Short-eared Owls Wintering
Short-eared Owls have been wintering here again this season, as they did from around the end of last year. Surprisingly large numbers have turned up. A Long-eared Owl was also reported, but only for a single day — unfortunately I was not able to see it myself.
Out in the paddies during the day there are also wintering waders and plovers. Past mid-January I get the sense that they are slowly starting to move. I expect the main movement to begin around late February.
There was a Short-eared Owl staring intently at a thicket where mice were lurking. It seemed there was another one in the same area.
A Ryukyu Striated Heron with an injured wing. Its plumage is dirty all over and it looks to be in poor condition.
The Greater White-fronted Goose is still in the same spot.
An Osprey is also wintering here. When it shows up at the rice fields, it takes a bath and heads back.
Purple Herons seem to be in the early stages of breeding — I've been seeing pairs more often.
Two Marsh Sandpipers have arrived. Migration is still a little way off, so perhaps they're moving around within the island.
Common Greenshank and Common Redshank are also staying on.
Common Snipe are wintering in flocks of around ten in the better spots.
