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

Ruddy Kingfisher Emerald dove Forest Wagtail Asian Glossy Starling Iriomote Tit

GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR

Go where the birds are. The SHIMASOBA Tour launches.

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.

Max. 3 guests 4 hours in the morning Beginners welcome
Check availability and book

Pin-tailed Snipe and Swinhoe's Snipe arriving in numbers, adults and juveniles alike

Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipes have finally arrived. Swinhoe's Snipe are also increasing in both adults and juveniles. For some reason, Pin-tailed Snipe are being recorded in unusually high numbers in the central part of the island this season as well. Most appear to be juveniles.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Also a juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Adult Pin-tailed Snipe. One leg is missing.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Also an adult Pin-tailed Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. Moult into first-winter plumage is progressing.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

An adult Swinhoe's Snipe in the distance.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Two juvenile Swinhoe's Snipes.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe right in front of me. We both froze.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Also a juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

This one is also a juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS / SEL14TC / Swinhoe's Snipe / Pin-tailed Snipe

First Eastern Yellow Wagtail of the season, and a long-staying Javan Pond Heron

I recorded the first Eastern Yellow Wagtail of the season. It is a juvenile, but appears to be of the subspecies tschutschensis with the white supercilium. The Javan Pond Heron, with zero wariness of humans, continues its long stay.

The Greater Painted-snipe may be on a second breeding attempt — the male was collecting dead leaves and building a nest. When a snipe came close, he threatened it.

Citrine Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail

A juvenile Eastern Yellow Wagtail (superciliated form), the first confirmed record of the season.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

The Javan Pond Heron is easy to observe — it pays no attention even when people walking by pass right next to it.

Greater Painted-snipe
Greater Painted-snipe

A male Greater Painted-snipe building a nest.

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS / SEL14TC / Javan Pond Heron / Greater Painted-snipe / Citrine Wagtail

Greater Painted-snipe pair and Javan Pond Heron (video)

While watching snipe, a female Greater Painted-snipe appeared. She started flapping her wings and then a male emerged from the undergrowth. After that the two moved around together, bathing and going about their business. A second breeding attempt perhaps? The Javan Pond Heron is still on its extended stay.

Greater Painted-snipe
Greater Painted-snipe

A pair of Greater Painted-snipe moving around together.

Greater Painted-snipe
Greater Painted-snipe

A male Greater Painted-snipe. Led along by the female, it was wandering around a deep-ploughed rice field.

Greater Painted-snipe
Greater Painted-snipe

A female Greater Painted-snipe flapping her wings after bathing.

Greater Painted-snipe
Greater Painted-snipe

Also, a male Greater Painted-snipe flapping its wings after bathing.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

There were two Javan Pond Herons a short distance apart. This individual appeared to have a slight injury to one leg.

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS / SEL14TC / Javan Pond Heron / Greater Painted-snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe, Curlew Sandpiper and others

No change among the Pin-tailed Snipe and Swinhoe's Snipe, but a second Curlew Sandpiper of the season had arrived. The other waders are the usual crowd, numbers fluctuating as they linger on.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult. This is the type that is easily mistaken for a Pin-tailed Snipe.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper, adult, late breeding plumage.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, adult, late breeding plumage.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

A group of around eight Common Redshank juveniles were foraging together.

Long-toed Stint
Long-toed Stint

Long-toed Stint, late breeding plumage. There are a lot of them.

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS / SEL14TC / Common Redshank / Sharp-tailed Sandpiper / Curlew Sandpiper / Swinhoe's Snipe / Pin-tailed Snipe / Long-toed Stint

Pin-tailed Snipe and Swinhoe's Snipe (video)

Pin-tailed Snipe and Swinhoe's Snipe are both gradually increasing. This year both species arrived at the same time. For now, Swinhoe's Snipe outnumber Pin-tailed Snipe.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe, adult.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Same individual as above. After this it was threatened by a White-breasted Waterhen, which allowed me to get a shot of the tail feathers as well.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe, adult. This type is relatively easy to identify.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

The same individual as above, from the front.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Also a Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Yet another Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

The first Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile of the season. It arrived ahead of the Pin-tailed Snipe juveniles.

Categories: 野鳥
Tags: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS / SEL14TC / Swinhoe's Snipe / Pin-tailed Snipe