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

Ryukyu Flycatcher males often sing from deep inside the undergrowth, making them difficult to photograph, but this one had come out to a branch at the forest edge to sing. ^^

The differences from the mainland Narcissus Flycatcher are the call, the colour of the throat and breast, and the back colour. The mainland bird's call is complex, while the Ryukyu Flycatcher's is a simple "fee-fee." The Ryukyu Flycatcher also lacks the orange on the throat seen in the Narcissus Flycatcher — from the throat down to the vent it is a vivid yellow throughout. And while the mainland Narcissus Flycatcher has a black back, the Ryukyu Flycatcher's is an olive-tinged black, somewhat duller.

Singing its heart out. You can see the olive-tinged black of the back.

The male Ruddy Kingfisher did show up with a gecko in his bill, but in the end he didn't pass it to the female — just ate it himself. The female was begging for it, too. ^^;

This pair was together as well.

A Ruddy Kingfisher looking a little startled, feathers all ruffled up.

I blew the exposure. But I managed to rescue the shot by pulling it down two stops in post.

A green manure plant? A flock of several dozen Whistling Green Pigeons were eating the berries. They blended beautifully into the green.

A Whistling Green Pigeon resting on a branch. The eye color is striking.

There was a beautiful male Bull-headed Shrike in summer plumage.

There were still some White-cheeked Starlings around. The Pale Thrushes, Brown-headed Thrushes, and Dusky Thrushes seem to have already moved on.

In the evening I waited over two hours for a Ruddy Kingfisher courtship feeding, but in the end saw nothing… ^^;

A Brown Hawk-Owl was deep in the dense foliage. So thick that this was just about the only gap to see through. ^^

It appears to be nesting.

Walking through the brush, a Brown Hawk-Owl burst out.