Shorebird numbers are up overall, but snipe numbers have been dropping. This day I found a paddy field holding about five snipe. Two were Pin-tailed Snipe, so I tried to get a shot of the tail feathers on the more approachable of the two. The other bird spent almost all its time hidden behind vegetation and I couldn't photograph it.
Pin-tailed Snipe having a stretch.
Turnover among shorebirds in the fields and along the coast has intensified.
In the rice fields, Curlew Sandpipers in beautiful summer plumage were mixed in with a flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. A Little Stint also in summer plumage has arrived, and nine Black-tailed Godwits have come in, adding to the activity.
Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe, and Common Snipe are staying on, including some long-term individuals.
Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, and Marsh Sandpiper are beginning to show noticeably contrasting summer plumage.
Along the coast, large numbers of Siberian Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-necked Stint, and Eurasian Whimbrel have been arriving.
A Curlew Sandpiper flushed red.
The Pectoral Sandpiper first recorded on 15 April is now into its fifth day. It is spending its time among a flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Autumn juvenile records are the norm, so a spring adult is a rare find.
Several Pin-tailed Snipe are also staying at multiple sites. Spring records of Pin-tailed Snipe are very scarce, making these birds equally valuable. They are approachable and allow extended observation — great fun. ^^ Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe are also present.
The season's first Whiskered Tern arrived, following a tractor as it puddled a field.
A precious spring record of Pectoral Sandpiper.
After several consecutive clear days, bird numbers on Ishigaki had been dropping — but today's heavy rain brought in all sorts of things.
In the same area of paddies, Little Curlew, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Pin-tailed Snipe all turned up together. And a miracle: Little Curlew and Pectoral Sandpiper in the same frame!!
Little Whimbrel and White-rumped Sandpiper together. I don't think I'll ever get this combination in a single shot again!!
Confirmed the first Pin-tailed Snipe of the season. Spring passage Pin-tailed Snipe on Ishigaki are a rare find. Swinhoe's Snipe are also present, cycling in and out, while Common Snipe remain the most numerous.
Among the curlews, a Far Eastern Curlew arrived after the Eurasian Whimbrel. It may be the individual some university students spotted at sea just after leaving Ishigaki port on the Yonaguni ferry a few days ago. The seabirding on that route this spring was apparently quite good — though the sea was rough, so you need to steel yourself before boarding. ^^;
I got to see the Eurasian Bittern that has been wintering since last year, for the first time in a while. As usual, it showed no wariness at all. The several Chinese Pond Herons present were starting to come into breeding plumage.
The first Pin-tailed Snipe of the season.
A Pied Avocet has been staying for several days. I feel like I see them year-round on Ishigaki-jima — there must be wintering individuals in Okinawa and the Yaeyamas.
Pin-tailed Snipe was a good year, but most have moved on and they take some finding now. I managed to confirm number 20. Swinhoe's Snipe are plentiful.
Pied Avocet appeared in the rice paddies.
アカエリヒレアシシギが飛来。今季2個体目。エリマキシギは複数個所で複数羽が到着。ハリオシギは数を減らしつつも滞在中。
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.
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。
A Broad-billed Sandpiper in winter plumage has arrived. The third Broad-billed Sandpiper in the same paddy field.
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 targeting dragonflies swarming on a farm road.
同じエリアにある田んぼにヨーロッパトウネン、ソリハシセイタカシギ、キリアイ、ハリオシギ、アカエリヒレアシシギのほか、トウネン、オジロトウネン、セイタカシギ、チュウジシギ、ウズラシギ、アオアシシギ、コアオアシシギ、ヒバリシギ、タカブシギ、クサシギ、コチドリ、ムナグロ、ツバメチドリなどが大集結していました。石垣島のシギ、チドリファンにはたまりませんね。^^
Little Stint, juvenile.
台風11号が襲来する中、ちょっとだけ鳥見。ソリハシセイタカシギが飛来していました。
クロハラアジサシは相当数が飛来。台風のこの時季の恒例の風景です。ツバメやツメナガセキレイも増えています。
A Pied Avocet enduring the gale-force winds of Typhoon No. 11.
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. ^^
今季初のタシギを確認しました。これで石垣島のジシギ3種はそろい踏み。現在、ハリオシギがピークを迎えており、石垣島では、この後チュウジシギが優勢になり、最後はタシギだらけになります。
The first Common Snipe of the season was a juvenile.
チュウジシギの群れが入ったようでジシギの数が増えていました。ほとんどが幼鳥でした。その中で、1羽だけハリオシギを発見しました。
A juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe among a flock of Swinhoe's Snipe on a distant paddy bank.
きょうもジシギの群れの中からハリオシギの抽出作業。近くで2羽のハリオシギが同時に水浴びをしてくれるチャンスにも恵まれました!!
Pin-tailed Snipe adult.
時間がなくてなかなか観察できませんが、きょうもジシギポイントでハリオシギとチュウジシギの識別。
ほとんどチュウジシギですが、その中に2〜3羽のハリオシギがまじっている感じです。
夕方にはアカガシラサギを確認。ゴイサギも暗くなるとカエルなどを狙いに田んぼにやってきます。
Juvenile Pin-tailed Snipe.
キセキレイから遅れること約2週間でマミジロツメナガセキレイを初確認しました。一夜にしてまとまった数が渡ってきたようです。
ハリオシギとチュウジシギも順調に渡っているようで、全てではありませんが識別できる個体を見ていてもメンバーは入れ替わっているようです。
イソシギも幼鳥が増え出しました。
First Eastern Yellow Wagtail of the season — adult. The juveniles come later.
きょうもハリオシギとチュウジシギの識別業務。
一つの田んぼに10羽でハリオシギは成鳥2、幼鳥1、チュウジシギは幼鳥7でした。前日の美しいハリオシギの幼鳥は再発見できず残念。入れ替りながら数を増やしているようです。
Pin-tailed Snipe, adult in late summer plumage.
ジシギが増えてきたのでハリオシギ、チュウジシギ識別業務の開始。
一つの田んぼに8羽滞在で、ハリオシギは幼鳥1、成鳥3でチュウジシギは幼鳥3、成鳥1でした。
例年通りなら今後はチュウジシギが増えていき、9月に入るとふたたびハリオシギが増え、9月中旬まで楽しめます。
Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. The beauty of this bird brought to mind last year's individual.
8月10日に初認 したジシギがどんどん増えています。この日はハリオシギとチュウジシギが成鳥、幼鳥合わせて7羽ほどが一つのエリアで確認できました。タシギの初陣はまもなく到着です。
Swinhoe's Snipe, adult, late summer plumage.