Garganey — herald of spring — and a lone Taiga Bean Goose
When it comes to spring ducks on Ishigaki, Garganey is the one. Two males were resting on a small settling pond. A Taiga Bean Goose arrived on its own — presumably a northbound bird. There were reports of nearly 100 geese passing over the island; this individual may be a straggler from that flock.
The overwintering Tufted Ducks are coming into breeding plumage. One female Northern Pintail — for some reason just the one — is moving around with a flock of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks. She seems to have missed her window to migrate.
Two male Garganey. Their beautiful breeding plumage gives a real sense of spring.
A small Bean Goose. Tundra Bean Goose, perhaps?
Many Tufted Ducks are wintering at the dam, but for some reason this individual is wintering in a small sedimentation pond.
A single female Northern Pintail mixed in with a flock of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks.