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

Both of the Upland Buzzards that have been present since late last year are juveniles, so they are not particularly wary and there are many chances to observe them. When they are not on the farmland they are usually perched in a favourite tree at the foot of the hills.

Both juvenile and adult Crested Serpent Eagles have been easy to see. I worry about the juveniles — when cold days continue, prey becomes harder to catch and the young birds start to look listless.

An Upland Buzzard perched on a branch beside a channel, targeting a Eurasian Coot. It dive-bombed into the channel shortly afterwards but failed to make a catch.

Two Upland Buzzards found within the space of an hour. Combined with the two from Yonaguni and two from Ishigaki, that makes four individuals confirmed this season. All are juveniles.

A juvenile Upland Buzzard perched at the top of a windbreak.

About five days on Yonaguni for work. Managed a little birdwatching in the spare time. Around Yonaguni Airport: two Upland Buzzards, an Eastern Buzzard, a Hen Harrier, a Peregrine Falcon and a Common Kestrel, apparently hunting small birds in the grass along the runway.

Pale Thrushes were present in large numbers across the island — flocks of thirty or more in the best spots. A few Brown-headed Thrushes were also seen. Pale Thrushes and Brown-headed Thrushes were concentrated mainly in the northern part of the island from Sonai to Kubura, while Dusky Thrushes were conspicuous in the south from Minamimakiba to Hikawa.

Little Buntings, Eastern Yellow Wagtails, Red-throated Pipits and Daurian Redstarts were all holding on through the strong winds. At Kubura fishing port, two Black-tailed Gulls and four Black-headed Gulls were staying over.

A juvenile Upland Buzzard appeared in the distance.

This season Ishigaki Island has a rich variety of raptors, including wintering birds. Upland Buzzards: three birds at two locations on the island. Peregrine Falcons: juveniles, subadults, and adults all seem to be present in unusually high numbers. Common Kestrels are everywhere.

The Black-winged Kites are approaching the end of the breeding season, and the juvenile Crested Serpent Eagles become more active in their foraging as the weather warms.

Black-winged Kite in the middle of breeding. The chicks will fledge soon.

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.

The Upland Buzzard that has been wintering on Ishigaki Island again this season — for some reason our timing kept missing each other, but I finally managed a close observation. It really does give off a different impression from the Eastern Buzzard. Its flight style is different too.

A pair of Black-winged Kite chicks fledged recently; they seem to breed regardless of the season. Even so, the warmer months appear to be their main breeding period, and like the Crested Serpent Eagle, they are active and in breeding mode.

A striking Upland Buzzard. The expression is particularly fierce.

昨年の12月中旬から越冬中のオオノスリ に久しぶりに遭遇。相変わらずでかくてかっこいいですね。警戒心が強めなので遠いです。^^;

同じく、 昨年の11月から越冬中のチュウヒ もオオノスリの近くで会えました。チュウヒは島内を広範囲に移動しており、自宅前のサトウキビ畑にもやってきます。

今年の1月から滞在しているコハクチョウ は少し大人びてきました。田植えがあちこちで始まり、落ち着きなく田んぼを転々としています。そろそろ北帰行でしょうか。

カンムリワシの幼鳥は、生まれて初めての試練の冬を無事に越しつつあります。成鳥に追われるので場所を転々とし、餌も生命を維持するぎりぎりしか取れていない感じですがなんとかやっているようです。

海岸には 先日からツクシガモとソリハシセイタカシギが滞在中 。仲は良くないようですが、付かず離れず同じ場所にいます。

The Eastern Buzzard seems to regularly attack Eurasian Coots.

石垣島に久しぶりのオオノスリ参上。オオバンを食っていました。

家族でドライブしていたら石垣島BIRD観察さんからオオノスリがいるぞと連絡が入り、ちょうどすぐ近くを走っていたので急行。念願のオオノスリをなんとか写真に収めることができました。カメラは常にもっておくもんですね。^^

ことしの石垣島は 愛想のいいチュウヒ や チョウセンチョウゲンボウ が越冬したりと猛禽類が当たり年です。

A juvenile Upland Buzzard. It had caught a Eurasian Coot.

オオノスリが数日前から滞在しています。本日、やっと写真に収めることができました。^^

ただノスリと違って、随分大きく(カンムリワシよりも大きく)、顔つきもきつい感じです。

It was far away, so I've cropped heavily.