Bird Reports List--Wild bird photography and birdwatching on Okinawa Main Island and the Yaeyama Islands (Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island, Taketomi Island, and more)

I have found a Grey-headed Swamphen — a first record!! There were apparently three records on the mainland in the 1970s and one on Okinawa Island in 1995, but all have been ruled as escapes, so there is no accepted record. There is therefore a strong possibility this will become the first accepted national record after further review.

A planned assignment was cancelled, so I reluctantly stopped by the paddies — and found it. At first I thought it was a Watercock, but when I put binoculars on it, question marks started spinning through my head. "Wait, a Takahē?" "No, Takahē can't fly." "Could this be a Grey-headed Swamphen!!!!!!" — and the enormity of it became real.

The genus Porphyrio has several members worldwide; they were formerly treated as subspecies, but after splitting the IOC list now recognises at least seven species. Among them, this bird struck me as closest to the Philippine Swamphen.

In the 2023 eighth edition of the Check-List of Japanese Birds it is listed as a species under consideration. I would like to take this opportunity to write up a report and have it elevated from that status.

Grey-faced Buzzard migration is at its peak. On this day, more than 3,000 birds passed through — what I believe is an all-time record. I was on Kuroshima for work, so after returning to Ishigaki I rushed over to the usual migration watchpoint. Even on the way there, Grey-faced Buzzards were boiling up from all directions. Apparently there was also a kettle of more than 1,000 birds.

After I arrived, Grey-faced Buzzards continued to pour in from everywhere and form kettles. Among them I could pick out dark-morph individuals — the so-called black Grey-faced Buzzard.

A considerable number came down into the woodlands without completing the crossing, so tomorrow morning's roost departure should be spectacular.