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

Eurasian Hoopoe Black Bittern Ashy drongo Asian koel Glossy Ibis

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

都会のツミ、3羽のヒナ

国際通りから数十メートルのところで営巣しるツミを久しぶりに見に行くとヒナが孵っていました。多分、3羽だと思うのですが、巣をかけたコバテイシは、葉が大きくよく茂るので確実ではないです。2羽は確実にいるのですが、3羽目の確証が持てない…。^^;

ここのペアは、オスを誰も見たことがない。一体どこにいるのだろう?

Japanese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk

Two chicks and the female parent are visible. The chicks are about ten days old.

Japanese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk

Viewed from the other side, only two chicks are visible at any one time, but there seem to be at least three altogether.

Categories: 野鳥

シロチドリのヒナ誕生

開発にも負けず抱卵していたシロチドリ の卵が孵化しました。卵は三つあったのですが、ヒナは2羽だけ。孵らなかったのか、ネコにやられたのか。この地域は、野良猫が大変多く、わざわざ餌をやりにくる心無い人までおり、捕食されるヒナもいるようなシロチドリたちには厳しい環境。無事に育つことを願っている。

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover

A Kentish Plover chick. Perhaps 3–4 days after hatching?

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover

A female Kentish Plover hiding her chick under her belly as a passer-by walks nearby.

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover

The parent bird stands up once the danger has passed.

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover

The parent bird stood up right on top of the chick. ^^;

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover

It was wandering through the grass, catching small insects on its own.

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover

A male courting a female. She wasn't having any of it. ^^;

Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush

The parent bird was very wary of the Blue Rock Thrush. It would probably attack a newly hatched chick.

Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush

A male Blue Rock Thrush hatched this year.

Categories: 野鳥

三角池のクロツラヘラサギ

越夏中のクロツラヘラサギが3羽、三角池で休んでいた。石垣島で夏にクロツラヘラサギを見ることはなかったのですが、本島にきてからは、これが普通になりつつある。^^; クロツラヘラサギは、九州とかでも夏を越す個体いるのかな?

Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill

Both are young individuals. The one in the background is more advanced, as its iris is beginning to turn red.

Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill

The black juvenile plumage seems to have faded considerably.

Categories: 野鳥

石垣島初の写真美術館にスポッター代表の川野さん

6月20日、石垣島で初めての写真美術館「 MIRA 」がオープンしました。記念すべくオープニング展示には、 石垣島ネイチャーガイドサービススポッター 代表の川野さんの写真も展示されます。世界的な写真家や、沖縄では誰もが知っている写真家と肩を並べての展示です。

会期は、来年2019年1月15日までなので、石垣に行く際にはぜひお立ち寄りください!! バーダーの皆さんはスポッターのご利用もお忘れなく!!

It was also published in the local paper on the 20th.

Categories: 閑話

大きくなったツミのヒナ

今回は、ヒナは1羽だけのようでした。抱卵状況が悪かったのか、親鳥のどちらか、もしくは両方が高齢で無精卵だったのか理由はよく分かりません。

ヒナが1羽なので餌の量もそれに伴い、いつもの3分の1か4分の1で済むので、オス親がせっかく獲物を持って来てもメスが受け取りに行かず、オス親は困っていた。^^;

ヒナは、生後約2週間ほどです。

Japanese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk

A male Japanese Sparrowhawk prepares its prey — apparently a fledgling Blue Rock Thrush.

Japanese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk

The female comes close, but shows absolutely no sign of taking the prey. ^^;

Japanese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk

Since the female wouldn't come to collect it, the male ended up eating the prey himself.

Japanese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk

The Japanese Sparrowhawk chick has grown quite large. Juvenile brown feathers were showing at the shoulders. There are usually 3–4 chicks, but this one is an only child.

Japanese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk

A beautiful male Japanese Sparrowhawk.

Categories: 野鳥