tailed Snipe numbers have really dropped. The second wave is due around now.

Common Snipe numbers are also declining.

Another Common Snipe. I photographed it in a different paddy in the same area, but it turned out to be the same individual as above. Did it flush over when startled by a passing walker?

Red-necked Stint, juvenile. A group of around ten to a few more were staying.

Marsh Sandpiper, winter plumage. A few birds were staying.

Black-bellied Tern moulting from summer to winter plumage.

The Ruddy Kingfisher closest to home. Together with the individual photographed a few days ago, it appears that at least two birds are here preparing for migration.

Another Ruddy Kingfisher seen near home. Moult is progressing. You can see that the old feathers have lost the purplish sheen characteristic of the Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfisher.

My first Rosy Starling of the season. Lower right is a Common Myna.

Brown Shrike, first-winter plumage.

A Brown Shrike that caught a grasshopper. Also first-winter plumage. Adults are yet to come.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (supercilium to eye), adult male, winter plumage.

A Javan Pond Heron with zero wariness. It has now been staying for over a week.

It was walking along the paddy bank catching mole crickets and grasshoppers.

Ryukyu Cinnamon Bittern, adult male. It popped up while I was watching snipe.

Ryukyu Cinnamon Bittern, juvenile. Moult is progressing.

Purple Heron, juvenile. Moult is also progressing here.

White-winged Tern, winter plumage. It was with a few Black-bellied Terns.

Same individual as above. Four old primaries remain.

Black-bellied Tern, juvenile. It was on its own.

Long-billed Dowitcher, juvenile. It startled every time a farmer's light truck passed.

When I watched quietly, it relaxed and began feeding.

Broad-billed Sandpiper, juvenile. This individual disappeared quickly.

A Broad-billed Sandpiper from a different area than the one above. Also a juvenile.

Thought to be the same individual as the one above.

A newly arrived Broad-billed Sandpiper. It was moving around together with the individual above.

Ruff, adult male. Traces of breeding plumage remain.

Same individual as above, but photographed two days earlier.

Red-necked Stint, juvenile.

Long-toed Stints gradually increasing in number.

Least Sandpiper, winter plumage.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper transitioning from breeding to winter plumage.

Common Redshank, first-winter plumage.

Whimbrel, juvenile. It appeared to have a slight leg injury.

Common Greenshank, first-winter plumage.

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile, in flight.

Same individual as above. Flight shots of snipe are always a treat.

Same individual as above.

A plump, well-fattened Swinhoe's Snipe. Laying on fat for migration.

Pin-tailed Snipe, adult.

Same individual as above.

A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe on a distant bank.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Juvenile Common Snipe (far right), adult Common Snipe (near right), and Common Redshank.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe.

Adult Common Snipe.

Same individual as above. Startled by a Whiskered Tern.

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe.

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe.

Common Snipe (foreground) and Swinhoe's Snipe.

Quite distant, but a juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Same individual as above.

Adult Pin-tailed Snipe.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Same individual as above.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Same individual as above.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Same individual as above.

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile.

Same individual as above.

The Pin-tailed Snipe in the background is the same individual as above; the one in the foreground is a Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Same individual as above.

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

The Javan Pond Heron count in the same paddy field has gone up to two.

Broad-billed Sandpiper, juvenile. The Broad-billed Sandpipers in this area are now up to three.

Greater Painted-snipe, adult male.

Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile (right) and Red-necked Stint juvenile.

Same individual as above.

Same individual as above. I really wanted to photograph this bird's tail feathers, so I visited four days in a row. With just three minutes left before I had to leave, it finally spread its tail. ^^

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Red-necked Stint, adult (foreground) and juvenile.

White-browed Wagtail, juvenile.

The Ruddy Kingfisher near my home. It will be departing soon, so I've been checking every morning to confirm it's still around, hoping to record the last sighting of the season. There is one more bird nearby.

Rufous Kingfisher on a forest road.

