Common Ringed Plover appears!!
A Common Ringed Plover — a rare bird on Ishigaki Island — has turned up. It's only the second time I've seen one on the island. It was associating with a flock of Little Ringed Plovers. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, the first of the season, also arrived. I had noted it a few days earlier, but today I managed to get photographs.
The rice fields have a true migration-season feel, with Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Black-winged Stilt, and Red-necked Stint all coming and going.
The Kentish Plover was in transition from breeding to non-breeding plumage.
The white wing-bar of the Kentish Plover is conspicuous even in flight and helps with identification from Little Ringed Plover.
Little Ringed Plovers were staying in rice fields here and there.
Pacific Golden Plover, transitioning from breeding to non-breeding plumage.
Common Greenshank is also changing into non-breeding plumage.
Marsh Sandpiper, transitioning from juvenile to first-winter plumage.
Black-winged Stilt, female in non-breeding plumage.
A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, the first appearance this season. Adults were first recorded in July.
Wood Sandpiper in the process of changing into non-breeding plumage.
Wood Sandpipers staying in good numbers.
