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

Ryukyu flycatcher Javan pond heron Purple Swamphen Ruddy Kingfisher Short-eared Owl

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

Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe — all three together!!

All three snipe species of Ishigaki Island at once. Got carried away and shot Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe to my heart's content. I've also accumulated quite a good set of tail-feather shots. I'm rather proud of this one. ^^

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile, in flight.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Same individual as above. Flight shots of snipe are always a treat.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

A plump, well-fattened Swinhoe's Snipe. Laying on fat for migration.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe, adult.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe on a distant bank.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank / Common Snipe

Juvenile Common Snipe (far right), adult Common Snipe (near right), and Common Redshank.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Adult Common Snipe.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe

Same individual as above. Startled by a Whiskered Tern.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Adult Swinhoe's Snipe.

Common Snipe
Common Snipe / Swinhoe's Snipe

Common Snipe (foreground) and Swinhoe's Snipe.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Quite distant, but a juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Same individual as above.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Adult Pin-tailed Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Same individual as above.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Same individual as above.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

The Pin-tailed Snipe in the background is the same individual as above; the one in the foreground is a Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Swinhoe's Snipe, adult.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Same individual as above.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Categories: 野鳥

Asian Dowitcher arrives, first Ruff of the season, more Broad-billed Sandpipers (video)

A juvenile Asian Dowitcher has arrived. It is moving around the paddies together with Common Greenshank and Black-winged Stilt.

Broad-billed Sandpipers are turning up in paddies across the area — four birds in three locations. All juveniles, naturally. I'd love to see an adult one of these days….

Multiple Ruffs have also arrived. Temminck's Stint numbers are slowly building too.

The first juvenile Eurasian Whimbrel of the season was also confirmed. The paddies are getting livelier with each passing week of autumn.

Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher, juvenile. It startled every time a farmer's light truck passed.

Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher

When I watched quietly, it relaxed and began feeding.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

Broad-billed Sandpiper, juvenile. This individual disappeared quickly.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

A Broad-billed Sandpiper from a different area than the one above. Also a juvenile.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

Thought to be the same individual as the one above.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

A newly arrived Broad-billed Sandpiper. It was moving around together with the individual above.

Ruff
Ruff

Ruff, adult male. Traces of breeding plumage remain.

Ruff
Ruff

Same individual as above, but photographed two days earlier.

Red-necked Stint
Red-necked Stint

Red-necked Stint, juvenile.

Temminck's Stint
Temminck's Stint

Long-toed Stints gradually increasing in number.

Long-toed Stint
Long-toed Stint

Least Sandpiper, winter plumage.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper transitioning from breeding to winter plumage.

Common Redshank
Common Redshank

Common Redshank, first-winter plumage.

Whimbrel
Whimbrel

Whimbrel, juvenile. It appeared to have a slight leg injury.

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

Common Greenshank, first-winter plumage.

Categories: 野鳥

Javan Pond Heron, Cinnamon Bittern, White-winged Tern and more (video)

The Javan Pond Heron staying since late August was still feeding with no sign of wariness.

Cinnamon Bitterns are dispersing — this year's fledglings are turning up all over the place. Many individuals are crossing roads, and I have witnessed two traffic casualties in the past month.

One White-winged Tern was mixed in with a flock of Whiskered Terns.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

A Javan Pond Heron with zero wariness. It has now been staying for over a week.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

It was walking along the paddy bank catching mole crickets and grasshoppers.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

Ryukyu Cinnamon Bittern, adult male. It popped up while I was watching snipe.

Yellow Bittern
Yellow Bittern

Ryukyu Cinnamon Bittern, juvenile. Moult is progressing.

Purple Heron
Purple Heron

Purple Heron, juvenile. Moult is also progressing here.

White-winged Tern, winter plumage. It was with a few Black-bellied Terns.

White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern

Same individual as above. Four old primaries remain.

Black-bellied Tern, juvenile. It was on its own.

Categories: 野鳥

Brown Shrikes up, more White-browed Eastern Yellow Wagtails

Heading north for work, I found Brown Shrikes had increased. Numbers in the south should follow. The Eastern Yellow Wagtails are all of the white-browed type so far — the yellow-browed birds should be along any time now….

Isabelline Shrike
Isabelline Shrike

Brown Shrike, first-winter plumage.

Isabelline Shrike
Isabelline Shrike

A Brown Shrike that caught a grasshopper. Also first-winter plumage. Adults are yet to come.

Citrine Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (supercilium to eye), adult male, winter plumage.

Categories: 野鳥

Ruddy Kingfisher still present, first White-shouldered Starling of the season

Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfishers are still being seen readily. Multiple individuals are observable around my neighbourhood. I expect them to move on by the end of September. From April to now — half a year of morning song and colour in daily life. ^^

One White-shouldered Starling was confirmed today for the first time this season, mixed in with a flock of Common Mynas. From here on, the wintering birds will start arriving on Ishigaki: White-shouldered Starling, Red-billed Starling, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, Common Starling, Rosy Starling and others.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

The Ruddy Kingfisher closest to home. Together with the individual photographed a few days ago, it appears that at least two birds are here preparing for migration.

Ruddy Kingfisher
Ruddy Kingfisher

Another Ruddy Kingfisher seen near home. Moult is progressing. You can see that the old feathers have lost the purplish sheen characteristic of the Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfisher.

Common Myna
Common Myna / White-shouldered Starling

My first Rosy Starling of the season. Lower right is a Common Myna.

Categories: 野鳥