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

The third Common Hoopoe of the season has arrived, following last week's bird. This individual showed no wariness at all — when a car passed nearby it flew off only a short distance. Reports of arrivals have also come in from other islands, and it looks like this is a good year for Common Hoopoe.

Temperatures are rising and spring migration is beginning. A mixed flock of Taiwan Wagtail, White Wagtail, and White Wagtail arrived in the rice paddies.

Among the waders, wintering birds — Common Snipe, Common Redshank, and Wood Sandpiper — have been joined by northbound migrants, making things a little livelier.

Resident birds — Crested Serpent Eagle, Purple Heron, and Cinnamon Bittern — were all active in the run-up to the breeding season.

Discovered what is the third Eurasian Hoopoe of the season on Ishigaki Island.

A Taiga Bean Goose that had been reported a little while back was resting in the paddies. Waders present included Pied Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, Long-toed Stints, Wood Sandpipers, Common Redshanks, Common Greenshanks, Marsh Sandpipers and Common Snipe. An out-of-season Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was also there on its own. Temminck's Stints have been numerous this season — I confirmed several birds.

Bean Geese had been seen in multiple individuals, but on this day there was only one.

Autumn migration on Ishigaki Island is winding down, but an out-of-season typhoon drove in a greater variety of birds.

A Pied Avocet arrived at a paddy field near the town centre.

Red Collared Doves have turned up at various spots around the island. The largest flock I saw was nine birds, roughly half male and half female.

Wintering Common Kestrels are also increasing, and a nearby water area had growing numbers of Little Grebe and Eurasian Coot — these too will be wintering on Ishigaki.

The Crested Serpent Eagles have finished breeding and are now easier to find in open habitats such as paddy fields.

A male Pale-backed Pigeon. Looking worn out after a spell of rough weather.

Common Emerald Doves are approaching the end of the breeding season, and encounters are becoming more frequent. Northern Boobooks, Ryukyu Scops Owls, and Ruddy Kingfishers are fledging one after another.

I recorded my first Cinnamon Bittern and Purple Heron of the season, along with a juvenile Little Egret.

A Emerald Dove near home. A few juvenile feathers remain. Perhaps a second-calendar-year female.

Ishigaki Island is lively with a mix of winter visitors that have not yet headed north, passage migrants stopping over, and resident birds active as breeding season gets underway.

Most conspicuous lately are Cinnamon Bitterns in full breeding season — I am encountering them in rice paddies all over the place. Tufted Duck and Eurasian Coot are among those that should have gone north but are still here; most have departed, but a few individuals appear to remain. I have also recorded snipe on passage.

A male Ryukyu Minivet— I often see it flying about actively.

Two Citrine Wagtails were mixed in with a large flock of Eastern Yellow Wagtails feeding in a harvested rice paddy. The difference in character makes them stand out clearly even to the naked eye.

In flooded paddies, Black-tailed Godwits, Eurasian Whimbrels, Common Redshanks, Green Sandpipers, Common Shelducks and Eurasian Coots are wintering. Eurasian Coot numbers have been increasing. They have become a main prey item for the Upland Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon.

Citrine Wagtail, first-winter.

While I was watching Chinese Sparrowhawk migration, a Himalayan Swiftlet appeared!! Dark, slender and very sharp-looking.

Several hundred Chinese Sparrowhawks moved through. The largest single group was a few dozen birds. Migration should continue for a while, but I'm keeping an eye on the typhoon track.

I also had my first Eurasian Coots of the season and juvenile Pacific Golden Plovers. A flock of around 100 Ashy Minivets and the calls of Arctic Warblers were in the air too — it feels like autumn is deepening.

A Himalayan Swiftlet appeared. It was flying around together with swallows at high speed.

Two small Taiga Bean Geese together with Greater Bean Geese. They appear to be one of the smaller subspecies, but identification is difficult.

