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

The bad weather continues on Ishigaki Island. The birds are moving around the island, but there is no sign of anything new coming in. ^^;

I made a short round of the nearby river mouth and rice paddies, and it was mostly the usual crowd.

The Caspian Tern is in wintering mode, but it seems to go back and forth between the river mouth and the paddies. Grey Plovers are increasing at the river mouth. There are a few Pacific Golden Plovers too. Two Sanderlings are in wintering mode. Siberian Sand Plover and Greater Sand Plover are there some days and not others. About three Black-headed Gulls are circling around the island.

While out for a drive with my family, I found a Malayan Night Heron with a broken right leg. I tried to catch it, but it flew around and I couldn't. Since it feeds on the ground, I hope it will manage to survive like this.

A flock of Brown-headed Thrushes was bathing in the rain. A Pale Thrush was bathing nearby too. While I was watching the Brown-headed Thrushes bathe, a Japanese Bush Warbler also came out.

The second and third Black-winged Cuckooshrikes of the season have appeared. I was notified about the one that showed up in November but couldn't go because of work. This time too the message came while I was at work, but the next day I managed to photograph both birds.

They were not wary at all and I could shoot at leisure, but the strong wind and light rain left the image quality so-so. They look like they may winter, so I'd like to reshoot them.

They have also turned up on Miyakojima and elsewhere, and with three birds at two sites on Ishigaki, it is a year with many Black-winged Cuckooshrikes.

An Upland Buzzard has come to Ishigaki Island for the first time in a while. It was eating a Eurasian Coot.

I was out driving with my family when Ishigaki BIRD Kansatsu got in touch to say there was an Upland Buzzard. I happened to be driving right nearby, so I rushed over. I managed to get the Upland Buzzard I'd long wanted on camera. You should always carry a camera. ^^

This year Ishigaki Island is a bumper year for raptors, with an obliging Eastern Marsh Harrier and a Korean Common Kestrel both wintering.