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

Collared Kingfisher Black-winged kite Pheasant-tailed jacana Emerald dove Black Bittern

GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR

Go where the birds are. The SHIMASOBA Tour launches.

We'll drive you around Ishigaki Island to wherever the birds are showing best that day. Observation is mostly from inside the vehicle, and we keep it to a maximum of 3 guests so everyone can take their time.

Max. 3 guests 4 hours in the morning Beginners welcome
Check availability and book

バライロムクドリ、ミドリカラスモドキ現る!!(動画あり)

バライロムクドリ2羽とミドリカラスモドキ2羽が現れました。撮影し損ねましたが、アサクラサンショウクイも1羽確認。海上が荒れたので石垣島に避難してきたのでしょうか?

昨日飛来したマガン25羽のクロツラヘラサギ1羽も滞在。オオハシシギは滞在20日となりました。

今季は出会いが多いオジロトウネンは2羽飛来しました。

Rosy Starling
Rosy Starling

Rosy Starling juvenile (right). Mostly in juvenile plumage, but a few first-winter feathers are coming in.

Rosy Starling
Rosy Starling

With strong winds and occasional rain, the Rosy Starling was moving energetically from tree to tree, catching berries and insects.

Metallic Starling
Metallic Starling

Common Green Magpie juvenile.

Metallic Starling
Metallic Starling

Two Common Green Magpies came together.

Common Starling
Common Starling

Common Starling, adult winter plumage.

White-shouldered Starling
White-shouldered Starling

Daurian Starling, adult female.

Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher. The Bar-tailed Godwit that had always been with it has returned to the paddy field where it originally was.

Temminck's Stint
Temminck's Stint

Temminck's Stint, moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Common Snipe, first-winter plumage.

Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Geese — 25 birds arrived the day before.

Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill

Also arrived yesterday, a young Black-faced Spoonbill.

Purple Heron
Purple Heron

Purple Heron, adult.

Common Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher

A juvenile Common Kingfisher fishing in a nearby river.

Categories: 野鳥

マガン25羽飛来 今季初のキンクロハジロほか(動画あり)

立冬のこの日、マガンが25羽飛来しました。石垣島はもちろん沖縄でも最大の飛来数だと思われます。これまで県内でもっとも多い飛来数は 2018年の11羽 なので倍以上の数に記録更新です。ついでにオナガガモ3羽もついてきました。

今季初となるキンクロハジロを確認。単独で水路を泳いでいました。

先月、50羽ほどの群れで入ったタゲリは島内で分散してあちこちの田んぼにいます。

ツメナガセキレイとムネアカタヒバリは群れで島内を移動していて、昨日は100羽以上の群れがいたのに今日はいないなんてことがよくあります。

ほかにはオグロシギやムナグロ、リュウキュウヨシゴイ、カンムリワシ、ムラサキサギ、シマアカモズ、サシバなどレギュラーメンバーに会えました。

Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose

The flock of Greater White-fronted Geese totalled 25 birds, adults and juveniles combined.

Northern Pintail
Northern Pintail

A Northern Pintail that had tagged along with the Greater White-fronted Geese.

Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck

First Tufted Duck juvenile of the season.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

Ryukyu Least Bittern juvenile.

Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill

A Black-faced Spoonbill in the paddy field with the Greater White-fronted Geese.

Black-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit

The Bar-tailed Godwit that had been together with the Long-billed Dowitcher had for some reason parted ways with the dowitcher and returned to its original spot. Why? ^^;

Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing

Northern Lapwing juvenile.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, winter plumage.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, winter plumage.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail juvenile.

Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit

Red-throated Pipit juvenile.

Pacific Golden Plover
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover juvenile.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

A young Crested Serpent Eagle. Some juvenile feathers remain.

Categories: 野鳥

エゾビタキ、ノビタキ、ジョウビタキ

9月末から10月上旬が渡りのピークのはずのエゾビタキがまだいました。田んぼにはノビタキが2羽。今季はノビタキを確認する機会が多いです。ジョウビタキも数を増やし、この日はオス8羽とメス2羽を確認しました。

Grey-streaked Flycatcher
Grey-streaked Flycatcher

An out-of-season Grey-streaked Flycatcher. It was a juvenile.

Siberian Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat

A female Siberian Stonechat. I encountered many individuals this season.

Daurian Redstart
Daurian Redstart

A male Daurian Redstart.

Categories: 野鳥

レンカク逗留中 オニアジサシの親子(動画あり)

先月、現れたレンカク はまだ滞在中です。1週間の滞在はレンカクにしては長いですね。

11月に入るとすぐに現れるオニアジサシは親子で数日前から滞在中。

Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Pheasant-tailed Jacana

A juvenile Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Completely unafraid.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Pheasant-tailed Jacana

It was eating a small snail.

Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern

An adult Caspian Tern with prey.

Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern

The adult returning to the juvenile (right) with prey in its bill. I expected it to feed the chick, but it flew off instead.

Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern

The juvenile trying to steal the fish dropped by the adult (right).

Categories: 野鳥

ハイタカとリュウキュウヨシゴイ(動画あり)

田んぼにハイタカがいました。うれしい反面、ツメナガセキレイを飛ばしてしまうのがちょっと迷惑。^^;

近所の河川にはヨシゴイ2羽とリュウキュウヨシゴイ1羽がよく姿を現します。かち合うとけんかが始まります。^^;

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk

A juvenile Eurasian Sparrowhawk. A relaxed individual — it showed no concern even when people walked by on their stroll.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Hiding in the bushes, it would dart in whenever a flock of Eastern Yellow Wagtails came close. I never got to see whether the hunt succeeded… ^^;

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

A Yellow Bittern on water hyacinth. It was wriggling about, watching for prey.

Categories: 野鳥