A small settling pond has Mandarin Duck, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Wigeon and others staying over. There was also an unidentified duck — I couldn't picture either parent for a hybrid, so domestic fowl may be mixed in.

An individual thought to be a Tundra Bean Goose, a smaller Bean Goose, and a Lesser White-fronted Goose.

Four Red Collared Doves at two sites; Arctic Warblers in thickets here and there; Yellow Bittern again doing well as it did last year, seen frequently. The starling flock, in order of abundance: White-shouldered Starling, White-cheeked Starling, Common Starling, Common Myna. Until a few days ago Red-billed Starling and Rosy Starling were with them, but the group seems to have split up. Six Asian Glossy Starlings are mixed in as well.

Geese and ducks are gradually increasing. In addition to the more numerous Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler, and Eurasian Wigeon, Falcated Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Garganey, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Lesser White-fronted Goose have also been recorded.

Eurasian Coot, first noted at the end of October, keeps increasing. Wader numbers in the paddies are declining — Black-winged Stilt, Temminck's Stint, Common Snipe, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, and Common Sandpiper.

First confirmed juvenile Cream-coloured Dove.

Ruddy Kingfishers, Ryukyu Scops Owls, and Northern Boobooks are all incubating everywhere. Typhoon No. 2 appears to have had no effect. Hoping things continue to go smoothly.

There was still a Eurasian Coot on the island. Individuals have occasionally summered here due to injury, but this one looks healthy. Is it really okay not to migrate?

The paddies have little in them besides Black-winged Stilts, but among them I spotted a Common Greenshank that looked unwell. Its bill appeared to be partially missing.

A Ruddy Kingfisher with absolutely no wariness at all.

A Tundra Swan arrived for the first time in about two years. Last time it stayed until spring — I wonder how long this one will stick around. It shows almost no wariness, so it would be great if it settles in for a long stay.

Crested Serpent Eagles are becoming more active ahead of the breeding season. I've been hearing them calling back and forth and often seeing them soaring over their territories.

Chinese Pond Herons are overwintering at several locations. Once they step into the grass they blend right in and become very hard to spot.

Eurasian Coots increased sharply after November began. Two years ago they were frequently attacked by Upland Buzzard. This season an Eastern Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, and Peregrine Falcon are all present, so it looks like it will be a tense winter for the coots.

For waders, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Long-toed Stint, Common Snipe, and Wood Sandpiper are all staying on.

I recorded my first Gadwall of the season. Tufted Duck and Eurasian Wigeon numbers are also building up at the dam.

Tundra Swan for the first time in two years. It doesn't seem particularly wary.

Following last year, Ruddy Shelduck has arrived again this year. This season there are two birds and they are extremely wary.

The Red Collared Dove from the other day has now been here for 10 days. It's probably unable to move on due to bad weather.

The Pied Avocet present since 26 October is also still lingering — 10 days for that bird as well.

It was skittish, taking flight every time a rental car approached.

職場と自宅周辺で少しだけ鳥見。

今季初のハシビロガモとオナガガモは前日、初認していましたが写真は撮れずでしたが、この日、ハシビロガモだけは写真の記録が残せました。シマアジは5羽の群れがやってきました。

海岸ではムナグロやダイゼン、キアシシギ、トウネン、メダイチドリなどが滞在中。

サトウキビ畑には警戒心の弱いカタグロトビがいました。石垣島のカタグロトビはずいぶん増えて、田んぼやサトウキビ畑、牧草地に行けばたいてい見られます。

Garganey, adult. Sex unknown.

ベニバトは安定した餌場のおかげで複数羽が長期滞在中。

9月中旬に台風とともにやってきたハジロクロハラアジサシは群れのほとんどが抜けてもさみしく逗留中。

オオバンは数日前から確認していましたが、今年は石垣島に 越夏個体が2羽 いたので記録を忘れていました…と思ったら、 7月末に確認 していました。^^;

Pale-capped Pigeon, male. At first glance it looks like an adult, but it is a juvenile in advanced moult.

