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

A Black Stork has arrived on Ishigaki. One came in last year too, and they turn up occasionally before that, but they are always quite wary and surprisingly difficult to photograph. This individual, however, could be observed fairly close-up and at leisure — for a Black Stork, anyway.

The Tufted Duck is my first of the season. A juvenile had already been confirmed last month, but this was my first sighting. On the coast there were Grey Plovers, Siberian Sand Plovers, Kentish Plovers, Red-necked Stints, and Sanderlings. Two Caspian Terns were flying distantly. I expect Caspian Tern numbers will increase a little more toward year's end.

Black Stork, juvenile. My wife saw one last year but I missed it. This individual was not especially wary for a Black Stork, and we were able to photograph and observe it at close range.

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.