カタグロトビ巣立ち、カンムリワシ幼鳥、ジャワアカガシラサギ、アカガシラサギほか
石垣島ではカタグロトビやカンムリワシの幼鳥が姿を見せてバードウォッチャーを楽しませています。チョウゲンボウやサシバ、ハイタカは越冬中。オオノスリやハヤブサ、チュウヒなども滞在しています。
ジャワアカガシラサギとアカガシラサギは仲良く同じ田んぼで越冬中。昨年からの滞在で無事に年も越しました。わずかながら夏羽も出てきています。
A Black-winged Kite observed at eye level at one of my regular spots. It's perching on its favourite branch as usual, eyes gleaming red.
After a while, two crows flew in and drove the Black-winged Kite away. A Black-winged Kite was mating on a nearby utility pole, so they are presumably breeding in the area.
The Black-winged Kite above is a fledgling from a different location. It appeared to be alone. The eye colour is completely different from that of adults.
At yet another location, two chicks made their first flight. Black-winged Kites on Ishigaki Island seem to breed around twice a year regardless of season.
A Crested Serpent Eagle juvenile that caught a frog in a drainage channel.
It carried the frog off into the undergrowth, apparently wanting to avoid the nuisance crows.
A Common Kestrel hunting over a pasture. It was catching mole crickets and grasshoppers.
It was a relatively unwary individual — when I put up a blind and watched, it sometimes hunted right in front of me.
A distant Grey-faced Buzzard. It was probably taking mainly grasshoppers.
Same individual as above. At this kind of distance, a blind isn't necessary.
A Eurasian Sparrowhawk that had been battling a Black-winged Kite. On Ishigaki Island I almost always see juveniles, so it was a treat to get a close look at an adult male.
A Javan Pond Heron that has been here since last year, carrying over into the new year. A little of its distinctive buff-toned summer plumage is starting to show.
A Chinese Pond Heron wintering alongside the Javan Pond Heron above. Summer plumage is visible on this one too. You can see it is deeper in colour compared to the Javan Pond Heron.
A male Siberian Stonechat had arrived. Several birds are currently staying on the island.