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

The Grey-headed Swamphen had become difficult to see for a while, but from this day it started showing well again. It may be because the Hen Harrier, which had been causing the poor appearance rate, was no longer around.

I had been kept waiting 40 minutes for a work appointment, so in frustration I stopped by the paddies — and there was the Swamphen, walking along the farm track.

I contacted several acquaintances who had come to Ishigaki specifically to see it, and we all got to watch it together. Hearing them say "I can see it!! The trip was worth it!!" made me happy too. ^^

A Purple Swamphen walking along a farm track toward me.

Day 4 of the Grey-headed Swamphen's stay on Ishigaki. The video is from day 3. Every day it follows the same routine — eating rice and drinking water — and takes the same flight path when it moves. Lately it has stopped being startled by people out for a walk.

A Western Swamphen that had gradually been coming closer.

The Grey-headed Swamphen is now into its second day. On this day I was able to photograph it in good conditions. It shows almost no wariness toward cars, motorbikes, or bicycles, so it has the feel of a bird that will stay a long time.

If a Grey-headed Swamphen — a species not in any field guide — were to winter on Ishigaki, it would surely become a huge draw. Please take care not to cause any inconvenience to the local farmers.

A Western Swamphen photographed at about 30 metres. It has an air of quiet intensity about it.

I have found a Grey-headed Swamphen — a first record!! There were apparently three records on the mainland in the 1970s and one on Okinawa Island in 1995, but all have been ruled as escapes, so there is no accepted record. There is therefore a strong possibility this will become the first accepted national record after further review.

A planned assignment was cancelled, so I reluctantly stopped by the paddies — and found it. At first I thought it was a Watercock, but when I put binoculars on it, question marks started spinning through my head. "Wait, a Takahē?" "No, Takahē can't fly." "Could this be a Grey-headed Swamphen!!!!!!" — and the enormity of it became real.

The genus Porphyrio has several members worldwide; they were formerly treated as subspecies, but after splitting the IOC list now recognises at least seven species. Among them, this bird struck me as closest to the Philippine Swamphen.

In the 2023 eighth edition of the Check-List of Japanese Birds it is listed as a species under consideration. I would like to take this opportunity to write up a report and have it elevated from that status.

When a bird you hadn't even considered turns up, you have no idea what you're looking at…. ^^;