台風直前のハリオシギ、チュウジシギ、タシギ(動画あり)
台風11号襲来直前にハリオシギが、これまでに経験したことのないくらい増えました。
チュウジシギ十数羽の群れの中にハリオシギを2羽見つけて写真を撮っていると風が強くなる中、7羽のハリオシギの群れが空から目の前に降ってきました。全て幼鳥でした。
他の田んぼに移動すると、ハリオシギ6羽の群れを発見。今季は異常なほどハリオシギが多い印象です。尾羽写真もじゃんじゃん貯まります。^^
「針尾が見えてるか見えていないか」の観察条件が悪い時のパターンも、かなり経験を積むことができました。
A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe just before landing. This became one of my favourite shots — the pin-like tail feathers came out clearly. ^^
Same individual as above. The bird in the foreground is also a juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.
Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. The individual visible behind is the same bird as in the flight photo above.
Wing-flapping Swinhoe's Snipe. Moult does not appear to have progressed much — fresh juvenile plumage.
A slightly "jīgurū" (dark-coloured) juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe. There are three types of Swinhoe's Snipe that turn up on Ishigaki, and one of them looks like this. Very tropical-feeling.
Same individual as above.
Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.
This one is an adult Swinhoe's Snipe... — actually, this is an adult Pin-tailed Snipe. Scapulars and tertials already moulted into winter plumage. Swinhoe's and Pin-tailed Snipe combined, about 30 birds.
Adult Pin-tailed Snipe. Scapulars in winter plumage, tertials old feathers.
Same individual as above. Eight primaries are new feathers. Moult is well advanced.
Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe. Among juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe there are quite a few individuals that resemble Swinhoe's Snipe.
Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe preening.
Juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe.
Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe. For some reason it held this posture for a while.
Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.
Adult Pin-tailed Snipe. In the process of changing into winter plumage.
Same individual as above. About six primaries already moulted.
Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile.
Another Pin-tailed Snipe juvenile.
A Pin-tailed Snipe juvenile looking a little tired.
A Pin-tailed Snipe juvenile bathing.
Same individual as above. Preening after bathing.
Another Pin-tailed Snipe juvenile looking a little tired.
Swinhoe's Snipe, adult. Winter plumage coming in, but with heavy feather loss.
Three Pin-tailed Snipe juveniles!!
Up to four Pin-tailed Snipe juveniles!!
A Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile enduring the wind and rain as the typhoon approaches.
Common Snipe, juvenile. Numbers slowly building — two birds confirmed this day.
