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

A beautiful male Daurian Starling. Some juvenile feathers are visible, so it may be in first-winter plumage.

A Daurian Starling perched in a Portia tree.

It was moving around foraging, but would occasionally stop to rest and preen.

Pecking at Portia tree fruits.

The Daurian Starling was also eating Banyan fruits.

A Daurian Starling with a Portia tree fruit in its bill.

It showed no wariness at all and could be observed at close range.

Swallowing a Portia tree fruit whole.

It took a while for the fruit to pass down the throat.

A male White-shouldered Starling. It too was eating Portia tree fruits.

It occasionally came down to the ground to pick up fallen Banyan fruits.

A male Chestnut-cheeked Starling was also moving with the same flock.

There were three Japanese Paradise Flycatchers, apparently on passage.

Grey-streaked Flycatchers make up the majority on Ishigakijima, but I was also able to confirm Asian Brown Flycatcher.

A Ryukyu Scops Owl on passage.

A juvenile Ryukyu Kingfisher that had struck a window. Released unharmed after a little while.

Long-billed Dowitcher transitioning from juvenile to first-winter plumage.

Same individual as above. Long-billed Dowitcher is a great bird.

A Black-tailed Godwit also appeared in the same paddy field as the Long-billed Dowitcher.

Several Swinhoe's Snipe were also staying in the same paddy field as the Long-billed Dowitcher.

Adult Dunlin, in the process of transitioning to non-breeding plumage.

A small flock of Red-necked Stints was also staying.

White-winged Tern, adult. Almost full breeding plumage.

White-winged Tern, adult in winter plumage.

White-winged Tern, juvenile.

They were flying around in the rain.

A Bridled Tern on a distant reef from the coast.

Juvenile White-winged Tern on the sandy beach. Clearly quite exhausted.

Juvenile White-winged Tern in the rice paddies. A flock of about 30 was resting there.

Oriental Pratincole confirmed at various locations as well.

A flock of Oriental Pratincole has arrived in the sugarcane fields.

The Barn Swallows that have come to overwinter are also looking worn out.

It was in a paddy field near the airport in an area where Red-necked Phalaropes often turn up. They apparently visit the stadium frequently too — perhaps they are easily attracted to lights.

The Red-necked Phalarope was feeding on small insects floating on the water's surface.

Ruffs arrived at several locations, around seven birds in total.

All the arrivals were juveniles.

This season's Ruff were concentrated on the eastern side of the island.

A Pin-tailed Snipe after the typhoon.

Another juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe. They've been gradually thinning out and are getting harder to find.

Common Snipe are slowly increasing, but for now there is considerable variation depending on the area.

Tail feathers of a juvenile Common Snipe.

Juvenile Red-necked Stint.

A flock of Long-toed Stint.

Pacific Golden Plover transitioning from breeding to non-breeding plumage. Juveniles have yet to appear.

Common Greenshank transitioning from juvenile to first-winter plumage.