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

Short-eared Owls have been wintering here again this season, as they did from around the end of last year. Surprisingly large numbers have turned up. A Long-eared Owl was also reported, but only for a single day — unfortunately I was not able to see it myself.

Out in the paddies during the day there are also wintering waders and plovers. Past mid-January I get the sense that they are slowly starting to move. I expect the main movement to begin around late February.

There was a Short-eared Owl staring intently at a thicket where mice were lurking. It seemed there was another one in the same area.

A Short-eared Owl has come to winter here again this season. Many other raptors are also wintering, including Upland Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Grey-faced Buzzard, Common Kestrel, and Hen Harrier.

Short-eared Owl in the rice fields. This individual doesn't mind people, so it's easy to watch — but I don't want to disturb its hunting, so I kept the record shots to under a minute.

The raptors that winter on Ishigaki Island are now all showing up: Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Grey-faced Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, and more.

The ducks, Eurasian Coots, and small birds that serve as prey are on edge whenever a raptor appears.

Juvenile Upland Buzzard. One appears every year, but this individual is not very wary and is easy to observe and photograph.

急用で名古屋の実家に帰ったついでに、大阪は淀川で人気のコミミズクを観察してきました。^^

噂では、連日200〜300人のギャラリーがいるとのことだったのですが、私が行った日は雨が降っていることもあって4人ほどしかいませんでした。しかし、コミミズクは3羽いて、活発に飛び回り、獲物のネズミを捕まえていました。

In some spots, green shoots were already coming up. Spring seems to have arrived on the mainland too. The Short-eared Owls will be heading north before long.

師匠から連絡があり、コミミズクを。しばらく見ているともう1羽コミミズクが現れました!!

It had been pushed aside by a Purple Heron. Apparently it has many natural enemies, including harriers and falcons.