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

Crested serpent eagle Collared Kingfisher Eurasian Hoopoe Forest Wagtail Black-winged kite

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

クロハラアジサシ今季初飛来

田んぼに今季初となるクロハラアジサシがいました。田んぼの上を飛び回りながら、トンボを稲の間に見つけると急旋回、急降下して捕まえていました。

SONYのFE200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSSとCanonのEF600mm F4 IS II USMを持ち出していたので、両者ともSONYのテレコンバーターのSEL14TCをかまし、CanonのロクヨンにはソニーEマウント用電子接点付キヤノンEFアダプタのMetabones Vを介してα9iiに取り付けて撮り比べてみました。

FE 200-600mmの方は、純正なのでもちろんバッチリ撮れました。

そしてMetabones Vを介しての方も同様にテストした結果、こちらもクロハラアジサシの飛翔ぐらいなら余裕の追従をみせてくれました!! SONYボディーにCanonレンズの組み合わせは気になる人も多いと思いますので、後日、しっかりレビューしたいと思います。^^ 設定や接続方法でかなり性能差出ます。ネット上の記事を読んでいると全く使い物にならないという記事もありますが、そんなことは全くありません。国内で販売されていないMetabones Vの購入方法から設定まで記事化しますので乞うご期待ください。決してもったいぶってるんじゃなくて、執筆する時間がないのです…。^^;

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

A Whiskered Tern in flight. Full Sony native setup.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

Same as above.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

Shot with a Sony body and Canon lens.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

This one also with the Sony body and Canon lens. I really felt the power of the Sony body. The Whiskered Tern is holding a small dragonfly in its bill.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

Shot with the Sony setup.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

This one also with the Sony setup.

Isabelline Shrike
Isabelline Shrike

The Brown Shrike is still around. A few Pale Thrushes and Dusky Thrushes were still lingering as well.

Categories: 野鳥

今季初のサルハマシギ

沖縄本島や与那国島では出ていたので、まだかまだかと待っていた今季初のサルハマシギが石垣島にも飛来しました。田んぼでオジロトウネンと一緒に採餌していた。

近くの河口には、トウネンやハマシギ、シロチドリなど。投網をしている人がいたので数は少なかった。

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

A Curlew Sandpiper moulting into summer plumage.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

It caught what looked like a small earthworm or bloodworm.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

Another catch. It was feeding voraciously, building up reserves for the journey further north.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

The breast area is also turning red.

Temminck's Stint
Temminck's Stint

The six Temminck's Stints had been reduced to two.

Red-necked Stint
Red-necked Stint

Temminck's Stints at the river mouth. They are gradually changing into their beautiful summer plumage.

Dunlin
Dunlin

The Dunlin is still in first-winter plumage — battered and ragged from the long journey.

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover

A male Kentish Plover, still in winter plumage.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

There were several Common Snipe in the paddies.

Categories: 野鳥

アカショウビン5羽確認

石垣島では、3月中旬ごろから鳴き声が聞こえ始め、3月26日に初めて姿が確認されたリュウキュウアカショウビンは4月に入ると一気に数を増やしています。

今日は、アカショウビンのポイントを3カ所回ると2ペア、1羽の合わせて5羽を観察できました。

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

A male Ryukyu Kingfisher.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

The same individual as above. A female is also to the right, but the leaves were in the way and I couldn't get a shot.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

A male Ruddy Kingfisher. Too dark — came out blurred….

Malayan Night Heron
Malayan Night Heron

An adult Malayan Night Heron in the park.

Chinese Pond Heron
Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Herons are numerous this season — close to ten individuals have been observed over the past few days.

Categories: 野鳥

夏羽の目立つオジロトウネンとアオアシシギ

今日は0歳児とバードウオッチング。田んぼのオジロトウネンは数を増やし、夏羽が目立つ個体を撮影することができました。アオアシシギもかなり夏羽への換羽が進んだ個体を確認できました。

タマシギは稲が伸びるにつれ観察が難しくなっていますが、メスとオスのペアを確認できました。

Temminck's Stint
Temminck's Stint

The most advanced in summer plumage among the six Temminck's Stints present. Almost fully there — though I doubt it will stick around long enough to complete the moult.

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

A Common Greenshank progressing through its moult into summer plumage.

Greater Painted-snipe
Greater Painted-snipe

Both a male and female Greater Painted-snipe were present, but they kept moving through the rice stalks, so the only photo I managed was of the female from behind…. ^^;

Categories: 野鳥

今季初チュウジシギと第2波タシギ

今季、初めてとなるチュウジシギを確認しました。合わせて15羽ほど。チュウジシギとハリオシギはタシギの渡りより遅く、4月に入ってからです。

3月初旬に渡りの第1波があったタシギは4月に入って第2波が来たようで、こちらも十数羽確認できました。

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

A Swinhoe's Snipe on the paddy bund. First confirmed individual of the season.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Another Swinhoe's Snipe.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

A Common Snipe. The coverts are quite worn. First-summer plumage, perhaps?

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Both Common Snipe. The bird on the left is the same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

I could only observe it head-on, but it is probably a Swinhoe's Snipe.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

A Common Snipe. After preening I hoped it would spread its wings or tail, but no luck….

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

For a moment it looked like a Pin-tailed Snipe, but it turned out to be a Swinhoe's Snipe.

Categories: 野鳥