Shorebird numbers are up overall, but snipe numbers have been dropping. This day I found a paddy field holding about five snipe. Two were Pin-tailed Snipe, so I tried to get a shot of the tail feathers on the more approachable of the two. The other bird spent almost all its time hidden behind vegetation and I couldn't photograph it.
Pin-tailed Snipe having a stretch.
The shorebird passage seems to be reaching its peak and the rice fields are extremely busy. Greater Painted-snipe — the only snipe that breeds on Ishigaki — are active as a couple.
Four Curlew Sandpipers in various stages of moult from summer to winter plumage are present. Also here: the third Little Stint of the season, three Broad-billed Sandpipers, the season's first Temminck's Stint, along with Red-necked Stint, Long-toed Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, and Pacific Golden Plover — all in one area.
Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage. Beautiful frosted patterning.
While watching shorebirds in the rice fields, a flock of about twenty Eastern Yellow Wagtails dropped in from above. I looked at the first three that landed in front of me and there they were — a Siberian Wagtail, a White-browed Wagtail, and an Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Yellow-browed type) lined up side by side in a row. What a sudden miracle!!
The second Siberian Wagtail of the season. Last month's bird was in winter plumage, but this one was in breeding plumage.
Turnover among shorebirds in the fields and along the coast has intensified.
In the rice fields, Curlew Sandpipers in beautiful summer plumage were mixed in with a flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. A Little Stint also in summer plumage has arrived, and nine Black-tailed Godwits have come in, adding to the activity.
Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe, and Common Snipe are staying on, including some long-term individuals.
Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, and Marsh Sandpiper are beginning to show noticeably contrasting summer plumage.
Along the coast, large numbers of Siberian Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-necked Stint, and Eurasian Whimbrel have been arriving.
A Curlew Sandpiper flushed red.
The Pectoral Sandpiper first recorded on 15 April is now into its fifth day. It is spending its time among a flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Autumn juvenile records are the norm, so a spring adult is a rare find.
Several Pin-tailed Snipe are also staying at multiple sites. Spring records of Pin-tailed Snipe are very scarce, making these birds equally valuable. They are approachable and allow extended observation — great fun. ^^ Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe are also present.
The season's first Whiskered Tern arrived, following a tractor as it puddled a field.
A precious spring record of Pectoral Sandpiper.
Today I encountered nine Ruddy Kingfishers. Just driving through Banna Park I came across four of them. On Ishigaki and Iriomote, this period through the end of May is when activity is at its highest.
Some pairs had already started digging nest holes. Work had progressed far enough for the bird to fit its whole body inside.
A Ruddy Kingfisher found at Kabira. This individual didn't flush even when pedestrians walked past.
After several consecutive clear days, bird numbers on Ishigaki had been dropping — but today's heavy rain brought in all sorts of things.
In the same area of paddies, Little Curlew, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Pin-tailed Snipe all turned up together. And a miracle: Little Curlew and Pectoral Sandpiper in the same frame!!
Little Whimbrel and White-rumped Sandpiper together. I don't think I'll ever get this combination in a single shot again!!
Confirmed the first Pin-tailed Snipe of the season. Spring passage Pin-tailed Snipe on Ishigaki are a rare find. Swinhoe's Snipe are also present, cycling in and out, while Common Snipe remain the most numerous.
Among the curlews, a Far Eastern Curlew arrived after the Eurasian Whimbrel. It may be the individual some university students spotted at sea just after leaving Ishigaki port on the Yonaguni ferry a few days ago. The seabirding on that route this spring was apparently quite good — though the sea was rough, so you need to steel yourself before boarding. ^^;
I got to see the Eurasian Bittern that has been wintering since last year, for the first time in a while. As usual, it showed no wariness at all. The several Chinese Pond Herons present were starting to come into breeding plumage.
The first Pin-tailed Snipe of the season.
Ruddy Kingfishers are becoming more numerous. On Ishigaki they can be seen through October.
While searching for Ruddy Kingfishers I came across some noisy Ishigaki Tits. One was carrying food, so I watched from a distance and saw it disappear into a tree hollow — evidently nesting. I confirmed breeding at two locations.
The paddies are lively too, with Chinese Pond Herons in breeding plumage and Eastern Cattle Egrets adding to the bustle.
A male Ryukyu Kingfisher. I haven't examined it closely yet, but it appears to be the same individual as last year.
Confirmed the first Swinhoe's Snipe of the season — two birds on a paddy bund. Several Common Snipe as well.
Six Pied Avocets arrived, which I believe is a record count for a flock here. The paddies also hold Common Redshank, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Oriental Pratincole, and Grey-headed Lapwing — a scarce species on Ishigaki.
A small group of four pond herons — Javan Pond Heron and Chinese Pond Heron combined — is also lingering.
In the farmland on the western side of the island, Daurian Redstarts have arrived in large numbers. Apparently the situation is similar on Iriomote.
The first Swinhoe's Snipe of the season. It's good to finally meet one again.
Visited my family home in Aichi and did some birdwatching on the side. I was targeting Latham's Snipe, but in spring they are far fewer in number and the timing was a little early, so I struck out…
Even so, I managed to see birds that are hard to come by in Okinawa or on Ishigaki, so it was a satisfying trip.
