Pin-tailed Snipe Numbers Crash; Grey-faced Buzzard Migration Winding Down?
Pin-tailed Snipe have dropped sharply and the fields are now full of Common Snipe. A few Swinhoe's Snipe are still hanging on. Last year the final Pin-tailed Snipe of the autumn migration was recorded on 18 October. I wonder how long they'll be around this season. I don't think the 2024 birds will overwinter, but Pin-tailed Snipe and Swinhoe's Snipe were confirmed in February. I know it's getting ahead of myself, but I'd love to find overwintering birds in 2026.
I went back to check on the Grey-faced Buzzards again today after yesterday's visit, but things were quiet — it felt like the main push had already moved through the day before… ^^; At this time of year my daily snipe rounds make it hard to get out and watch the Chinese Sparrowhawk and Grey-faced Buzzard migration properly…
A juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe. This might turn out to be my last Pin-tailed Snipe of the season.
A Swinhoe's Snipe well advanced in its moult into winter plumage.
At this time of year, almost all the snipe on Ishigaki Island are Common Snipe.
Wood Sandpiper in winter plumage. A few individuals are still lingering.
Common Greenshank in winter plumage. Only a few remaining here as well.
Pacific Golden Plover juvenile. Both juveniles and adults are present on the island, but all five birds in this flock were juveniles.
First-winter Eastern Yellow Wagtail — when it popped into my binoculars I was startled for a moment, thinking it was some unfamiliar warbler.
Gray-faced Buzzard, male. Probably second-winter.
Same individual as above.
Gray-faced Buzzard, juvenile.