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

Ruddy Kingfisher Lesser Whistling Duck Eurasian Hoopoe Crested serpent eagle Pintail Snipe

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

台風12号でズグロミゾゴイ、クロハラアジサシ、ツバメ保護(動画あり)

石垣島を直撃した台風12号でズグロミゾゴイ、クロハラアジサシ、ツバメを保護しました。暴風雨で結構な数の野鳥が被害に遭ったようです。

Malayan Night Heron
Malayan Night Heron

A juvenile Malayan Night Heron with a broken left wing. I took it to a veterinary clinic the next day. Apparently several other herons were also brought in that day.

Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern

An adult White-winged Tern found lying on the road. It had been soaked by rain and could no longer fly. I fed it at home, let its feathers dry, and was able to release it back into the wild safely.

This Barn Swallow had taken shelter on top of the shutter fitted to my home's wooden deck just before a typhoon made a direct hit. I had a bad feeling about it, so I checked the deck in the middle of the night and, sure enough, it had fallen. I caught it, dried its feathers, and released it back into the wild the next morning.

Categories: 野鳥

キリアイ成鳥も飛来、チュウジシギは激増、ジャワアカガシラサギは毎日トンボ取り

キリアイは幼鳥に続き、成鳥も飛来しました。

ジシギはチュウジシギが激増してハリオシギは減少。なぜかタシギが増えず心配です。

ジャワアカガシラサギは毎日のように田んぼの畔でトンボ取り。

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

A Broad-billed Sandpiper in winter plumage has arrived. The third Broad-billed Sandpiper in the same paddy field.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

A Broad-billed Sandpiper stretching. Second-winter plumage?

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

Molt in progress.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

A Javan Pond Heron targeting a dragonfly.

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

After this, it failed and tumbled into the paddy field. ^^;

Dunlin
Dunlin

A juvenile Dunlin has also been staying for a few days.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

A clear-cut juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

This one is a juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe / Pin-tailed Snipe

Two juvenile Swinhoe's Snipes (left) and two juvenile Pin-tailed Snipes.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

A juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

A juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe. Pin-tailed Snipes everywhere.

Long-toed Stint
Long-toed Stint

A juvenile Long-toed Stint.

Categories: 野鳥

ジャワアカガシラサギ、キリアイ、ハリオシギほか

7月から長逗留しているジャワアカガシラサギが見やすくなっています。台風後に増えたトンボを捕食しようと農道や畔に出てくるので見つけやすいです。

キリアイの幼鳥も滞在中。また台風が近づいてきているのでしばらくは渡れないでしょうね。

ハリオシギ、チュウジシギも滞在中。

Javan Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron

Javan Pond Heron targeting dragonflies swarming on a farm road.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper

The Broad-billed Sandpiper juvenile has been staying for several days.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe — numbers are down, but they're still here.

Pin-tailed Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe

An individual that was together with the Pin-tailed Snipe above. So alike I almost thought they were siblings. ^^

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

Swinhoe's Snipe are still present.

Swinhoe's Snipe
Swinhoe's Snipe

An individual I was able to observe at very close range.

Red-necked Stint
Red-necked Stint / Long-toed Stint

Red-necked Stint and Long-toed Stint numbers are increasing.

Categories: 野鳥

今季初のチョウゲンボウ

今季初のチョウゲンボウを確認しました。アカハラダカやハヤブサも確認されています。

Common Kestrel
Common Kestrel

While watching the sandpipers, they were flushed by a juvenile Common Kestrel. ^^;

Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle

Adult Crested Serpent Eagle in an elementary school playground. A juvenile has also been showing up nearby.

Categories: 野鳥

サルハマシギ幼鳥飛来

今季初のサルハマシギの到着は幼鳥でした。石垣島で秋に見るサルハマシギはほとんど幼鳥です。

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

The Curlew Sandpiper looked all the more beautiful lit by the evening sun.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile (foreground), and Wood Sandpiper, juvenile.

Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper

I was able to watch until it got dark in the evening.

Categories: 野鳥