GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR
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.
渡りのシーズンもすっかり終わり、特に田んぼには寂しい限り。この日の平田原はアオアシシギ1羽とウズラシギ2羽、セイタカシギ8羽、コチドリ2羽のみの確認で終了。
Pectoral Sandpiper. Still retaining some winter plumage.
Common Greenshank. Old juvenile feathers remain, so it is in the process of moulting into first-summer plumage.
Little Ringed Plover, male in summer plumage.
Black-winged Stilt, female in summer plumage.
八重山、石垣島の夏の小鳥と言えばリュウキュウキビタキでしょうか。この時季、鳴き声は聞こえるのですが姿はなかなか見せてくれませんが、根気よく探せば枝でさえずる姿を拝めます。このオスのリュウキュウキビタキは、縄張りの見回りなのか、さえずっては枝を変えて移動していました。
アカショウビンはどこに行ってもいます。警戒心の薄い個体なら長時間の観察も可能です。もちろん観察、撮影する車内の人影が見えないような簡易的なブラインドを利用したりしますが…。
カンムリワシは現在抱卵中のペアがほとんどで田んぼやサトウキビ畑でめぐりあう機会は減りましたが、林道などでは遭遇します。
Male Ryukyu Flycatcher. It is not particularly wary of people, but it lives deep in the undergrowth, so you often hear it without ever seeing it.
Unlike the Narcissus Flycatcher, the Ryukyu Flycatcher has white markings extending into the tertials.
The throat of the Ryukyu Flycatcher is yellow, whereas that of the Narcissus Flycatcher has an orange tinge.
Ryukyu Flycatcher with summer plumage replacing the winter plumage on all feathers except the primaries.
It came out into a slightly open area for a brief moment.
At this time of year, there is a high chance of encountering Ruddy Kingfishers in parks and along forest roads.
A Crested Serpent Eagle that had caught a Ryukyu Tree Lizard.
リュウキュウコノハズク3カ所、リュウキュウアオバズク2カ所、リュウキュウアカショウビン2カ所の営巣確認をしてきました。サンコウチョウやサンショウクイ、シジュウカラなども巣作り、子育て中のようでした。
ズグロミゾゴイとリュウキュウヨシゴイも子育て中。オサハシブトガラスの巣立ちビナが地面に落ちていました。
海岸にはこれから繁殖地の尖閣諸島へ向かうオオアジサシが40羽ほど飛来していました。子育て後は巣立ちビナを連れて毎年、戻ってきます。
Female Ryukyu Scops Owl. She nested in the same tree hollow last year too.
The male paired with the individual above. Both the male and female are the same pair that bred here last year.
Male Ryukyu Boobook on watch.
Remarkably, the inside of the nest is in plain view. This tree hollow was excavated by a Ryukyu Kingfisher back in 2014, seven years ago. It was cut down after last year's typhoon snapped the tree and it was deemed dangerous. This pair nests somewhere fully exposed every year. ^^;
From the back. Thought to be the same individual as the male of the pair that bred here last year.
Male Ryukyu Kingfisher excavating a nest hole several metres above the ground.
A Ryukyu Kingfisher nest at a different location from the one above. It was nearly finished.
The Malayan Night Heron appears to have begun incubating as well.
Female Ryukyu Minivet. Both male and female are a common sight at this time of year. There is likely a nest nearby.
A fledgling Large-billed Crow. It could not fly at all.
Great Crested Tern stopping over on Ishigaki-jima again this year before heading to its breeding grounds on the Senkaku Islands.
石垣島ではこの時季、バンナ公園や林道などで多くのアカショウビンが見られます。特に公園では人馴れした個体が多く観察、撮影がしやすいです。
Male Ryukyu Kingfisher in the park.
Also in the park. This one is a female.
Ryukyu Kingfisher along a forest road as well. Probably a female.
春の渡りも終わりに近づき、田んぼのシギはずいぶんと減ってしまいました。
市街地からほど近い田んぼでは、セイタカシギが10羽程度とウズラシギが1羽。ほかの田んぼもアオアシシギが少し残る程度でした。
Common Greenshank in summer plumage.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, adult winter plumage.
Black-winged Stilt, adult male summer plumage.