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

A Black-faced Spoonbill with the crest feathers around the breast beginning to take on some colour.

The Black-faced Spoonbill was running through the shallows, snatching prey with its distinctive bill.

At times it submerged its face completely underwater to search for prey.

A Black-faced Spoonbill and a Great Egret were using a small weir to catch prey. A Common Kingfisher was nearby as well.

A Ryukyu Scops Owl. It came to the feeding area of a Ryukyu Scops Owl — wait, the one I actually wanted to see, the Ryukyu Scops Owl... the Collared Scops Owl never showed up. ^^;

The Rook was still here. It has now been staying for two months.

A lone Greater White-fronted Goose. Where on earth did it come from?

Several Naumann's Thrushes, quite a rarity on Okinawa Island, had also turned up.

Dusky Thrush is also rare on Okinawa Island — I hardly ever saw one in winter. Now that spring migration season has arrived, I'm running into them everywhere.

The Buff-bellied Pipits were flying around the rice paddies in small flocks of six or seven.

Among the many Buff-bellied Pipits that were quite skittish, this individual allowed close observation and photography right in front of me.

Pale Thrushes are everywhere, from Yanbaru down to Shin-Toshin.

About four White-breasted Waterhen were observed. All of them were highly wary.

Flocks of Long-toed Stints have been increasing.

I have been spotting Little Ringed Plovers in summer plumage here and there now.

A Naumann's Thrush confirmed on Okinawa Island for the first time. Pale Thrushes are everywhere here, but Naumann's Thrush is extremely rare.

The Naumann's Thrush I'd been searching for was sitting on an ordinary patch of grass along the road. ^^;

On the same lawn as the Naumann's Thrush, there was also an Isabelline Shrike. Also a rare bird on Okinawa Island.

Is this a Lesser Kestrel or a Common Kestrel?

For a Common Kestrel, I think the dark spots on the back are rather few — what do you think?

Spring migration northbound movement, perhaps? Wood Sandpipers have been increasing too.

Common Snipe were resting in small clusters of several birds in the spots where they were most numerous.

A flock of about 20 White Wagtails was foraging on the lawn.

A Brown-backed Shrike perched on a nice branch.

I don't come to check every day, but it has become much less wary of me.

The Brown-backed Shrike from behind.

Heavily cropped for a close-up shot.

Today it took me a while to find — over 30 minutes. It wasn't hunting; it was just relaxing in the undergrowth.

This Brown-backed Shrike always seems to open its bill when it scratches its head. ^^;

A close Olive-backed Pipit. Maybe about 10 metres away.

A sugarcane field and an Olive-backed Pipit. Not a combination you see every day. ^^;