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

Daurian starling Iriomote Tit Schrenck's little bittern Black Bittern Asian Glossy Starling

GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR

Go where the birds are. The SHIMASOBA Tour launches.

We'll drive you around Ishigaki Island to wherever the birds are showing best that day. Observation is mostly from inside the vehicle, and we keep it to a maximum of 3 guests so everyone can take their time.

Max. 3 guests 4 hours in the morning Beginners welcome
Check availability and book

Northern Boobook fledging, Ruddy Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, Chinese Pond Heron, Black-naped Tern chick-rearing and more

The Northern Boobooks have fledged. Pair formation was later than usual this year, so fledging was delayed too. I wonder whether one of the pair has changed.

Ruddy Kingfisher fledging is finished everywhere now, and the adults are catching their breath. The fledglings are still within their parents' territories but are catching prey on their own.

Cinnamon Bittern chick-rearing is also over, and juveniles are appearing in rice paddies here and there. Juvenile Purple Herons that have become independent are also starting to show up in the paddies. Chinese Pond Herons and Black-faced Spoonbills are arriving on autumn passage.

Waders are beginning to move through little by little. As autumn migration gets into full swing, numbers and species will keep increasing.

Terns are in the thick of chick-rearing. Black-naped Tern chicks that are roughly one to two weeks post-hatch are starting to be seen.

Northern Boobook
Northern Boobook

The last fledgling of the season for the Brown Hawk-Owl. There were still some remaining in the nest.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

A Ruddy Kingfisher that had finished raising its young. Zero wariness in this individual.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

Same individual as above. Even with a car passing under the branch, it was this relaxed. I ended up sitting down to watch.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

Ryukyu Least Bittern, male. The nuptial coloration has faded, but the beautiful breeding plumage remains.

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

A Chinese Pond Heron with a little winter plumage just starting to come in over the breeding plumage.

Purple Heron
Purple Heron

Purple Heron, juvenile. Being seen here and there.

Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill

Two Black-faced Spoonbills have been staying together for several days now.

Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill

A Black-faced Spoonbill with prey. It was walking along the field edge catching something.

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

A few Greenshank arrived together. The extent of moult varied among individuals.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Common Redshank, first-summer plumage.

Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plovers arrived in a group of about ten. They looked tired, having just arrived.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Eastern Spot-billed Duck

Three Eastern Spot-billed Ducks growing up together after losing their parent. Whenever a Common Moorhen with chicks appeared, they would follow along as if longing for a family, but they kept getting left behind.

Pacific Swallow
Pacific Swallow

A fledgling Ryukyu Swallow. It had come to the rice paddy to drink water.

Black-naped Tern
Black-naped Tern

A Black-naped Tern chick, about ten days to two weeks post-hatch. At least two pairs and three chicks were visible.

Categories: 野鳥