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

I had a work trip to Yonaguni Island after a long absence, so I went birding in my spare time. I came across a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo — found it at a private house in Sonai. It looked annoyed at being pestered by a Brown-eared Bulbul. I also spotted what appeared to be a Pale Buzzard.

Across the island, Emberizas were coming in in good numbers — Rustic Bunting, Yellow Bunting, Little Bunting and others. Narcissus Flycatcher, Daurian Redstart and Grey-streaked Flycatcher were staying all over the island. One Common Pochard had dropped into Kubura Mitou.

A juvenile Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo. It seemed to be using the drainage channel running behind some houses, but was chased off by a Brown-eared Bulbul and flew away somewhere.

I spent the New Year holidays in Nagoya, so I squeezed in three hours of birdwatching. There were several bunting species in the same area and it was fun listening to their calls. A short outing, but very satisfying — experiences you simply can't have on Ishigaki Island. ^^ I also got to see Eurasian Skylark and Bull-headed Shrike, both rarely encountered on the island.

There was a Common Starling in the same paddy field, which surprised me. Five birds were mixed in with a flock of White-cheeked Starlings. Northern Lapwing and Grey-headed Lapwing were there too. Grey-headed Lapwings are always around in that area, but it was my first time seeing Northern Lapwing there.

I was listening for Emberiza calls when a Reed Bunting appeared right in front of me. You don't get to see these on Ishigaki.

Rustic Buntings arrived in a flock of around 30 — quite unusual to see numbers like that on Ishigaki. Four Japanese Waxwings are on a kapok tree. Dusky Thrushes are increasing, several Amur Stonechats are staying, and Eastern Yellow Wagtails, White Wagtails, and Grey Wagtails are also on the rise.

Rustic Bunting preening.

11月2日から滞在のヤツガシラは小さな公園で滞在中。すぐ抜けると思っていましたが意外と長いこといます。ヤツガシラの公園の街路樹にはカラムクドリの群れ。バライロムクドリの成鳥も交っていましたが茂みの中で全然撮れない…。

ジャワアカガシラサギと思しき個体も長期滞在。アカガシラサギなのかジャワアカガシラサギなのか微妙な個体ではあります。

久しぶりにカンムリワシ幼鳥もいました。

沖縄や石垣島では珍しいカシラダカが数羽。今季は珍しいことに本島や石垣島内でも数羽確認されています。

A long-staying Eurasian Hoopoe. The second individual this season.