GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR
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.
今季6羽目のオウチュウが現れました。昨日のオウチュウもですが、なぜか今季は警戒心のない個体ばかりです。
毎年、繁殖を確認しているアオバズクの到着も確認しました。営巣木がもろそうなので、台風などが襲来すると崩れないか心配です。
A Black Drongo with zero wariness. It was catching flying insects.
A male Ryukyu Scops Owl standing watch. If eggs have already been laid, the chicks should fledge in early July.
久しぶりに河口も巡回。コオバシギ3羽やオバシギ、オオソリハシシギ、ホウロクシギ、ソリハシシギ、キアシシギ、オオメダイチドリなどが観察できました。田んぼにはソリハシセイタカシギがやってきていました。
A Red Knot transitioning into breeding plumage. Three appearing at the same time is unusual.
A Great Knot also showing a little breeding plumage coming through.
A Bar-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage, with deepening reddish tones.
A Pied Avocet also turned up in the paddies. It was alone.
A few Whimbrels appeared too. They were catching Okinawa mud lobsters — washed down from the mangrove stands upstream by the heavy rain the other day, most likely.
A few Terek Sandpipers confirmed as well.
Grey-tailed Tattlers were the most numerous.
Ruddy Turnstones are present year-round, but numbers have been fluctuating as migrating individuals join the flock.
The Red-necked Stints were still in full winter plumage.
A Greater Sand Plover pulling out what appears to be a geophilomorph centipede from the sediment washed in by the previous day's heavy rain.
The Oriental Pratincoles in the paddies were bathing. Water has been let into the field they seemed to be eyeing for breeding. They'll probably move on soon.