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

A Ruddy Kingfisher found at Kabira. This individual didn't flush even when pedestrians walked past.

An individual at Banna Park — no wariness whatsoever, as you'd expect from a bird that breeds in the park.

Same individual as above. The bill looks heavily worn, so it may be an old bird.

The ninth individual I found that day, the last of the day. About two metres away, and completely unbothered by my presence.

Also an individual inside Banna Park. It flew off when a walker passed by.

There is a louse fly on its head. ^^;

Perched on a thin branch, foraging in the evening.

Same individual as above. It flew right up in front of me — too close to focus — so I stepped back to take the shot.

An almost completed Ruddy Kingfisher nest hole. It looked like an easy spot for observation.

Little Whimbrel and White-rumped Sandpiper together. I don't think I'll ever get this combination in a single shot again!!

Little Whimbrel. It looked a little tired.

One White-rumped Sandpiper among a flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. The White-rumped Sandpiper felt slightly larger than the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.'

The Sharp-tailed Sandpipers arrived in a small flock.

I expected the Pin-tailed Snipe to move on quickly, but it has already been here for several days.

Same individual as above.

A few Swinhoe's Snipe are also staying.

The Black-winged Stilts arrived in a group of a dozen or so.

A male Ryukyu Yellow Bittern. Every day it displays from the same perch.

A female Ryukyu Yellow Bittern. Presumably paired with the individual above.

Grey-headed Lapwings are numerous this season.

Most of the Red-throated Pipits have already left, but one was still lingering.

The first Pin-tailed Snipe of the season.

Three days later, a second Pin-tailed Snipe, separate from the individual above.

Common Snipe. It appeared to have injured its left wing.

Two Common Snipe. Fairly wary.

A Common Snipe that wouldn't wake up even when I got close.

Common Snipe are the most numerous.

A Common Snipe in the distant grass.

A Common Snipe startled by a Eastern Spot-billed Duck.

A Far Eastern Curlew in the rice paddies.

A Yellow Bittern that has been wintering since last year. I think it is starting to come into breeding plumage, but I can't really tell.

A Chinese Pond Heron with increasing breeding plumage. This individual showed no wariness either.

Three Northern Pintails were still present.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, first-winter, transitioning into breeding plumage.

A Grey Wagtail also moving into breeding plumage.

A Common Starling was present on its own. It is gradually taking on its beautiful breeding plumage.

A male Ryukyu Kingfisher. I haven't examined it closely yet, but it appears to be the same individual as last year.

Same individual as above.

Same individual as above.

An Ishigaki Tit carrying a Меcopoda (short-winged katydid) to the nest. Given the size of the prey, the chicks are probably close to fledging.

A Chinese Pond Heron showing nice nuptial coloration.

A Cattle Egret that caught a centipede. Close to a hundred are staying over during their migration.

This type of individual is really nice.

The first Swinhoe's Snipe of the season. It's good to finally meet one again.

A Swinhoe's Snipe on a distant bund.

Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe.

A group of six Pied Avocets.

A female Pied Avocet.

A Common Redshank transitioning into breeding plumage.

Oriental Pratincole in breeding plumage. Looking closely, a little winter plumage seemed to remain.

Uncommon on Ishigaki Island — a Grey-headed Lapwing.

Javan Pond Heron. It's been popular lately and drawing a lot of birders from the mainland. There were already people waiting when I arrived that day.

This is a Chinese Pond Heron staying alongside the Javan Pond Heron.

A male Daurian Redstart.

A female Daurian Redstart.