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.
The third day since it arrived. It seems to have settled down quite a bit. ^^
Ishigaki Island is extremely hot. So hot that the Eurasian Hoopoe had its bill open.
Foraging in the grass. There didn't seem to be many cockroaches to eat. Maybe because it's been hot and dry with no rain lately.
While looking for the Common Hoopoe at the ranch, I found a Crested Serpent Eagle. Unfortunately, I still couldn't find a juvenile today...
It then flew out over the sea.
Yesterday it was too wary and I couldn't get a photo, but today I managed somehow. ^^;
A Eurasian Hoopoe resting in a Ficus microcarpa tree.
It was being chased by crows from time to time.
Once it settled down a little it came to the ground to look for food. It appears to have just arrived on migration.
I went to see the Japanese Scops Owl in Yanbaru. Two Japanese Scops Owls were hunting in the same spot, catching Kajika frogs.
Okinawa Robins were all along the forest road.
It had perched on a nice tree, but flew off before I could press the shutter. ^^;
A male Ryukyu Robin.
A female Ryukyu Robin. It still looked young.
Dragonflies were plentiful near the stream. Their metallic colouring was strikingly vivid and beautiful in the dim surroundings.
Ruddy Kingfishers are getting scarce now. A Common Kingfisher, uncommon on Ishigaki and very wary, was at the rice paddies.
Confirmed one Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus lucionensis). Eastern Yellow Wagtails and shorebirds are increasing, little by little.
A Ruddy Kingfisher in tatters from moulting before its southward migration. ^^;
This spot must be a departure point for Ruddy Kingfishers heading south — I can observe them here every year around the end of the season.
It looks well over one size smaller than the Ruddy Kingfisher. Very wary, so it stays far away. ^^;