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

A Crested Serpent Eagle released into the wild, beating its wings powerfully. A band is visible on the right leg.

The tail feathers are completely missing.

Painted Snipe were at two locations — two males and two females. In this paddy it was one male and two females.

Once they drop into the paddy, the tiny Painted Snipe are almost completely hidden like this…

The first Grey Wagtail of the season. Spotted several individuals.

Common Myna, which breeds mainly around the airport. One caught a large Acrida grasshopper.

A Crested Serpent Eagle in a pineapple field. It was eating an Asian Common Toad.

Cinnamon Bitterns can be seen here and there every day. With both adults and juveniles around in good numbers, this is the easiest time of year to find them.

Whiskered Terns also confirmed at multiple locations.

The first Marsh Sandpiper juvenile of the season. Already in first-winter plumage.

Common Greenshank moulting into winter plumage.

Common Redshank in first-winter plumage. There were several individuals.

A Wood Sandpiper juvenile that looked quite large.

The first Black-winged Stilt juvenile of the season.

An adult and juvenile Black-winged Stilt were having a dispute. Whether they were parent and chick or strangers, I couldn't tell.

Little Stints are also increasing in number.

Small flocks of Little Stints have been moving into the paddies.

The moult stages vary widely — never gets old watching them.

Pacific Golden Plovers have also increased considerably in number.

Ruff juvenile. It was close, right in front of me.

Wood Sandpiper juvenile. Juveniles now make up close to half the flock.

Rufous-necked Stint in the rain. A little winter plumage is showing.

This Rufous-necked Stint is showing some winter plumage too.

Found a Broad-billed Sandpiper in a puddle in a sugarcane field. Was able to observe it right in front of me.

The Broad-billed Sandpiper is noticeably further into winter plumage now.

Found a Curlew Sandpiper in a pasture. First time I've seen one in a place like this.

Grey Plover in the pasture too. Seems out of place.

There were a dozen or so Pacific Golden Plovers in the pasture, but these don't feel out of place.

Oriental Pratincole mostly moulted from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

Oriental Pratincole adult. It was eating a large earthworm. Didn't know they'd take something like that.

A female Greater Painted-snipe appears as well.

The male paired with the female above.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in late summer plumage. Starting to see them here and there.

During the heavy rain, a Yellow Bittern took shelter in the pasture too.