リュウキュウヒクイナのペア、アカガシラサギ、クロツラヘラサギ
移動時間に田んぼに寄り道。警戒心が強くてじっくり見る機会がないリュウキュウヒクイナのペアを近くで観察できました。畔を2羽で歩いていました。繁殖に備えて巣作りする場所でも探しているのでしょうか。
今季、石垣島や八重山、沖縄本島、南西諸島に非常に飛来数が多いアカガシラサギはどこの田んぼにいっても渡り途中の個体がいる状態です。
クロツラヘラサギは5羽が飛来。群れの中で1羽だけが美しい夏羽に変わっていました。
Male Okinawa Rail.
The Okinawa Rail is usually very wary, but I was able to observe this one at close range.
It was walking along the ridge of a paddy field, keeping a watchful eye on its surroundings.
The red on the breast is beautiful.
This is the female Okinawa Rail paired with the individual above. Breeding is about to begin.
A Black-crowned Night Heron almost fully in breeding plumage.
It was catching mole crickets and earthworms.
When a Black-winged Kite flew overhead, it stretched its neck and watched warily.
A Black-faced Spoonbill in beautiful breeding plumage. Likely part of a spring migration flock — a few individuals have been moving around and staying on the island since around the end of last month.
