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

Following last week's visit when I was able to see a Willow Warbler, I was on Yonaguni-jima again for work. I made sure to fit in some birding between assignments. ^^

Nothing as noteworthy as last time, but it was striking to find small groups of Black Paradise Flycatchers all over the place. I was of course hoping for Indian Paradise Flycatcher too, but unfortunately didn't come across any likely candidates…

Discovered a flock of Japanese Paradise Flycatchers beside the park car park.

Breeding is going well for the Ryukyu quartet: Ryukyu Scops Owl, Northern Boobook, Ruddy Kingfisher, and Black Paradise Flycatcher. Temperatures on Ishigaki Island have not been rising this season and insect activity has been sluggish, so I am a little worried about the effect this may have on chick-rearing.

I found a Ryukyu Scops Owl sitting motionless in the forest in the rain. A Brown Hawk-Owl was incubating right nearby. I wonder if there's no conflict between them.

Black Paradise Flycatcher numbers have been increasing. I keep coming across pairs of Ruddy Kingfishers hard at work nest-building. Some Northern Boobooks have already paired up, showing that breeding is underway. An individual that appears to be a Gray-faced Buzzard was also found.

A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher pair moving around together. They will probably build a nest somewhere in this area.

Continuing to observe the Ryukyu Scops Owl chick after fledging. It was in a somewhat more visible spot than before. The female parent was nearby keeping watch.

Northern Boobooks are fledging one after another, but at a nest where the chicks are still small the male parent was standing guard close to the nest.

Black Paradise Flycatcher breeding also appears to be going well — the chick that fledged from the pair I have been watching for some time has grown considerably. The adults will probably begin a second breeding attempt, so the fledgling may end up acting as a helper.

The Ryukyu Scops Owl fledgling had moved to a more visible position, giving me a full view of the bird.

On Ishigaki Island, Ruddy Kingfisher, Ryukyu Scops Owl, Northern Boobook, Black Paradise Flycatcher, Malayan Night Heron, Black-naped Tern and many other birds are right in the middle of the breeding season.

A male Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfisher singing.

I visited a scrubby woodland I rarely go to, and a pair of Black Paradise Flycatchers were moving about. They perched on the same branch at times, suggesting pairing is already done. I expect they will breed, and I will keep watching to see how things develop.

Ryukyu Scops Owls are incubating at several sites, but the chicks still appear to be small. Meanwhile, the pair that began breeding early already has well-grown chicks, and the female is out of the nest box. Fledging should be soon.

A recently fledged Ryukyu Minivet visited our garden. It appeared to be taking insects alongside Warbling White-eyes and Cinereous Tits.

A female Japanese Paradise Flycatcher.

The second nest of Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfishers to fledge this season. While walking the forest road looking for Hoya, I picked up the distinctive calls of fledglings. Holding my breath and searching carefully, I found two chicks.

There was a pair of Ryukyu Black Paradise Flycatchers just starting to build a nest. With no crows around, the prospects feel reassuring.

A fledgling Ruddy Kingfisher perched on a rock.

The Ryukyu Black Paradise Flycatcher chicks are coming along well — fledging is imminent. One Ryukyu Northern Boobook fledged, though by evening it had returned to the nest.

Near my home, a Ryukyu Scops Owl is raising young; in the grounds of a nearby primary school, a Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfisher is doing the same. One chick has fledged from the Ruddy Kingfisher nest at a mango orchard — around three more appear to still be inside.

There appear to be two Japanese Paradise Flycatcher chicks. The male parent came to the nest. After feeding them, he carried their droppings away from the nest in his bill.

The Ryukyu Japanese Sparrowhawk chicks have started moving between branches. The eldest is already flying about.

Ryukyu Scops Owls fledged at two locations — I got to meet five adorable chicks in all.

The Ryukyu Northern Boobook also looks close to fledging.

The Ryukyu Black Paradise Flycatcher chicks have just hatched; fledging looks likely around Tanabata.

The Ryukyu Ruddy Kingfisher has had a late breeding season — there was still a pair digging out a nest hole.

The eldest of three siblings. It seems able to fly short distances.

Northern Boobooks incubating at 3 sites, Ryukyu Scops Owls incubating at 4 sites. Ruddy Kingfishers are nesting at multiple sites too — too many to count… ^^;

Multiple Black Paradise Flycatcher pairs have formed, but none appear to have started building nests yet.

A male Brown Hawk-Owl (left) and female in the background. This pair's nest changes location every year — the nesting tree has been cut down and so on.

With migration winding down on Ishigaki, the island's breeding species — Ruddy Kingfisher, Ryukyu Scops Owl, Northern Boobook, Ryukyu Sparrowhawk, Malayan Night Heron and others — are busy building nests and incubating.

Ruddy Kingfishers in particular are very active. On this day, while working my regular job, I counted 13 individuals in the morning and 7 in the afternoon — 20 in total with no duplicates. I get the feeling Ruddy Kingfisher numbers are higher than usual this year.

Crested Serpent Eagles are incubating at this time of year, so encounters are fewer. Black-winged Kites breed year-round, so a few sites are also in the incubation stage right now.

Black Paradise Flycatchers have been increasing too, and their songs can be heard from all directions.

A male Ruddy Kingfisher sang at close range on a forest track. I was able to record fine detail in the recording.

A Daurian Starling was mixed in with a flock made up mainly of White-shouldered Starlings. Four days later a second individual appeared, bringing the total to two. White-shouldered Starling, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, Red-billed Starling, and White-cheeked Starling are all currently present on Ishigaki-jima.

