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

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.

A Eurasian Bittern that has been staying since last year. There are several individuals, but one of them shows no wariness at all and can be watched closely. It has been appearing reliably of late, and its behaviour — so utterly unlike the other herons — is a real pleasure to observe. ^^

A Eurasian Bittern appeared right in front of me. It noticed me but showed no alarm.

今季3個体目となるサンカノゴイに巡り会えました。水路を歩いていたので近くで観察することができました。警戒心が強いのか弱いのかよくわからない個体でした…。^^

動画も撮れましたが一瞬です。

A Eurasian Bittern in full view.

サンカノゴイが数日前から滞在中。神出鬼没で目の前の草むらにいても出てこず、なかなかタイミングが合いませんね。^^;

リュウキュウヨシゴイ、ヨシゴイは毎日、元気にけんかしてます。^^;

ベニバトも複数箇所で複数羽。今年生まれの幼鳥がほとんどです。

ハクセキレイ、ツメナガセキレイ、ムネアカタヒバリ、タヒバリなども滞在中。

今季は、タゲリの数が目立って多く、20羽ほどが滞在しています。

田んぼのシギは、ヒバリシギ、ハマシギ、アカアシシギ、アオアシシギ、タシギあたりが越冬中です。

Eurasian Bittern eating a swamp eel.