始まったシギ、チドリの秋の渡りと越夏アカガシラサギほか
田んぼを回った2日分です。
7月中旬ごろからシギ・チドリが増えてきました。特に多いのがタカブシギでその次がアオアシシギとセイタカシギ、ヒバリシギやアカアシシギ、トウネンはまだまだ少ないです。
アカガシラサギは越夏しているのか田んぼでよく会います。
クロハラアジサシは、幼鳥はほとんどいなくなりましたが、成鳥が各田んぼに数羽ずついます。
ムラサキサギは幼鳥が増えてきて、リュウキュウヨシゴイもメスを見る機会が増えてきました。
カタグロトビは石垣島内でかなり個体数を増やしているようで島の全域で遭遇します。年に何回も繁殖する鳥なので今後も増え続けると思います。
A juvenile Oriental Pratincole. They breed on Ishigaki Island as well.
Common Redshank in juvenile plumage. Juveniles are already starting to move through.
Common Redshank adult, transitioning from summer to winter plumage.
Common Greenshank adult, transitioning from summer to winter plumage.
Common Greenshank adult in late summer plumage.
Wood Sandpiper, adult.
This Wood Sandpiper appeared to have an injured eye.
Long-billed Stint, adult, late breeding plumage.
Common Sandpiper, late breeding plumage.
Red-necked Stint, late breeding plumage.
Red-necked Stint transitioning from breeding to non-breeding plumage.
Black-winged Stilt transitioning from breeding to non-breeding plumage.
Two Chinese Pond Herons that appear to have summered over.
Little Ringed Plover, male. Late breeding plumage.
An adult Wood Sandpiper missing its left leg. I thought it was just tucking it up, but the leg never appeared when it flew. Perhaps it had an accident somewhere along its journey….
Black-bellied Terns can also be seen in rice paddies around the area. Moulting from breeding to non-breeding plumage.
Ryukyu Dwarf Bittern, female. Showing nuptial coloration.
While I was watching the Ryukyu Dwarf Bittern, a juvenile Black-winged Kite appeared overhead. Black-winged Kites can now be seen all across Ishigaki Island. Their numbers seem likely to keep growing.
