Ruddy Kingfisher, Crested Serpent Eagle, Richard's Pipit and more
Because of the new coronavirus there are few tourists and islanders are staying at home, and the Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfishers seem to have lost their wariness. I found several of them in places where they normally don't appear.
The Crested Serpent Eagle was as usual going at its own pace, looking for food along the road. The island has gone quiet and there is less worry about traffic accidents, so it seems to be relaxed too.
Two Richard's Pipits in a wide field. They kept busily searching for food, undeterred even by downpours.
The Black-faced Spoonbill from the other day was still there. Maybe it can't cross because of the strong north wind?
With no one around, a Ruddy Kingfisher resting at its leisure.
A male Crested Serpent Eagle along the roadside. Traffic accidents are a concern, but vehicle numbers on Ishigaki Island are down due to COVID-19.
Crested Serpent Eagle shot handheld at 840mm with a shutter speed of 1/15. Sony's image stabilisation is impressive.
This one was shot at ISO 3200. Heavily cropped, but the noise is barely noticeable.
This one is a distant Crested Serpent Eagle, cropped drastically.
A Buff-bellied Pipit in light rain.
A different individual Buff-bellied Pipit from the one above.
Black-faced Spoonbill in summer plumage. In the background, a group of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks.
Also in the rain, a Ryukyu Green Pigeon perched on a distant shrub.
A male Peregrine Falcon that failed in its hunt. The feathers are quite wet from the heavy rain that had just passed. All the other falcons and raptors had long since headed north toward their breeding grounds — for a male, this one is taking its time.
