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

Eurasian Skylarks, which are unusual in Yaeyama, are being seen in good numbers this season.

On this day a flock of about 10 was moving together with Siberian Pipits and Red-throated Pipits. So where did these skylarks come from? Could they be a continental subspecies?

Now that November has arrived, White Wagtails, Siberian Pipits and Red-throated Pipits are increasing in number and the rice fields are getting lively. I also found Bramblings, which are scarce on Ishigaki, at several places.

I recorded Great Cormorant, Tufted Duck and a juvenile Grey Plover, each for the first time this season.

The juvenile Grey Plover arrived two months after the adults appeared. While I was watching shorebirds and plovers on the coast, a large black bird appeared over the sea. It was two Great Cormorants.

In a waterway there was one Tufted Duck in a flock of Eurasian Teal and Northern Shovelers.

Northern Lapwings and Greater White-fronted Geese have also been staying since the other day.

A friend from Naha came to the island wanting to see Red Collared Dove, so we went around the rice paddies, but with strong wind and occasional rain it was a tough day for birding.

First stop was the river mouth not far from my home, where the Caspian Terns that have been staying for a few days, changing in number between 1 and 4 birds were present. One of the three was a first-winter juvenile. Caspian Terns reportedly breed at high latitudes in Eurasia and North America, and the ones that come to Okinawa and Ishigaki at this time of year are probably from Eurasia. For a juvenile, this is a long journey so soon after hatching.

The Javan Pond Heron has been staying since mid-August, a long stay of over two months. I would like it to remain until spring so I can see its beautiful breeding plumage.

Brambling was a first for the season. Only two birds, going in and out among the rice plants in the paddies. Photographing them is quite difficult. ^^;

Northern Lapwing: 10 birds at two sites, all juveniles. Black-faced Spoonbills are also staying at several places on the island.

Crested Serpent Eagles hunt for prey in paddies being harvested or ploughed and in pastures after mowing, so the frequency of encounters has gone way up. Even with the wind blowing hard, I met six that day.

I did manage to see Red Collared Dove, but only as it flew off, so no photos. Shorebirds and plovers on the island have decreased, and I confirmed about 40 species.

I finally managed to photograph the Eastern Marsh Harrier that has been staying for the past few days. Few have come to Ishigaki in recent years, so I can't help hoping it will winter here for the first time in a while.

The Black-winged Kite pair appears every evening to hunt. When the wind is from the west you can see them beautifully lit by the setting sun, but lately it has been all north wind... ^^;

Following last year, the Eastern Buzzard migration on Ishigaki is going well this season too. Today two of them soared up as if in a rendezvous flight.