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

Short-eared Owl Daurian starling Ryukyu flycatcher Ashy drongo Pintail Snipe

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

北風の中の身近な野鳥たち

今日は二十四節気の一つ大寒。那覇市内の最低気温は、平年並みの14.6度でしたが12メートル近い北風が吹き、とても寒く感じる一日となりました。

鳥たちは、暖かいダウンを身にまとっているとはいえ、やはり寒そうに過ごしていた。

造成地の草はらには、100羽余りのムナグロと10羽ほどのキョウジョシギが地面に伏せて強風を避けていた。公園では、スズメやイソヒヨドリ、セキレイなどが寒そうに餌探し。

Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone

A Ruddy Turnstone holding its own against the strong wind.

Pacific Golden Plover
Pacific Golden Plover

The Pacific Golden Plovers were in a flock of over 100 birds.

Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush

The Blue Rock Thrush looks cold too.

White Wagtail
White Wagtail

A White Wagtail walked alone across the lawn, looking forlorn.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

House Sparrows were flitting about in flocks over the park lawn, picking at what little grass seed remained.

Categories: 野鳥

サシバの狩り バッタを空中キャッチ

午前中は、ぐずついた天気でしたが、午後からは晴れ間も見えだしました。

昆虫が活動的になると、それを狩るサシバも活発になります。数羽であったサシバのうち、人間をあまり警戒しない個体を観察しているとバッタやカエルなどを捕まえていました。

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Prey spotted. The Grey-faced Buzzard flies in a straight line and pounces on its target.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

It chased a fleeing grasshopper at ultra-low altitude and caught it in the air!!

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Pouncing on a large grasshopper.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

It has a large grasshopper gripped in its right foot.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

This Grey-faced Buzzard carries its prey to a favourite perch to eat.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

Spotted prey again.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

It seems to have missed its catch, and heads back empty-handed.

Grey-faced Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard

The rain eased to a drizzle, and a Grey-faced Buzzard came to dry its feathers.

Categories: 野鳥

田んぼにタゲリ、ケリ、ヒシクイ、マガンなど

明日は、大寒ですが暖かい一日でした。

田んぼには、ケリ1羽とタゲリ2羽が一緒にいた。昨年から滞在する5羽のマガンと4羽のヒシクイもまだいます。ミサゴも数を増やし、河口に3羽が舞っていた。

Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing

Two Northern Lapwings were bathing.

Grey-headed Lapwing
Grey-headed Lapwing

Next to the Northern Lapwing was a Grey-headed Lapwing too. Perhaps waiting its turn to bathe.

Osprey
Osprey

An Osprey resting on a branch.

Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose

Five Greater White-fronted Geese that have been overwintering since last year.

Tundra Bean Goose
Tundra Bean Goose

A Tundra Bean Goose also in overwintering mode.

Categories: 野鳥

ミヤマガラス再チャレンジ

先日、見つけたミヤマガラス は標準レンズしか持っていなかったので撮り直してきた。やはり単独で過ごしているようで少し寂しそう。リュウキュウハシブトガラスも近くに何羽かいるけど、いまいち馴染めない様子。観察している間に思い立ったように南に飛んで消えてしまいましたが、さらに南下するのだろうか?

羽衣の様子を見る限り第1回冬羽だろうか?

Rook
Rook

A Rook photographed at close range.

Large-billed Crow
Large-billed Crow / Rook

The one on the right is a Ryukyu Large-billed Crow, the one on the left is a Rook. Even the bill shape alone is quite different.

Rook
Rook

A Rook in flight with cosmos flowers in the background. On the Okinawa mainland, cosmos seems to be grown as green manure, and cosmos has been planted in rice fields here and there. A cosmos festival is apparently coming up soon.

Large-billed Crow
Large-billed Crow

Ryukyu Large-billed Crow. Roughly larger than a Large-billed Crow and smaller than a Jungle Crow from the mainland.

Rook
Rook

A Rook in flight.

Categories: 野鳥

ミヤマガラスとアトリ

仕事が思いの外早く片付いたので田んぼに寄ってみると見慣れないカラス。ハシボソガラスかと思い、双眼鏡で覗くとミヤマガラスでした。ハシボソガラスの方が嬉しかったけど、沖縄本島でミヤマガラスは初めて。群れで遭遇することが多いミヤマガラスでしたが、今回は単独でした。

レンズは仕事用の18-135mmしか持ち合わせていなかったので遠いこと。双眼鏡にスマホを押し当てて撮る「スマビノ」をやればよかったかな…。^^; 超超トリミングです。

近くのコンビニ横のモクマオウにはアトリが30羽ほどでモクマオウの実を食っていました。もう少し観察したかったのですが、アメリカンバイク御一行の爆音で何処かへ飛んで行ってしまった。^^;

どちらも沖縄本島では初の出会いでした。ひどい写真ですが記録ということでご笑覧ください。^^;

Rook
Rook

An unfamiliar crow was working hard digging up soil in a rice field. Through binoculars it turned out to be a Rook.

Rook
Rook

135mm just wasn't enough reach. Looking back, I should have used the teleconverter.

Brambling
Brambling

A flock of Bramblings in the ironwood trees.

Brambling
Brambling

About 30 Bramblings were feeding on ironwood seeds.

Categories: 野鳥