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

Pale-capped Pigeon, male. At first glance it looks like an adult, but it is a juvenile in advanced moult.

Pale-capped Pigeon, juvenile male. In transition to first-winter plumage.

Pale-capped Pigeon, adult female.

White-winged Tern, juvenile.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, juvenile.

Long-toed Stint, late juvenile plumage.

Red-necked Stint, transitioning from summer to winter plumage.

Red-necked Stint, winter plumage.

Wood Sandpipers bathing. All juveniles.

The second Eurasian Coot of the season — not a first record, just the second bird.

Grey Wagtail, adult.

It was foraging by flipping over fallen leaves.

It was frequently catching small grasshoppers.

This one's prey was also a grasshopper.

An individual with low wariness — it came quite close.

Barn Swallow in flight. Whether there were insects near the ground or not, it was skimming just above the surface.

Barn Swallow, juvenile.

Flying even lower.

Once the α1 locks onto a subject it doesn't let go, so even with a background this close the AF never hunts to the rear. All shots handheld.

First Sharp-tailed Sandpiper juvenile of the season.

The backlight and the distance made conditions poor, but I think this might be a Little Stint....

Red-necked Stint, winter plumage.

Red-necked Stint and Long-toed Stint.

My first Yellow Bittern of the season, tucked away in such a hard-to-see spot… It was a juvenile.

Three Ruff juveniles. From right: female, male, male. The middle bird is remarkably pale.

Black-tailed Godwit and White-winged Tern.

Whiskered Tern, juvenile.

Common Snipe in a drainage channel. For some reason snipe have been scarce in this area this season.

A dispute between a juvenile (left) and an adult Whimbrel.

Being large birds, I could hear the sound of them striking each other with their wings.

Whimbrel moulting from juvenile plumage into first-winter plumage.

Whimbrel, adult.

Black-winged Kite, a species reliably seen at most of the main paddies on Ishigaki Island. Evening is the recommended time to look for them.

The numbers of Crimson-breasted Finch are increasing. Ten birds are currently staying.

Pin-tailed Snipe juvenile in flight.

Pin-tailed Snipe (left) and Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

A Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile dropping into a paddy field.

Sanderling — first confirmed sighting of the season.

Several Ruffs are also staying.

A second wave of Marsh Sandpipers has arrived.

Large numbers of Grey-tailed Tattlers can be seen along the shore.

Ruddy Turnstones — numbers going up and down.

Long-toed Stint in flight.

Greater Sand Plover, winter plumage.

Lesser Sand Plover, juvenile.

Another Lesser Sand Plover.

Grey Plover — scarce on Ishigaki Island. Some breeding plumage still remaining.

Pacific Golden Plover seen on the coast, in paddies and on cultivated fields.

First Eurasian Teal of the season. Numbers should keep climbing from here.

Whiskered Tern just about to touch down.

Whiskered Tern, juvenile. Hunting over the paddies in flight.

As evening came on they gathered to roost. A Whiskered Tern roost.