今季3羽目となるヤツガシラ発見(動画あり)
1週間前のヤツガシラ に続く今季、3羽目のヤツガシラが到着しました。警戒心の全くない個体で、近くを車が通りかかって飛んで少し距離を置く程度でした。石垣島以外からも到着の報が寄せられており、今季はヤツガシラの当たり年のようです。
気温が上がり暖かくなり、春の渡りも始まりつつあります。田んぼにはタイワンハクセキレイ、ホオジロハクセキレイ、ハクセキレイの混じった群れが到着しました。
シギはタシギやアカアシシギ、タカブシギなどの越冬組に加えて、北上組も飛来し、少しにぎやかになっています。
留鳥のカンムリワシやムラサキサギ、リュウキュウヨシゴイなど繁殖期に向けて活発になっていました。
Discovered what is the third Eurasian Hoopoe of the season on Ishigaki Island.
It showed zero wariness toward vehicles. It did seem slightly startled by the crows.
Among a flock of White Wagtails, there was a single Chinese White Wagtail mixed in.
About half of a flock of 15 White Wagtails were White-faced Wagtails. The White-faced Wagtail is the most common subspecies of White Wagtail on Ishigaki Island.
The White Wagtail subspecies that is the second most common after the White-faced Wagtail.
A Crested Serpent Eagle perched in a street tree. It appears to be waiting for lizards that come out onto the road to bask in the sun. This hunting habit is one reason Crested Serpent Eagles are involved in traffic accidents on the road. Please drive safely.
Spotted a good number of Purple Herons in the pastures. More individuals are now moving around in pairs.
A Ryukyu Least Bittern appeared while I was watching the sandpipers. It was keeping an eye on me, but after a while its wariness faded.
A Cinnamon Bittern shaking itself. It was hunting for prey in a drainage channel.
Northern Lapwings resting in a rice field. Two were sitting down. They had probably just arrived and were tired.
Wintering Common Snipe. Nearly ten birds are staying in this drainage channel.
This individual has beautifully bluish-tinged plumage.
Around five birds are also staying in the rice fields.
Wood Sandpiper numbers had increased a little. They appear to have moved in.
Eurasian Coots were fewer in number this season.