Two Pied Avocets have been present for several days. A flock of Black-faced Spoonbills and Eurasian Spoonbills, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Garganey have been staying a long time. Wintering Eurasian Teal and Northern Shoveler are also steadily building up.
Two Pied Avocets with zero wariness are staying in the area.
Pechora Pipits have arrived again this season, in small numbers. Last year I found two among a flock of Red-throated Pipits. This time I noticed them by their calls overhead, and after a flock of five dropped into the paddy I searched and found two individuals. ^^
While looking for the Pechora Pipits, a Brown-cheeked Rail also appeared. It was a brief encounter — the bird was very wary — but a welcome one.
Ducks are growing in number and variety; I had my first Northern Shoveler of the season on this day. By the time the ducks arrive, both Pin-tailed Snipe and Swinhoe's Snipe have already moved on, leaving large numbers of Common Snipe behind.
The Javan Pond Heron that arrived in late July was still present. At peak there were three, but now only one remains. It should stay until around February, being in wintering mode.
Elsewhere, I noted Masked Bunting and Yellow Bittern. A Pied Avocet apparently made its way into the grounds of a facility where a friend of mine works.
Paddyfield Pipit seen again this season.
The juvenile Black-winged Kite seems to have finally become independent recently. Black-winged Kites on Ishigaki breed multiple times a year, so the population keeps growing. The Peregrine Falcon pair that wintered here last year has returned to the same spot again this year. An Upland Buzzard is also in the same area, keeping the Eurasian Coots and herons on edge. A nearby juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle looked startled as the two Peregrines chased it around.
The two Tundra Swans are still present. Around ten Northern Lapwings — all juveniles — have arrived. The rice paddies are busy with Marsh Sandpipers, Common Greenshanks, Common Redshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Teals. The first Tufted Duck of the season was also confirmed.
A Black-winged Kite juvenile with zero wariness. Given the location and timing, it may be the individual that was being fed in mid-air by a parent bird previously.
Two Black-faced Spoonbills are roaming and staying around the island. As it gradually starts to feel like autumn, Garganey, Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail are also increasing.
Adult Black-faced Spoonbill.
I went birding on the side of a work trip to Okinawa Main Island to cover the general election. The confirmed result for Okinawa District 4 came in just after 11 p.m. I quickly wrote and filed the article, returned to the hotel for a shower, then arrived in Yambaru just after 3 a.m.
It was my first night search in Yambaru in nearly three years, but hitting two reliable spots I encountered three Ryukyu Scops Owls. I had forgotten my flash, so I managed to photograph them using the rental car's headlights and a handheld torch. Before 5 a.m. I caught a short nap in the car. On the way back I stopped at Kin and Awase Tidal Flats and saw Eurasian Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew, ducks, snipe and other waders.
I visited the usual spot where Ryukyu Scops Owls breed, and sure enough one was there. I was also able to hear the well-known descending call: "Wok, wok, wok, woh."
A hybrid duck. I have no idea what's going on… ^^;
The wintering ducks of Ishigaki Island are all assembled. Six Greylag Geese, Taiga Bean Geese, and Greater Bean Geese have arrived; in the rice paddies the most numerous ducks are Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Northern Shovelers, and Eurasian Wigeons, while a large flock of Tufted Ducks is on the reservoir. Mallards, Eurasian Teals, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, and Falcated Ducks are also present. This season I am seeing Mallard × Eastern Spot-billed Duck hybrids frequently.
Update, 3 March 2024
The six Greylag Geese that were on Ishigaki Island until around the end of January were on Kume Island as of late February. I hear a Smew is also there; since the Greylag Geese on Ishigaki sometimes used the same reservoir as a Smew, that bird too may have moved from Ishigaki.
The Grey-lag Geese have been here since last year — a long stay. All five are present.
A juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle, which has been hard to find reliably this season, was out in the farmland. A Common Kestrel that has been present for several days seems to have taken a liking to the pasture and was hunting in a relaxed manner.
The Javan Pond Heron has been staying a long time, but the recent pattern is for it to leave around March, before shifting into breeding plumage.
Six Pied Avocets are staying at four sites. How long will they stick around?
Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle. I heard its call and went looking — and there it was.
Tufted Duck, Mallard, and Northern Pintail recorded for the first time this season. Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, and Eurasian Teal are staying, though scattered. Lesser White-fronted Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, and Greater White-fronted Goose are also lingering.
Male Tufted Duck.
Lesser White-fronted Goose, Siberian Pipit, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Caspian Tern all photographed for the first time this season in one go. Red Collared Doves continue to stay at multiple locations.
