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

Purple Swamphen Black Bittern Ryukyu flycatcher Asian Glossy Starling Ryukyu scops owl

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

シベリアオオハシシギ、アメリカウズラシギ、ヨーロッパトウネン、キリアイ、サルハマシギなど(動画あり)

シギが増えてきているので、この日は一日中、シギ・チドリ探しに当てました。その結果、シベリアオオハシシギをはじめアメリカウズラシギ、ヨーロッパトウネン、キリアイ、サルハマシギ、ハリオシギ、オオメダイチドリなどシギ・チドリだけで合計21種類を確認できました。一日でこれだけの種類が見られるのはこの時期の醍醐味ですね。^^

Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher

A Bar-tailed Godwit in summer plumage that suddenly dropped in alongside Black-winged Stilts and Black-tailed Godwits near the end of a shorebird search. Looking sharp in that summer plumage.

Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper

A Pectoral Sandpiper among a flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. It flew into my binoculars while I was watching Pin-tailed Snipe.

Little Stint
Little Stint

I also came across a Little Stint — not often seen in large numbers on Ishigaki.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

On the coast, a Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

In the rice paddies, a Curlew Sandpiper mid-way through its moult into summer plumage.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

A Broad-billed Sandpiper was in the same paddy.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper / Curlew Sandpiper / Little Stint

A dream combination came together: Broad-billed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, and Little Stint, left to right.

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

A Common Greenshank also moving into beautiful summer plumage.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Three Common Redshanks arrived. Some birds overwinter here, but these are part of the passage.

Grey-tailed Tattler
Grey-tailed Tattler

Grey-tailed Tattler in fresh summer plumage — as good as it gets.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

The third Pin-tailed Snipe of the season.

Long-toed Stint
Long-toed Stint

Long-toed Stints on the thin side too. A bit worrying.

Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpipers past their peak, lingering in small scattered numbers.

Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt, adult male in summer plumage. The large flock has gone; around ten birds are staying on, cycling through.

Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt, first-summer plumage.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in summer plumage. Small flocks of a few birds turning up at several spots.

Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper

A Marsh Sandpiper looking tired — perhaps just arrived. Beautiful summer plumage.

Black-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwits also moving into summer plumage. Large waders won't come down to the island unless the weather turns rough…

Great Knot
Great Knot

A few Great Knots on the coast.

Terek Sandpiper
Terek Sandpiper

About ten Terek Sandpipers arrived.

Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper

The Common Sandpiper is always alone even during migration season. Does it not migrate in flocks?

Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstones are present year-round, so I cannot tell whether they are migrants or winterers, but their numbers do fluctuate.

Greater Sand Plover
Greater Sand Plover

Greater Sand Plover numbers have dropped.

Lesser Sand Plover
Lesser Sand Plover

As Greater Sand Plovers have declined, Lesser Sand Plovers have increased in number.

Categories: 野鳥

カラシラサギ、クロツラヘラサギ、リュウキュウヨシゴイ

今季2個体目となるカラシラサギが河口に飛来。近くにはクロツラヘラサギ3羽も滞在しています。繁殖シーズン序盤で活発なリュウキュウヨシゴイは5羽確認しました。田んぼには北帰行に置いてきぼりのコガモとハシビロガモがいました。

Chinese Egret
Chinese Egret

The second Chinese Egret of the season. It was showing its familiar behaviour of chasing fish at the water's edge.

Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill

Three Black-faced Spoonbills are staying. Apparently there were as many as five at one point.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

A female Ryukyu Striated Heron. Neck stretched, keeping watch on its surroundings. Lip-licking is a characteristic behaviour of the Ryukyu Striated Heron — I wonder what it means.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

A Ryukyu Striated Heron in among the dried grass.

Eurasian Teal
Eurasian Teal

A lone female Eurasian Teal left behind by the migrating flock. Nearby was a single male Northern Shoveler.

Categories: 野鳥