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.
実はカエルも好きなんです。今が、繁殖のまっただ中で、あちこちからリュウキュウカジカガエルの鈴のような美しい鳴き声が聞こえてきます。^^
Male Ryukyu Kajika Frogs are all over the place.
I couldn't quite get a shot of one calling… ^^;
A small frog, about 30 mm.
A few couples here and there.
There was also a spider I couldn't quite identify. It seemed to be dipping its legs in the water, sensing vibrations to target small fish.
天気が少し回復したので、アオバズクとコノハズクを探しにいきました。^^
A Brown Hawk-Owl was there in the backlight.
The Ryukyu Scops Owl had blended into the tree completely — I was startled when I spotted it right in front of me. ^^;
雨の中、アカショウビンは元気です。
On its favourite branch.
The Ruddy Kingfisher's legs are so short it can't walk when it lands on the ground, and when it shakes itself its bill is so large it loses its balance and falls off the branch… ^^;
Ruddy Kingfisher on a moss-covered Chinaberry tree.
昨日の夕方、コノハズクが飛んでいくシルエットが見えたので、今日探してみると、オスもメスもいました!!
石垣島には、コノハズクとアオバズクが生息します。昔、オオコノハズクが地面にいるのを見たのですが、それ以来、鳴き声すら聞きません…。見間違いかなー。^^;
A Ryukyu Scops Owl has blended right into the tree. Cropped for clarity. ^^
The Brown Hawk-Owl ended up hidden behind the leaves… ^^;
今年は多いですね。巣も5つありました。^^
I had thought it was a different male from last year, but it turned out to be the same one.
It was the female that had changed. When the female changes, the courtship-feeding spot changes too.
I wonder if the previous female died somewhere?
Courtship feeding, but the location is just too bad. ^^;
Second time photographing this Ruddy Kingfisher.
Ruddy Kingfisher in the north. Unusually, it was in a field.
The nest is finished, but no eggs yet. In a few more days it will start incubating and become hard to observe.