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

A Hen Harrier was hunting right in front of me. I could not tell what it was after, but startled Common Pheasants kept flushing repeatedly and the harrier did not seem to catch anything… ^^; My daughter, who was watching with me, was thrilled — when the Hen Harrier banked sharply she could actually hear the wind cutting through its wings. ^^

In the channels there were wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, in the paddies several Chinese Pond Herons, and we had Saunders's Gulls and Black-headed Gulls flying together — all in all a fun day of birdwatching for the kids.

A Hen Harrier quartering the rice paddies in search of prey.

Three Black Drongos arrived. It is nothing like the flock of seven from two years ago, but it is always good when more than one turns up. They were gliding low over the paddies and snatching prey.

I also had good views of Black-winged Kite, Hen Harrier and Crested Serpent Eagle.

A Black Drongo perched right in front of me. You can also see the small white spot at the base of the bill.

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 Grey-headed Swamphen staying on Ishigaki has had a Hen Harrier turning up at its paddy field for the past few days, causing havoc. Several friends have come to Ishigaki to see the Swamphen, but it has become wary and is showing poorly, so they are having a hard time.

A Pheasant-tailed Jacana is also in residence and going about its business peacefully. I had noted Garganey several times over the past two weeks or so, but this time I finally managed to get it on camera.

I also recorded my first Greater White-fronted Goose and White-faced Wagtail of the season.

The paddies are lively, with Ruff, Dunlin, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Red-necked Stint, Common Snipe, and Black-winged Stilt, as well as Eastern Red-rumped Swallow, Amur Stonechat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit, and Little Bunting.

A completely unwariness Hen Harrier juvenile. It was an extremely aggressive hunter, and the upper surface of its flight feathers was stained with mud.

Wishing everyone a happy new year.

The new year got off to a rough start — the entire family came down with COVID-19 right at the beginning of the holidays. We couldn't go anywhere, and I spent the time in bed until the 8th. ^^

My first birding of the year was on the 9th. Overwintering since last year: Common Crane, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Tundra Swan, Korean Kestrel, Grey-faced Buzzard, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, thrushes, wagtails, Amur Stonechat, Chinese Pond Heron, and four species of starling.

For New Year's, you can't leave out a juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle — the bird celebrated in the Okinawan song "Washi nu Tui-bushi."

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.

今冬の石垣島は猛禽類の越冬が大変多いです。きょうのハイイロチュウヒのほかに チュウヒ や オオノスリ 、越冬3年目となる 暗色型サシバ 、チョウゲンボウ、 チョウセンチョウゲンボウ 、ハイタカ、オオタカ、ハヤブサなど。

留鳥のカンムリワシやリュウキュウツミ、ここ数年で数を増やしているカタグロトビいるので大変賑やかで楽しいですね。

A juvenile Hen Harrier appeared right in front of me out of nowhere. It flew off in an instant and this was all I could get… ^^;

1月14日に名古屋から再び福岡入り。せっかくなので諫早名物のナベコウを見てやろうと義母の車を借りて高速道路をひた走り。2時間半ほどかかりました。遠かった…。^^;

広大な諫早干拓なのに事前の情報ゼロで訪れたので、探せど探せどナベコウは見つからず。あきらめかけた時、上空の高いところを黒っぽい怪鳥が飛んでいます。双眼鏡でのぞいてみると念願のナベコウでした。写真を数枚撮り、降り立った地点を確認の上、現場に現場に駆けつけるも見つけられず…。大きく目立つ鳥ですが、水路に降りてしまうと意外と見つけにくいようです。

干拓内では、マナヅルやコチョウゲンボウ、ハイイロチュウヒ、オオジュリン、ミヤマガラスのほか、石垣島でもおなじみのタヒバリやタゲリ、タシギ、ヘラサギ、クロツラヘラサギなどがいました。

A Black Stork in the distance.

ムネアカタヒバリの群れを観察していたら、ハイイロチュウヒのメスが突撃してきました。背後から急に現れたので とっさの撮影でした…。^^;

ハイイロチュウヒがやってきて、慌てて逃げたチョウゲンボウ2羽のうち1羽はしばらくして戻ってきました。

近くにはサシバが2羽いてバッタなどを捕まえていました。上空をミサゴが飛んでいくのですが、カタグロトビには出会えず。

牛小屋の周りには、コムクドリ、カラムクドリ、ホシムクドリ、ムクドリなどが集まっていました。

明日から2泊3日で西表島で探鳥してきます。イリオモテヤマネコも見られたらなー。

Hen Harrier, which I saw in large numbers in Isshiki-cho, Aichi Prefecture.

実家に帰ったついでにチュウヒを見てきました。ハイイロチュウヒはきれいです。 あいにく、チュウヒが遠かったのと、途中で曇ってしまいましたが…。

Even after heavy cropping, this is the size I got. ^^;