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

Collared Kingfisher Ryukyu scops owl Ashy drongo Ruddy Kingfisher Black-winged kite

GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR

Go where the birds are. The SHIMASOBA Tour launches.

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.

Max. 3 guests 4 hours in the morning Beginners welcome
Check availability and book

Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle, Common Kestrel, Javan Pond Heron, Pied Avocet and others

A juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle, which has been hard to find reliably this season, was out in the farmland. A Common Kestrel that has been present for several days seems to have taken a liking to the pasture and was hunting in a relaxed manner.

The Javan Pond Heron has been staying a long time, but the recent pattern is for it to leave around March, before shifting into breeding plumage.

Six Pied Avocets are staying at four sites. How long will they stick around?

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle. I heard its call and went looking — and there it was.

Lesser Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel

Juvenile Lesser Kestrel. Has been staying for the past few days.

Lesser Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel

On the Lesser Kestrel, the underwing spotting also looks faint.

Common Kestrel
Common Kestrel

Common Kestrel, first-winter male.

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

A Pied Avocet in the rice paddies near my home.

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

A Pied Avocet in another paddy field.

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

Also a different paddy field. There were three Pied Avocets.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

A Javan Pond Heron on an extended stay.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

A male Ryukyu Striated Heron I came across in the mountains. What on earth is it doing in a place like this?

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

Common Greenshank in winter plumage.

Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper (right) and Green Sandpiper.

Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler

Male juvenile Northern Shoveler. Eurasian Teal in the background.

Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon

Female adult Eurasian Wigeon. It appeared to have injured its right foot.

White Wagtail
White Wagtail

Male winter-plumage White Wagtail.

Categories: 野鳥

Crested Serpent Eagle juvenile and Red Collared Dove

Crested Serpent Eagle juveniles are few this season. One has settled in a small paddy field but is in constant conflict with a Common Kestrel.

Red Collared Doves are staying at several locations.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

A juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle fleeing after being startled by a Common Kestrel.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

The frame before the photo above. It is being mobbed by a juvenile Common Kestrel.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

Crested Serpent Eagle adult.

Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove

A male Pale-capped Pigeon. Too spooked by raptors to come down from the tree.

Categories: 野鳥

Javan Pond Heron, Malayan Night Heron, Cinnamon Bittern

Javan Pond Heron, Malayan Night Heron, and Cinnamon Bittern confirmed. Chinese Pond Heron and Yellow Bittern are also still present.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

Javan Pond Heron in winter plumage.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

Same individual as above. It has been staying for a long time.

Malayan Night Heron
Malayan Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron adult.

Malayan Night Heron
Malayan Night Heron

A Black-crowned Night Heron at an elementary school.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

A juvenile Ryukyu Striated Heron in a drainage channel.

Categories: 野鳥

First Rustic Bunting of the season, increasing Dusky Thrushes, Japanese Waxwings and more

Rustic Buntings arrived in a flock of around 30 — quite unusual to see numbers like that on Ishigaki. Four Japanese Waxwings are on a kapok tree. Dusky Thrushes are increasing, several Amur Stonechats are staying, and Eastern Yellow Wagtails, White Wagtails, and Grey Wagtails are also on the rise.

Rustic Bunting
Rustic Bunting

Rustic Bunting preening.

Rustic Bunting
Rustic Bunting

Two Rustic Buntings.

Rustic Bunting
Rustic Bunting

The Rustic Buntings were feeding on rice in a harvested paddy field.

Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing

Four Japanese Waxwings. They were eating Schefflera berries.

Dusky Thrush
Dusky Thrush

Dusky Thrushes have been increasing in the farmland and paddies. They will likely spread out across the island from here.

Siberian Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat

Multiple Siberian Stonechats staying on.

Siberian Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat

Siberian Stonechats at a different location. All females.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, first-winter. White Wagtails have finally started to increase as well.

Categories: 野鳥

Pied Avocet, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Northern Lapwing and more

Overwintering in the paddies: Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Little Ringed Plover, and Northern Lapwing. Dozens of Common Snipe are staying, but Swinhoe's Snipe have not been found…

Pied Avocet
Pied Avocet

Pied Avocet, first-winter.

Long-toed Stint
Long-toed Stint

Long-toed Stint, winter plumage.

Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper

Marsh Sandpiper, winter plumage.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Common Redshank.

Green Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper, first-winter.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Common Snipe, first-winter.

Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing

Northern Lapwing, juvenile.

Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover, first-winter.

Categories: 野鳥