Common Snipe numbers are growing as birds settle into wintering mode. Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, and Common Redshank are also wintering in the island's paddies, though in small numbers.
Among raptors, Crested Serpent Eagle is becoming easier to find, and Common Kestrel, Grey-faced Buzzard, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, and Peregrine Falcon are all increasing.
Pale-capped Pigeon male juvenile. Spooked by raptors and not coming down into the paddies.
The first Pied Avocet, Spotted Redshank, Eurasian Wigeon, and Northern Shoveler of the season have arrived. I had been hearing Japanese Leaf Warbler by call for several days, but this time I finally managed a photograph.
Pin-tailed Snipe numbers have dropped; today I could only squeeze out a single bird. Swinhoe's Snipe are past their peak but still well represented. Common Snipe are increasing.
Pied Avocet, juvenile.
The Greylag Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, and Tundra Swan are settling in for a long winter stay. Duck numbers are also increasing. Quite a few have turned up at the dam, but without a scope they're just too far away…
A Grey-lag Goose with no wariness at all, settled into wintering mode alongside a Bean Goose.
Temperatures have dropped and ducks are increasing. First Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Wigeons of the season confirmed. Northern Shovelers also arrived in July, but this will be the first as proper migrants.
The peak of wader migration has passed, but the paddies still hold Temminck's Stints, Red-necked Stints, Long-toed Stints, Swinhoe's Snipes, Common Snipes, Wood Sandpipers, Common Greenshanks and others.
First Northern Shoveler of the season. Juvenile male.
7月も始まったばかりだというのに、もうハシビロガモが飛来しました。ふつーは石垣島では、11月ごろからカモの渡りが本格化するのですが、いったいどういうことなのでしょうか。
An early-arriving Northern Shoveler. The primaries are badly worn. Late first breeding plumage? Non-breeding plumage?
昨年10月ごろから滞在のジャワアカガシラサギは元気に越冬中です。第1回冬羽と思われる羽衣の換羽はまだ進んでいないようです。
沈砂池のメジロガモは2羽滞在中。池の周りの草を刈られたのでいなくなってしまわないかと心配していましたが、問題ないようです。同じ沈砂池にはハシビロガモやオカヨシガモ、コガモ、カルガモなども滞在中。
This Javan Pond Heron had been foraging in the paddies, but was startled by a juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle and retreated into a tree.
3羽いたメジロガモは1羽のみ確認。同じ池にオカヨシガモ、ハシビロガモ、ヒドリガモ、コガモ、カルガモなど。田んぼにはアカツクシガモやマガン、ヒシクイがいたりいなかったり。田んぼにいないときはどこに行っているんだろうか?
Female juvenile Ferruginous Duck.
12月5日から3日間滞在した後、行方不明になっていたアカツクシガモ がもどってきました。どこへ行っていたのでしょうね?
沈砂池にはメジロガモのオスとメスが逗留中。両方とも幼鳥です。
八重山はカモは少なめなのですが、それでもオナガガモやハシビロガモ、ヒドリガモ、コガモ、オカヨシガモなどが観察できます。カイツブリは石垣島で繁殖していのですが、冬になると越冬個体がやってきて一気に増えます。
ヨシゴイ、タシギ、ノビタキも観察できました。
The adult female Ruddy Shelduck back again in the same paddy field.
ジャワアカガシラサギと思われる個体が長期滞在中。胸の縦斑がアカガシラサギに比べると薄く見え、ジャワアカガシラサギに比べるとちょっと濃いめという感じです。個人的にはジャワアカガシラサギでいいと思うのですが、地元では意見が割れています。
ソリハシセイタカシギも長逗留。たまにいなくなるけど、1日か2日で元の田んぼにもどってきます。
今季初のユリカモメが到着しました。カモメの仲間ではユリカモメだけが毎年、確認できます。沖縄本島まで行くとユリカモメに加えてズグロカモメも見られるのですが、石垣島にはほとんど来ないです。
オオハシシギも1カ月以上、同じ田んぼで越冬中。このまま春までいてくれたら換羽が観察できるのですが…いかに…。
A Javan Pond Heron caught a Sakishima rice frog. I'm always impressed at how it finds them in thick grass like this.
Pied Avocet in the rice fields.
先月からのレンカク はまだ滞在していました。相変わらず警戒心のない個体です。
ジャワアカガシラサギと入れ替わりにアカガシラサギが増えてきました。近年の石垣島の恒例行事になりつつあります。
カモも増えてきました。コガモ、ヒドリガモ、ハシビロガモ、オナガガモがメインでたまにシマアジも現れます。
Pheasant-tailed Jacana, juvenile — present since last month.