Common Snipe. I'm not sure of the situation in Aichi, but could this be a wintering bird?
One Javan Pond Heron and three Chinese Pond Herons are staying on — all four are always together.
Oriental Pratincoles are increasing. On this day, nine were resting in the paddies, taking a break from the rain.
A Siberian Yellow Wagtail was on a paddy bund. The distance and the grass obscuring the bird made observation difficult; getting a few photos was the best I could manage. A Siberian Pipit was nearby.
The wintering Common Snipe have all but disappeared, though migrants are trickling through. Swinhoe's Snipe should be arriving soon.
Four Garganey turned up. If there's a duck that says spring on Ishigaki, it's the Garganey.
A Javan Pond Heron in winter plumage. Probably a first-winter individual.
Common Hoopoes are being reported from all over the island. It looks like a decent start to the season.
The Rosy Starling that has been wintering since last year is gradually moulting. I'm hoping it will stay as long as possible, but I have a feeling it may move on soon…
Lately, a fairly large flock of Red-billed Starlings has been coming to the car park at my workplace. They appear to be feeding on the fruits of the planted ironwood trees.
A completely fearless White's Thrush turned up — spotted and pointed out to me by a friend visiting from Akita Prefecture. I had several encounters with White's Thrush from late last year into early January, but after that they vanished. This individual seems to have stopped in on spring passage.
Japanese Bush Warblers have increased sharply, just as the Manchurian Bush Warblers have completely disappeared. I'm hearing subsong frequently these days. Little Buntings and Red-throated Pipits — whether they're on passage or moving around within the island I can't say — are fluctuating, with numbers going up and down.
Eurasian Hoopoes at the reliable spot. There appeared to be around four of them.
The Chinese Pond Herons that have been wintering since last year — about four of them. One individual appears to be a Javan Pond Heron. When the tractors started turning over the paddies, they joined the Eastern Cattle Egrets and took part in the attendant feeding.
Purple Herons can be found as young birds from last year as well as adults. The adults are in nuptial colour and looking particularly fine.
Wader numbers in the paddies have dropped considerably; just scattered Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, and Black-winged Stilt. The wintering Common Snipe seem to have headed north, and almost none remain. Looking forward to the arrival of passage birds.
Chinese Pond Heron, winter plumage.
Chicks from a Black-winged Kite pair that entered breeding around the end of the year have now fledged. There were two this time. Black-winged Kites breed regardless of season, but a breeding attempt starting at year's end may be a first in my experience. Their reproductive drive is remarkable.
Two fledged successfully this time. After leaving the nest they practised flying — including receiving prey from their parents in mid-air — and have by now reached the point where they can hunt for themselves.
A Crested Serpent Eagle nearby was attacked by one of the adults and chased off somewhere. ^^;
A Black-winged Kite fledgling that has become quite a capable flier.
Japanese Bush Warblers are becoming noticeably more active. Along the coastal woodland, several seem to be gathering as if preparing for migration. I'm also hearing their clumsy subsong.
A Japanese Bush Warbler moving along the boundary between coastal woodland and farmland. It felt like several birds were moving together.
A few Chinese Pond Herons are wintering on Ishigaki Island. One individual is particularly unwary and has been useful for individual identification — it doesn't flee at all, which is almost worrying.
Common Redshank, Common Greenshank and Temminck's Stint are all wintering birds. Little Ringed Plovers have suddenly increased in number; I've confirmed several flocks of around 20 birds. Spring migration is under way.
A Chinese Pond Heron so tame it looked like it could perch on your hand. Winter plumage, but just a little summer plumage is starting to come in.
The Upland Buzzard that has been wintering on Ishigaki Island again this season — for some reason our timing kept missing each other, but I finally managed a close observation. It really does give off a different impression from the Eastern Buzzard. Its flight style is different too.
A pair of Black-winged Kite chicks fledged recently; they seem to breed regardless of the season. Even so, the warmer months appear to be their main breeding period, and like the Crested Serpent Eagle, they are active and in breeding mode.
A striking Upland Buzzard. The expression is particularly fierce.
Thinking it would soon be departing on migration, I went to look at the dark-morph Grey-faced Buzzard for the first time in a while. It first arrived on Ishigaki Island as a juvenile in 2018, and has returned to the same rice field every year since — this is its fifth season. I hope it keeps coming back.
A Peregrine Falcon is wintering in the rice fields. Eurasian Coots and Eastern Cattle Egrets are being taken regularly.
The dark-morph Grey-faced Buzzard, returning for the fifth consecutive year since it was a juvenile.
While driving through farmland I spotted an orange-coloured bird. Through binoculars it turned out to be a strikingly bright Naumann's Thrush. Eight Olive-backed Pipits came into the garden — a flock that has been wintering in the village. They have grown considerably more accustomed to people over the course of the winter.
White Wagtails and Eastern Yellow Wagtails, apparently moving through, can be seen on a day-by-day basis.
Oriental Greenfinch, scarce on Ishigaki Island, is staying on and feeding in unharvested rice.
A strikingly vivid Naumann's Thrush. It was conspicuous enough to catch the eye even at a distance.