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

At year-end, having coughed up blood to get all my copy filed before the end of the year, I squeezed in a short final birdwatch for 2022.

Entering December, Dusky Thrushes, Brown-headed Thrushes, and Pale Thrushes had increased sharply. Most of the Dusky Thrushes were Naumann's Thrushes, and the variation in plumage tones makes comparing them a pleasure in itself. Brown-headed and Pale Thrushes have also relaxed since shortly after arrival and are easier to observe.

Manchurian Bush Warblers and Dusky Warblers were calling from patches of scrub here and there, though slightly fewer than last year.

Daurian Redstart, Amur Stonechat, Red-throated Pipit, and Eastern Yellow Wagtail are also wintering.

In addition to the three Ruddy Shelduck already present, four Common Shelduck also arrived. Tundra Swans, Common Cranes, and Eurasian Spoonbills continue to stay on.

Among the ducks, Northern Shoveler were the most numerous, followed by Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, and Tufted Duck. Ferruginous Duck has not been confirmed this season.

Large numbers of Common Snipe are wintering; among roughly 200 counted across multiple paddies, there was one Swinhoe's Snipe.

Crested Serpent Eagles — both immatures and adults — have become easier to see. Road casualties will increase from here on, so care is needed when driving on Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island.

The most vividly coloured Naumann's Thrush of the day. An adult.

The overwintering small birds are increasing on Ishigaki Island.

Among them, I found a strange Daurian Redstart. At first I thought it might be a male juvenile transitioning into its first-winter plumage, but that doesn't seem to be the case — it's been suggested the bird may be a female-type individual with unusual plumage. Either way, it was an interesting Daurian Redstart.

Dusky Warblers appear to be arriving in decent numbers in the riverside thickets. Getting a good photo of them is not easy.

A fair number of Black-faced Buntings were lurking in the sugarcane fields. Some individuals that looked more like Masked Buntings were mixed in as well.

I thought the area around the throat might be partway through changing to adult male plumage, but it looks as though feathers have been lost, exposing the black area beneath. Even so, the whitish feathering from above the eye toward the cheek area looks like a male's.

That said, when Daurian Redstarts transition from juvenile to first-winter plumage, male individuals apparently develop vivid orange feathers. This individual shows some orange in places, but is otherwise brown.

年越し越冬中のムジセッカは、気温が上がると見えやすいところに出てくる印象です。餌の小虫が新芽を求めて枝先に出てくるのでしょうか。

今季は大変数の多いコホオアカは群れで島内を移動しているのか、新たな群れが入ったのか分かりませんが、200オーバーを確認しました。日が経つにつれて分散している感じです。春の渡り組かもしれません。ムネアカタヒバリも混じっていました。

アトリも50オーバーの群れを沿岸林で確認。こちらも春の渡り組だと思います。

An overwintering Plain Leaf Warbler. It is spending its time in a small area.

小さな公園のヤツガシラは 昨年11月2日からの個体 と同一かと思っていましたが、どうも入れ替わっているようです。

チョウセンウグイスはやっと写真に収めることができました。姿を見ながらの鳴き声も聞けました。

今季はツグミの仲間が少ないのですが、自宅近くにアカハラがいました。写真は今季初となります。

A Eurasian Hoopoe with almost no wariness at all.