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

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.

Flocks of Eastern Red-rumped Swallow, Tahiti Swallow and Barn Swallow were flying over the paddies. Eastern Yellow Wagtail numbers are also building — the larger flocks look as though they could hold several hundred birds.

Red-rumped Swallow, adult.

Found the first Pectoral Sandpiper of the season. Red-throated Pipits are also increasing but still difficult to photograph.

Garganey seem numerous this season — they are being recorded in paddies all over the area.

A strong north wind, almost typhoon-like, was blowing, and Barn Swallows had come down to rest on the farm tracks.

First Pectoral Sandpiper of the season — a juvenile.

先日の3羽のオウチュウ は5羽に数を増やしていました。4カ所で7羽いたうちのどれかが、合流して5羽になったのか新たに渡ってきたのか分かりませんが、一度に5羽のオウチュウが集まるなんて初めてのことです。

クロハラアジサシが複数入り、その中にハジロクロハラアジサシの夏羽が1羽いました。田んぼの上をひらひらと飛びながら虫をとっていました。

沖縄では珍しい、黒々とした夏羽に衣替えしたツルクイナがいました。石垣島には冬羽や幼鳥は定期的に現れますが、夏羽は珍しいです。

田んぼではウズラシギやタシギ、アオアシシギ、コアオアシシギなど渡り途中の個体が入れ替わりで立ち寄っています。

コシアカツバメ、ヒメアマツバメ、ショウドウツバメ、ツバメの4種がまざった群れも飛来。天気が悪い中、田んぼを飛び回りながら餌をとっていました。

Drongos are turning up in large numbers on Ishigakijima this season.

小高い崖の上で景色を見ながら涼んでいたら、ツバメ4種が上空を行ったり来たりしてくれました。春の渡りのかなり遅いグループでしょうか?

一番大きなアマツバメが1羽、コシアカツバメとショウドウツバメはずつ数羽、ツバメはたくさん。ツバメ以外は、これから北上して行くのでしょう。

短いレンズしか持っていなかったので、どれも遠かった。

The wings and tail feathers are ragged. The tail is so ragged it looks almost like a White-throated Needletail. ^^;