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

A male Ryukyu Scops Owl calling for a female from the nest tree used last year as well. Once the breeding season gets going the feathers become quite ragged, but at this point they're still looking neat. ^^

Same individual as above. Whenever another male appeared, it chased him off without hesitation.

A Pin-tailed Snipe that was relatively unguarded. Photographed from inside the car at a distance of a few metres.

About ten metres from the individual above, another bird — this one a Common Snipe.

Common Mynas have been increasing lately. Seven were at a ground golf course.

A Crested Serpent Eagle crossing a paddy field. They are very easy to spot at this time of year.

An adult Iriomote Tit. Sex unknown.

A juvenile Iriomote Tit. You can't really tell it apart from the Japanese Tit or the Amami Tit until it reaches adult plumage.

The adults are constantly on alert for Large-billed Crows and Japanese Sparrowhawks.

The Iriomote Tit has a different kind of charm from the Ishigaki Tit.

It appeared to be hanging from a branch to catch a tiny insect.

Far Eastern Curlew, first-winter plumage. Just a hint of summer plumage still showing.

Adult male (right) and adult female Garganey. Both in breeding plumage.

Three Garganey, all in breeding plumage.

Two Chinese Pond Herons in the same paddy field. First-winter plumage.

Adult winter Temminck's Stint. Three individuals were moving with a flock of Little Ringed Plovers.

A flock of Grey Herons apparently stopping over on migration. Their breeding colours are starting to show — very much a spring-passage feel.

A male (Yellow-browed) Yellow Wagtail, almost completely into summer plumage.

Common Greenshanks are gradually increasing in number. Still in winter plumage. Also on the shore were Ruddy Turnstones, Lesser Sand Plovers and Greater Sand Plovers.

A Tundra Swan eating freshly planted seedlings. Lucky it was a kind-hearted farmer.

Eurasian Hoopoe at the reliable spot. Another individual turned up as well.

Scaly Thrush found on a forest road. First of the season. I leaned out of the car and forced the shot. ^^;

Adult male Malayan Night Heron. Nuptial coloration has come in and the face has turned blue.

The female of the pair above. Also in nuptial color. Last year this pair successfully raised one chick.

Purple Heron in flight. The autofocus tracked the eye solidly.

A Cattle Egret in flight. Eye tracking locked on perfectly here too.

The perched Purple Heron responded solidly as well.

A Cattle Egret with a broken wing. Numbers have been building with the spring migration, but occasionally you come across an injured bird like this. Probably flew into a power line.

A Common Kingfisher on the coast. The kingfisher is the one exception where eye AF locks on even at this size.

My first Temminck's Stint of the season. There was just one, mixed in with a flock of Little Ringed Plovers and Long-toed Stints.

Long-toed Stint, first-winter plumage.

A flock of Black-winged Stilts. Eye AF didn't respond at all. Hoping for firmware support at some point.

Eastern Spot-billed Ducks on migration have arrived and numbers are up. Eye AF nailed these too.

The Ryukyu Bulbul isn't a bird I usually photograph, but I pressed it into service as a test subject for eye AF. Whether it was facing front or turning sideways, the AF kept right on the eye.