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

Wood Sandpiper juvenile. Mid-moult from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

Wood Sandpiper transitioning from first-summer to second-winter plumage. This was the first confirmed sighting of Wood Sandpiper this season, for both juvenile and adult.

First Green Sandpiper of the season. Transitioning from first-summer to second-winter plumage. It was in a ditch and I noticed it by its call. I almost missed it.

A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in pristine juvenile plumage. Sharp-tailed Sandpipers have been coming through in large numbers, but this was finally my first confirmed juvenile.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in late summer plumage.

Common Redshank transitioning from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

The first Pacific Golden Plovers of the season confirmed at three locations. Moulting from summer to winter plumage.

Common Greenshank in late summer plumage.

Long-toed Stint in late summer plumage. A few winter feathers are coming in.

Red-necked Stint in late summer plumage.

An adult Pin-tailed Snipe I found two days ago.

Same individual as above. The pin-like tail feathers are visible.

This is how it looked when I found it. It was so close I almost missed it.

Flank of a Swinhoe's Snipe.

View from behind.

A Swinhoe's Snipe that caught an earthworm. Also an adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile. A strongly dark-brown type.

A more typical-looking Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

An adult Swinhoe's Snipe preening.

A Swinhoe's Snipe hiding in the grass.

An adult Swinhoe's Snipe on alert toward a Whiskered Tern that was circling overhead.

The first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper of the season has arrived. Moulting from adult breeding to non-breeding plumage.

Oriental Pratincole, moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

Also an Oriental Pratincole, likewise moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

A Purple Heron not long out of the nest, begging a parent for food.

Common Redshank, moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

Wood Sandpiper, late breeding plumage.

Greater Painted-snipe, male. First-winter plumage.

Long-toed Stint, late breeding plumage.

Black-winged Stilt, male.

Eastern Cattle Egrets are increasing in number.

Zitting Cisticola, adult, late breeding plumage.

The first Pin-tailed Snipe of the season — three birds in the same paddy field. All adults.

Pin-tailed Snipe, adult. Moulting into winter plumage.

Another adult Pin-tailed Snipe. Late breeding plumage.

The first Swinhoe's Snipe of the season — four birds confirmed. All adults.

Wood Sandpiper is the most numerous species in the paddies. No juveniles have arrived yet.

Greenshank moulting into winter plumage. Again, all adults.

Common Sandpiper, adult. Moulting from breeding to non-breeding plumage.

A male Greater Painted-snipe that for a split second made me think I had found a snipe.

Greater Painted-snipe, female. Calls were coming from all over. Are they starting a second breeding attempt?

Greater Sand Plover, non-breeding plumage.

This single Grey Plover has been here for a few days now.

Ruddy Turnstone, adult.

A few Whimbrel have been lingering.

Grey-tailed Tattlers range from late breeding to non-breeding plumage.

A juvenile Ryukyu Least Bittern. Downy feathers still remain on the head. When it approached adults it was chased away.

This one looks properly juvenile — quite endearing.

An adult male Ryukyu Least Bittern. Breeding plumage lingers even after the breeding season has ended.

Another male Ryukyu Least Bittern.

Long-toed Stint numbers are building. Late breeding plumage adult.

Long-toed Stint, first-summer plumage.

Wood Sandpiper, late breeding plumage.

Greenshank (left) and Common Redshank.

Black-winged Stilt, first-summer male.