A daily record.
Featuring photos of wild birds and nature, mainly from Okinawa Main Island and Ishigaki Island

A Eurasian Hoopoe near the northern coast. It was foraging in light rain.

Eurasian Hoopoes have been arriving in good numbers on Ishigaki Island this season too. I had hoped to see several on Yonaguni Island, but due to bad weather there was only this one bird.

Eurasian Hoopoes tend not to emerge from the undergrowth in rain, but this individual had apparently just arrived and hunger won out — it was foraging intently.

Two Eurasian Buzzards confirmed. Both were of the common form.

A flock of White-faced Wagtails, all males, arrived. Most individuals had already moulted into summer plumage.

A few White Wagtails were mixed in among the White-faced Wagtail flock. In the Yaeyamas — Ishigaki Island, Yonaguni Island and elsewhere — White-faced Wagtails outnumber White Wagtails.

A large flock of Eastern Yellow Wagtails was along the coast on the southern side of the island.

A flock of around 30 Red-throated Pipits confirmed at Agari-zaki.

Moult condition varies among individuals. This one is showing a little reddish colouration.

This individual still appeared to be largely in winter plumage.

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.

A Eurasian Hoopoe that turned up a little early. There are good years every few years, but I have a feeling this season will see a large influx of Eurasian Hoopoes on Ishigaki Island.

Foraging for insects from the ground to fuel up. The Eurasian Hoopoe is quite the hearty eater — it puts away a considerable amount.

The Crested Serpent Eagle has entered the breeding season and is moving around actively. You can hear territorial calls coming from all directions.

A wintering Grey-faced Buzzard. A male.

This one is a female Grey-faced Buzzard.

A Great Crested Grebe, an uncommon bird on Ishigaki Island.

Tufted Ducks winter here in large numbers every year. Last year a Baer's Pochard was mixed in among them, but none has been found this season.

A few Marsh Sandpipers are wintering here.

Green Sandpipers are also wintering here.

Common Sandpipers seem to be around all year.

Pin-tailed Snipe in January is something I've never recorded before — a very rare occurrence.

It spends most of its time in the grass.

It showed itself in full view. First-winter plumage.

And then, the moment I'd been waiting for — bath time begins.

It was bathing in exactly the same spot as the other day.

Records of Pin-tailed Snipe at this time of year are rare not just nationally but even for Okinawa and Ishigaki Island, so we need to make sure to check the tail feathers as well, just to be certain.

I intend to observe carefully until it departs.

This Pin-tailed Snipe left a strong impression, so I've been able to identify it individually. You can tell at a glance. ^^ First-winter plumage.

I was passing through for work and didn't have much time, but it gave me a bath scene.

A Pin-tailed Snipe preening after bathing.

A Pin-tailed Snipe driving off a Common Snipe (right). The smaller-bodied Common Snipe loses out to both Pin-tailed and Swinhoe's Snipe.

The same Common Snipe as above. First-winter plumage. Around five Common Snipe are wintering here.

Common Snipe are wintering all over the island.

Temminck's Stint — many pass through, but almost none winter here.

A Common Greenshank with an injured wing. It may have difficulty migrating when spring comes.

Little Ringed Plovers are wintering in flocks in the rice fields.

A Eurasian Spoonbill on an extended stay. It was fairly wary.