An individual near the Rufous Kingfisher above. As the migration season approaches, I get the sense that Rufous Kingfishers tend to gather in small loose groups.

A male Emerald Dove at the usual feeding spot.

A different feeding spot. The male was carrying nest material back and forth repeatedly.

Same individual as above. He has a small twig in his bill.

A male Emerald Dove that turned back because I was too close.

A juvenile male that appeared at the same feeding spot as the adult above. They may be parent and offspring.

A juvenile male Common Kestrel with a captured Eastern Yellow Wagtail.

It was eating its prey while soaring.

Juvenile Common Teal.

The Javan Pond Heron is on an extended stay. Showing no wariness at all, it is delighting visiting birders from off-island.

A Greater Painted-snipe with chicks — four of them in tow.

Marsh Sandpiper moving into winter plumage.

Two juvenile Marsh Sandpipers transitioning into first-winter plumage.

Juvenile Long-toed Stint.

Adult Red-necked Stint moulting into winter plumage.

Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Same individual as above.

Same individual as above.

Same individual as above.

I tried to photograph both birds in flight at the same time, and this happened… Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Same individual as above.

Black-winged Kite, adult. Sex unknown.

In the late afternoon sun, the red eyes shine all the more brilliantly.

At this time of year an east wind blows in the evening, so hovering birds face away from me — but when a Black-winged Kite moves off it wheels around and shows its back.

The Black-winged Kite's hunting didn't seem to be going well that day.

Red-rumped Swallow, adult.

Barn Swallow, adult.

Barn Swallow, juvenile.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, female, winter plumage.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, first-winter plumage.

First Dunlin of the season. It was a juvenile.

Pacific Golden Plover, winter plumage.

Greater Sand Plover, winter plumage.

Ruddy Turnstone, adult. Moulting into winter plumage.

Red-necked Stint, juvenile.

Long-toed Stint (foreground) and Red-necked Stint. Both juveniles.

Greater Painted-snipe, adult male.

White-winged Tern, first-winter.

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. A typical individual — no room for doubt.

Same individual as above.

Same individual as above.

This one is also an unambiguous Swinhoe's Snipe.

Same individual as above. The outer tail feathers were the narrow type, which made it doubly exciting!!

This one is also a Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Same individual as above.

It was the closest bird to me, but showed no sign of moving. Perhaps exhausted from just having arrived on migration.

Common Snipe, juvenile.

A Common Snipe being chased by a Pin-tailed Snipe (background). This Pin-tailed Snipe didn't bother the Swinhoe's Snipes, but it drove away every Common Snipe.

Common Snipe, juvenile.

Pin-tailed Snipe (foreground) and Swinhoe's Snipe. All juveniles.

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. Same individual as the foreground bird in the photo above.

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult (right) and juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile. The individual whose tail feathers I spent four days photographing a few days ago. Even seeing it again on this day, it was a confusing individual leaning toward Pin-tailed Snipe.

The day's largest kettle of Chinese Sparrowhawks — close to 300 birds.

A flock of Chinese Sparrowhawks gliding past.

A juvenile Chinese Sparrowhawk.

Another juvenile. Most of the individuals flying close by are juveniles.

An adult male Chinese Sparrowhawk.

Another adult male.

Again, the one that flew close by was a juvenile.

Most of the Chinese Sparrowhawks had moved through by around 9:30 a.m.

A juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

Another Buff-breasted Sandpiper — also a juvenile.

While watching the Buff-breasted Sandpipers, a Black-winged Kite appeared.

It turned around and left almost immediately. Relieved the Buff-breasted Sandpipers weren't flushed. ^^

A flock of Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Long-toed Stints, and Red-necked Stints.

Marsh Sandpiper in winter plumage.

Common Greenshank in winter plumage.

An adult female Pale-backed Pigeon. There are three birds in total including a male, but they won't come out — wary of raptors. The children who came along started calling for home, so we called it a day here.