Ruddy Kingfisher, Black-winged Kite, Oriental Pratincole and more
Birds I saw in the gaps between reporting assignments. Looking at this list, Ishigaki Island really is a paradise for wild birds. ^^
At the Black-winged Kite breeding site, a sturdily grown juvenile was chasing crows away. Not long ago it was being bullied by crows to the point of bleeding, so it has grown up. Near the Black-winged Kites there were about 10 Oriental Pratincoles, adults and juveniles together. They are probably birds that bred on Ishigaki.
At the park I saw several Ruddy Kingfishers (Ryukyu subspecies). Their chick-rearing is almost over. With the Malayan Night Heron there is a mix: birds still raising young and birds that have fledged and become independent.
In the rice paddies, Wood Sandpipers, Long-toed Stints and Little Ringed Plovers were resting, with Whiskered Terns flying about above them.
In the paddies near my office there was a juvenile Purple Heron, and on the coast Black-naped Terns, Roseate Terns and Little Terns. No typhoons have come this season, so the terns are breeding well. The usual breeding reef was over capacity, and some Black-naped Terns were reluctantly incubating on the reef in front of it.
I don't think there are many places where you can see this many birds while working.
After work, once I had eaten dinner at home, I did my usual Ryukyu Scops Owl watching. One of the two chicks has fledged. ^^
A juvenile Black-winged Kite screaming and threatening a crow.
Of the two Black-winged Kites that fledged, one was apparently taken by crows. The survivor was also bullied considerably by crows, but has grown up well.
The crow is larger in body, but the Black-winged Kite holds its own.
A Ruddy Kingfisher in the park. The kingfishers, which had been so conspicuous, have become much less noticeable.
A juvenile Oriental Pratincole. Small numbers breed on the island as well.
An adult Oriental Pratincole, already in winter plumage.
A juvenile Oriental Pratincole in flight. It is now flying freely and with ease.
A Black-bellied Tern in flight.
In the process of transitioning from breeding to non-breeding plumage.
A Black-naped Tern incubating. Having started breeding late, it was on a rock considerably closer to shore than the main reef used for nesting each year.
Adult Wood Sandpipers fighting over a feeding territory.
An adult Long-toed Stint in late breeding plumage — looking quite ragged.
A juvenile Purple Heron in a rice paddy. Last year there was breeding at the sedimentation pond, but I wonder where they raised their young this year.
A Slaty-legged Crake with a mud-caked bill. An individual with a distinctive iris.
A fledgling Ryukyu Scops Owl.
The parent birds during the day. The upper bird is female, the lower is male.