今季、3羽目となるハシブトアジサシが飛来しました。 前回の2羽 とはことなり鷹揚な個体で目の前を軽快に飛び回っていました。

台風6号でコロニーが全滅したエリグロアジサシは再繁殖に挑戦するようで岩礁を変えてその上を飛び回っています。

今季初のオオバンが田んぼに飛来。島内では 越夏個体が2羽 いますが、それとは別エリア。

海岸のソリハシシギや田んぼのヒバリシギも少しだけ増量。

A summer-plumaged Lesser Crested Tern flying around near the breakwater.

7月ですが秋の渡りが始まりました。仕事の移動中に農道を通ると、ベニバト、ヒバリシギ、タカブシギ、アオアシシギなどを確認。越夏しているオオバンもいました。

セッカは先月、巣立ったヒナたちが元気に過ごしていました。まだ兄弟で行動を共にしているようです。

Pale-capped Pigeon, adult male.

レンカクは10月26日 より滞在中。警戒心のあまりない個体です。

クロツラヘラサギも散発的に渡ってきます。

今季初のオオバンを3羽確認しました。全国的に増えていますが、最近は沖縄でも越夏個体がいます。

先日の目を負傷している個体 とは別のマガンが田んぼに入りました。警戒心は多少あります。

カモ類はマガモ、ハシビロガモ、ヒドリガモが増えてきました。

How much longer will the Pheasant-tailed Jacana stay?

二十四節気の春分のこの日、どーしてもヤツガシラが見たいという大学生がやってきたので、野鳥ガイドの真似事をして久しぶりに本気の鳥探し。学生は先週も石垣島に来ていましたが、ヤツガシラを見られずだったので気合十分で再来島。結果、ヤツガシラ2個体とクロウタドリの美しい成鳥を首尾よく観察、撮影することができました。この日、ヤツガシラが見られたのは、石垣島ではわれわれのグループだけのようです。何はともあれ見られてよかったー。

見つけた三つのポイントは毎度のことながら石垣島ナンバーワン野鳥ガイドのスポッターさんに連絡済みです。^^

スポッターさんに教えていただいたソリハシセイタカシギ3個体も見ることができましたが、近くで工事が始まった途端にどこかへ飛んでいってしまいました。

シギは今季初のセイタカシギとムナグロを確認したほか、アカアシシギやタシギ、タカブシギ、アオアシシギなどが断続的に島に入ってきています。

一日中、曇天模様でしたがカンムリワシ、ズグロミゾゴイ、ムラサキサギの八重山農地三大留鳥は多くの出会いがあり、那覇からの友人と共に、みなで楽しめました。^^

リュウキュウアカショウビンの鳴き声も聞こえているので探しましたがこちらは見つからず。4月に入れば見やすくなるのでそれまであと2週間ですね。

キンバトはオスの鳴き声の確認とメスが飛び去る姿を一瞬確認しました。キンバトが見やすくなるのはまだ先です。

探鳥後は、私の家族も交えて6人でいつもの餃子屋で祝杯をあげました。^^

Bagged the Eurasian Hoopoe — my top target. After preening, it fanned its crest open.

石垣島でこの時期、オオバンを見るのは初めて。若い個体が水路を泳いでいました。

田んぼでは、カルガモが3家族。ヒナが大きい順から5羽連れ、2羽連れ、7羽連れでした。今年はカルガモが大変多く繁殖しています。

ムラサキサギの幼鳥もあちこちで見ます。まだ営巣中のペアは孵化後、1週間ほどのヒナを育てています。

タマシギも繁殖中でメスの個体と出会う機会が特に多いです。

It's my first time seeing a Eurasian Coot on Ishigaki Island in summer. On Okinawa Island as well, multiple individuals overwintering through the summer have been confirmed recently.