GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR
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.
自然光で撮れるギリギリの時間帯です。街灯に出勤してきたところをパチリ。^^ やはり、自然光で撮るといいですねー。久しぶりのアオバズクでした。
アオバズクは、日没後30分間が勝負!!
ISO 6400, shutter speed 1/2. I forgot I had stopped down one stop. Should have shot wide open. ^^;
Still, so cute. ^^
きょうは、アカショウビン4羽にあえました。体が半分ぐらい入る深さまで巣を掘っているペアでした。
The Ruddy Kingfisher's song is beautiful. It was calling for its mate, the female.
This pair was digging a nest hole, but they didn't seem very keen on the spot and weren't putting much effort into it.
A Ruddy Kingfisher was tucked in among some dead vines.
急用で名古屋の実家に帰ったついでに、大阪は淀川で人気のコミミズクを観察してきました。^^
噂では、連日200〜300人のギャラリーがいるとのことだったのですが、私が行った日は雨が降っていることもあって4人ほどしかいませんでした。しかし、コミミズクは3羽いて、活発に飛び回り、獲物のネズミを捕まえていました。
In some spots, green shoots were already coming up. Spring seems to have arrived on the mainland too. The Short-eared Owls will be heading north before long.
Due to local rules, I had to shoot from an elevated position, so I wanted to get the rapeseed flowers in the background — but even sprawled flat on the ground, this was the best height I could manage… ^^;
A Short-eared Owl diving steeply on prey. The sharp talons are clearly visible. And as expected of an owl, the wings are remarkably long relative to the body.
The profile of a Short-eared Owl in flight is striking.
A Short-eared Owl the locals called "Shiro-chan."
Shaking off the raindrops.
It landed on a tree right in front of me. The Short-eared Owls at Yodogawa all seem completely unafraid of people.
It had a near-miss with a neighbouring individual overhead.
2羽のアカショウビンが仲良く水浴びにやってきました。2羽で同時に水浴びに来るのを見たのは初めてです。水面が見えない場所からの撮影だったので、次回は水面が見える場所から撮ってみよう。
動画は少し長めですが、とても可愛らしいので、お時間ありましたら是非ご覧ください。^^
The male Ruddy Kingfisher that returns every year.
2014年のペアのオス is the same individual. The female changed in 2014.
The Ruddy Kingfisher paired with the male above. Whether the female is the same individual as last year is still unknown at this point. I think a few more photos should make it clear. ^^;
It was perched fairly high up, so I shot handheld. Shutter speed was 1/40, but the wrinkles of the eye ring are resolved clearly. Thank goodness for the 600mm f/4. ^^;
夏羽になったアカガシラサギが川平石崎の芝生の上にいました。^^; この場所は、春の渡りでヤツガシラたクロウタドリがよく入るのですが、アカガシラサギも同じようなコースでやってきたのでしょうか? この後、しばらく観察していると川平湾の方へ飛んで行きました。
I was surprised to find a Japanese Night Heron in such an out-of-place spot. ^^;