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

The June regular, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, has arrived. Birds have also come in to the Okinawa main island at the same time, but both individuals appear to be young birds. I am looking forward to adult summer-plumage birds arriving in due course.

I photographed the Ruddy Kingfisher visible from my living room for the first time in a while. Its call is distinctive enough for individual identification. It has been coming for three years running. When crows approach it chases them off, so there is probably a nest nearby.

Within a radius of a few tens of metres from my home, around three pairs of Ruddy Kingfisher have arrived. One pair's nest was destroyed in the recent heavy rain. The season is still young, so they will likely rebuild somewhere.

Red Collared Dove confirmed at three locations, five individuals in total — four males and one female. Greater Crested Tern numbers have grown to around 30. They will increase further, and just before they move on to the breeding grounds the count typically exceeds 100.

The Ruddy Kingfisher that had been nesting near my home had its nest tree blown down in the heavy rain. It is still early in the season, so I hope they find a good new spot.

I spotted the second Pheasant-tailed Jacana of the season while out birding with my daughter. ^^ The bird was some distance away, so I showed her on the camera monitor — she was delighted: "So cute!!" The individual from a few days ago was in transition to first-summer plumage, but this one appeared to be an adult. The video has the sound of my daughter breathing through her nose. ^^;

The Ryukyu Scops Owl on watch duty was perched in a lower tree than usual. I expect the chicks will fledge around the end of this month.

I found a new Ruddy Kingfisher nest — it looked as though they were still digging it out. In the video you can hear the male and female calling back and forth as they excavate the nest hole.

The first fledgling of the season was a Northern Boobook. Two birds successfully fledged from the same site as last year. For Northern Boobook, the timing was quite early.

I confirmed a Ruddy Kingfisher excavating a nest hole. Individual numbers are high this season, and I have found so many nests that I have lost count. All I can do is hope each one goes well.

I also recorded Terek Sandpiper on Ishigaki Island — a species that seems to be down in numbers nationwide this year. Being late is normal for this species, but the low numbers are a concern. Nearby, a single Common Redshank was there alone. Several Grey-tailed Tattlers are staying in the area. Wandering Tattler has been recorded on Okinawa Island, so I am hopeful for Ishigaki Island too.

Little Terns and Kentish Plovers are breeding at a construction site where work is about to begin. Several pairs of Little Terns are incubating. Kentish Plovers range from chicks that can just barely fly to pairs still incubating.

Construction has finally begun. No matter that the endangered Little Terns are incubating eggs — no consideration is given at all. Bird-deterrent tape and kites were put up only now, belatedly. There is not a shred of compassion on display. The approach does not align with the Ministry of the Environment's "Guidelines for the Conservation and Consideration of Little Tern Breeding Sites" either.

The third Pheasant-tailed Jacana of the season has arrived. Multiple individuals have been confirmed on Okinawa Island as well. This bird showed the most advanced transition to summer plumage of any I have seen so far. It is not at all wary and easy to observe.

Oriental Pratincoles and Greater Painted-snipes are also appearing in the same paddy. Cinnamon Bittern was confirmed by call only.

On Ishigaki Island, Ruddy Kingfisher, Ryukyu Scops Owl, Northern Boobook, Black Paradise Flycatcher, Malayan Night Heron, Black-naped Tern and many other birds are right in the middle of the breeding season.

I confirmed the first Ryukyu Scops Owl fledging of the season. It is a tree cavity that has been used for breeding year after year. The pair may be the same birds, but without banding there is no way to be certain. Only one chick fledged this season, so if it is the same pair, ageing of the parents could be a factor.

Continuing to observe the Ryukyu Scops Owl chick after fledging. It was in a somewhat more visible spot than before. The female parent was nearby keeping watch.

Northern Boobooks are fledging one after another, but at a nest where the chicks are still small the male parent was standing guard close to the nest.

Black Paradise Flycatcher breeding also appears to be going well — the chick that fledged from the pair I have been watching for some time has grown considerably. The adults will probably begin a second breeding attempt, so the fledgling may end up acting as a helper.