Shorebird Migration Under Way — Gull-billed Tern Arrives
The wader migration has started on Ishigaki Island. Along the coast, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Terek Sandpipers, Eurasian Whimbrels, and Greater Sand Plovers have appeared, while the paddyfields have received Common Greenshanks, Black-winged Stilts, Wood Sandpipers, Long-toed Stints, and Little Ringed Plovers. Numbers and species will keep building from here. With any luck, the snipe we have all been waiting for will show up in late August.
As the tide came close to high, Grey-tailed Tattlers and Terek Sandpipers gathered on the coastal rocks.
The first Greenshank of the season appeared in the rice paddies.
Also the first Wood Sandpiper of the season. Considerable numbers had moved into rice paddies here and there.
Every year, Common Redshank is the first to arrive as a juvenile. It showed up again right away this season.
Little Stint also confirmed at multiple locations. First of the season.
Common Sandpipers have been increasing. Migrants appear to be moving through. One was competing with a Wood Sandpiper over a Cryptotympana cicada wing.
Black-winged Stilts have increased a little as well.
First Whimbrel of the season.
First juvenile Common Sandpiper (right) confirmed this season.
Greater Sand Plover migrants also seem to be arriving.
Little Ringed Plover confirmed for the first time this season.
Greater Painted-snipe is a resident breeder on Ishigaki Island. A female was at the usual paddy field.
The first Lesser Crested Tern of the season has also arrived. It appeared to be bleeding from the left wing.
There are plenty of crabs at the river mouth, so it was diving down and catching them repeatedly.
Black-naped Terns breeding on the offshore rocks come to bathe near the river mouth when the tide comes in.
