Baillon's Crake, Oriental Stork, Pied Avocet, Black-faced Spoonbill, juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle and more
While watching the Oriental Stork, a Black Bittern flew into view, so I searched for where it had landed — and a Baillon's Crake appeared. ^^; It was a wary individual that ducked straight into the grass at the slightest disturbance. The habitat looks good, so it might stick around.
The Oriental Stork was a ringed individual. ID number "J0701", apparently hatched on 31 March this year in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture. It had also been observed in Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture, a week earlier. It stayed on Ishigaki for several days before crossing to Iriomote.
Two Pied Avocets are still present. Whether they are part of the flock of eleven that arrived on 6 November is unknown.
Encounters with juvenile Crested Serpent Eagles have been increasing. On this day I found the previously recorded "No. 7" and a new individual. With the second-crop rice harvest now underway, it is becoming a good season to watch Crested Serpent Eagles. This season's sugarcane harvest is scheduled to start around 6 December.
First Gadwall and Eastern White Wagtail of the season confirmed.
Adult White-browed Crake. It seemed quite wary.