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

村の人に近くにカンムリワシの幼鳥がいるよと教えてもらい見てきました。

カンムリワシの姿を確認。残念ながら写真には収められませんでしたが、近くにいたキンバト、サンコウチョウ、ズグロミゾゴイは撮れました。

Male Emerald Dove. A female was nearby too. No juveniles confirmed yet this season.

石垣島の野鳥たちの繁殖は連日の記録的な雨の影響を受けつつも順調に進んでいます。

リュウキュウアオバズクとリュウキュウコノハズクは、それぞれ1ペアの巣が大雨で水没したようで繁殖失敗していました。

そのほかのリュウキュウアカショウビン8、リュウキュウコノハズク4、アオバズク3、サンコウチョウ2、リュウキュウツミ3の繁殖は順調に推移しています。

ツバメチドリは孵化率が低いような印象。エリグロアジサシとベニアジサシは抱卵中。繁殖の早いコアジサシは巣立ちビナを連れて飛び回っています。リュウキュウヨシゴイは親離れした幼鳥を今季初確認しました。

先日のソリハシセイタカシギ は2羽から1羽に減りましたが、まだ滞在しています。

稲刈り後の田んぼにはキジバトに混じってベニバトが飛来していました。こちらは秋の渡りシーズンに向けて増加し、幼鳥も見られるようになります。

Male Ruddy Kingfisher.

サンコウチョウの子育て(動画あり)7月8日に発見したリュウキュウサンコウチョウの巣で無事に巣立ちが確認されました。

しっかり観察したかったのですが、カラスが多いのと鳥屋がたまに通るポイントなので観察は最小限に留めました。^^;

巣立ちしたヒナたちは、ツル植物が絡みつく茂みに身を隠し親鳥から給餌を受けているようでした。

このサンコウチョウの巣の半径5メートル以内ではアカショウビンとアオバズクとイシガキヒヨドリが巣を構えるホットスポットでした。今季、カタグロトビやツミ、アカショウビンなどが繁殖した狭いエリアもそうですが、開発が進む石垣島で野鳥たちのすみかが分断、縮小されているのが原因かと思われます。

July 8. The female incubating.

仕事の移動中に通りすがりの短時間鳥見。

アカショウビンやサンコウチョウがお出迎え。クロサギのペアは変なところに降りていて、メジロは交尾していました。

海岸にはチュウシャクシギが滞在中というか越夏しています。

A Ruddy Kingfisher with little wariness.

5巣観察していたうちの最後のリュウキュウコノハズクが巣立ちました。

リュウキュウサンコウチョウは暗い林を飛び回っていました。イシガキヒヨドリはバッタを運んでいたので近くに巣があるようです。

The second chick to fledge.

リュウキュウサンコウチョウが目の前でアカスジベッコウトンボを捕まえました。獲物がでかくて解体と飲み込むのに苦労していました。

リュウキュウアオバズクは今季7個目の営巣を確認。巣立ちはまだ先のようでした。

ズグロミゾゴイは巣立ったヒナを3羽確認しました。

A female Japanese Paradise Flycatcher with an Archineura incarnata it has caught.

新型コロナで県外へ出られないので、シルバーウイーク中は2泊3日で与那国島へ家族旅行に行ってきました。

移動途中、林道や海岸線などをちょっとだけ鳥見。秋の渡りには若干早かったのと、2日目まで南風が吹き続けていたので与那国らしい鳥は出せませんでした…。^^;

2日目の夕方から北寄りの風になり、前日まで全くいなかったアカハラダカは林道などでたくさん見られました。西崎で観光していると南側の海上から目線の高さでアカハラダカが単独で島へ飛び込んできました。アマサギやコサギの群れは北風が吹き出した3日目に幾度となく海から与那国島へ到着する群れを見ました。40羽から最大で100羽ほどの群れでやってきました。

ブッポウソウは2日目の夕方に1羽、3日目にもう1羽を確認しました。八重山のブッポウソウはだいたいこの時期で石垣島でも1羽出ていました。

この時期、島内で特に目につくのはエゾビタキとシマアカモズ とツメナガセキレイで、何羽見たかわかりません。ツメナガセキレイは珍しい亜種も期待したのですが、全てマミジロツメナガセキレイでした。

東崎では、まさに到着したばかりというチュウジシギが岬の先端にいました。

ライファーとなるアリスイも確認。沖縄ではなかなか見ることができず「やばいの見つけた」というと息子が「長芋見つけた?」と聞き返し3歳児のかわいさ全開です。^^

沖縄県が設置したウリミバエの不妊虫放飼カゴ周りにはサンコウチョウやキマユムシクイ、キセキレイ、エゾビタキ、ツバメ、タイワンヒヨドリなどが集まっていました。

林道ではトケン3羽を見たのですがどれも飛び去る後ろ姿だけなので同定できず…。カラムクドリは十数羽の群れ、サンショウクイも数羽の群れを何度か見ました。ムシクイは子連れでの撮影は厳しいですね…。^^;

そして与那国島で一番の成果はハリオシギの死体を拾ったことです。^^ このハリオシギは featherbase にて 羽根標本(Exhibit #5698) になりました。

An adult female Chinese Sparrowhawk photographed at close range.

台風などの試練をくぐり抜けてリュウキュウサンコウチョウのヒナが1羽巣立ちました。台風4号の強風では枝が折れてしまい、3羽いたヒナも1羽になってしまいましたが、なんとか巣立っていきました。

近くの林道では今季初確認となるキセキレイが1羽。林道を行ったり来たりしながら餌をついばんでいました。

A female Japanese Paradise Flycatcher bringing a moth. The branch to the left of the nest had broken off. The one surviving chick was begging hard for food. It fledged safely the following morning.