Northern Boobook starts breeding, six White-winged Terns arrive, Eastern Yellow Wagtail appears
The Ryukyu Northern Boobook has begun breeding. The nest site changes almost every year because the nest trees rot and fall, yet breeding still succeeds and typically two or three chicks fledge.
A flock of six White-winged Terns appeared over the paddies. The weather had been a little rough, so they seemed to have taken shelter on the island. All were in summer plumage — a beautiful sight.
A Eastern Yellow Wagtail also turned up nearby. It has been a very long time since the last one. By the following day it was gone.
The sandpipers have largely moved on, which makes things feel rather quiet, but at least one Pin-tailed Snipe managed to hang on.
A male Japanese Scops Owl. I've had a long acquaintance with this individual.
White-winged Terns in breeding plumage were flying back and forth over the paddies, picking off prey.
Six White-winged Terns — all in breeding plumage. Wonderful to see them all matching like that. ^^
A first encounter in a long while with an Eastern Yellow Wagtail. It still appeared to be in winter plumage.
Only this one Pin-tailed Snipe remained of the snipe. We'll have to wait until late August for snipe again.
Wood Sandpipers were so numerous I barely paid them any mind, but as the migration season winds down, their numbers have thinned.