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

Three Bridled Terns appeared all at once. The individual at upper right is dropping a bomb. ^^;

They flew close by. I was surprised at the size of the Bridled Terns — a first for me.

Bridled Terns passing overhead at Nagannu Island. Black-naped Terns and Roseate Terns were nesting on the island in good numbers.

One passed directly overhead.

The black back is a distinctive feature.

They seemed curious about people, and occasionally came close to check us out.

In the distance, a flock of Bridled Terns was wheeling in the air.

A female Japanese Sparrowhawk charging straight at me at tremendous speed. You can probably tell from the way the wings are pulled in. I think the top speed exceeded 80 km/h. Small birds don't stand a chance when one of these comes after them… ^^;

A male Japanese Sparrowhawk.

A female Japanese Sparrowhawk. She is gripping prey in her talons — looks like a Brown-eared Bulbul.

The Brown-eared Bulbul I had found two weeks ago had already fledged.

The Dinodon semicarinatum had bitten the tail of a Ryukyu Green Lizard, and the Ryukyu Green Lizard had bitten back at the snake's head.

For a moment the Ryukyu Green Lizard managed to escape from the Dinodon semicarinatum's mouth, but with a remarkably swift movement it was bitten again.

Once the Ryukyu Green Lizard went limp, the Dinodon semicarinatum raised its head high and carried the lizard off into the undergrowth.

A Black-naped Tern courting. The individual on the right has a blue flag.

It seems both migration and breeding are a little late this year, but there were individuals already incubating.

Another pair, together.

The individual with a flag on its left leg appeared to be a male, seemingly urging the female to build a nest at this spot.

A male Japanese Sparrowhawk sitting in the nest. Even when a man opened his car bonnet and started cleaning it right below the nest tree, the birds paid no attention at all, taking turns carrying nesting material and testing the feel of the nest cup.

A female (left) and male Japanese Sparrowhawk. It's rare to get a shot of a pair perched neatly side by side, so this one made me happy. Seeing them together like this really highlights just how small the male is.

Handholding the 600mm f/4 for the first time in a while — it was heavy. ^^;

A similar frame to the one above, but that was shot with the 600mm f/4 and this one with the 100–400mm. The difference in background blur is quite striking.

The male flew in and mounted the female's back directly, attempting to mate, but was rebuffed.

A male Japanese Sparrowhawk. The red eye and rufous-tinged breast are beautiful.

A female Japanese Sparrowhawk. Females are less wary, so this is the more familiar view.