First record of a juvenile Marsh Sandpiper this season. Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, and Red-necked Stint all appear to be passing through Ishigaki in a steady stream, with the cast turning over continuously.
The first Marsh Sandpiper juvenile of the season. Already in first-winter plumage.
Took two apprentice birders who live on the island out for about four hours of birdwatching. We came across juvenile Greater Sand Plover and Common Redshank — first juveniles of the season for both species. Together with Kentish Plover and Little Ringed Plover, that brings the juvenile wader tally to four species for the season.
A juvenile Greater Sand Plover. It was found in a rice paddy — possibly due to the influence of the typhoon.
The Northern Boobooks have fledged. Pair formation was later than usual this year, so fledging was delayed too. I wonder whether one of the pair has changed.
Ruddy Kingfisher fledging is finished everywhere now, and the adults are catching their breath. The fledglings are still within their parents' territories but are catching prey on their own.
Cinnamon Bittern chick-rearing is also over, and juveniles are appearing in rice paddies here and there. Juvenile Purple Herons that have become independent are also starting to show up in the paddies. Chinese Pond Herons and Black-faced Spoonbills are arriving on autumn passage.
Waders are beginning to move through little by little. As autumn migration gets into full swing, numbers and species will keep increasing.
Terns are in the thick of chick-rearing. Black-naped Tern chicks that are roughly one to two weeks post-hatch are starting to be seen.
The last fledgling of the season for the Brown Hawk-Owl. There were still some remaining in the nest.
The first fledgling of the season was a Northern Boobook. Two birds successfully fledged from the same site as last year. For Northern Boobook, the timing was quite early.
I confirmed a Ruddy Kingfisher excavating a nest hole. Individual numbers are high this season, and I have found so many nests that I have lost count. All I can do is hope each one goes well.
I also recorded Terek Sandpiper on Ishigaki Island — a species that seems to be down in numbers nationwide this year. Being late is normal for this species, but the low numbers are a concern. Nearby, a single Common Redshank was there alone. Several Grey-tailed Tattlers are staying in the area. Wandering Tattler has been recorded on Okinawa Island, so I am hopeful for Ishigaki Island too.
Brown Hawk-Owl fledgling and the mother (right).
First records this season of Black-tailed Godwit, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Striated Heron. Unless the weather turns rough, large waders like the Black-tailed Godwit don't come down to Ishigaki. Striated Heron is scarce on the island, so finding one felt like a bonus.
The Black-tailed Godwit is still very much in winter plumage.
The Northern Boobook that fledged three chicks last year has returned to the same nest tree this season. It looks like breeding is starting a little earlier than usual, so fledging could happen by late June.
Ruddy Kingfishers have increased in number and are turning up all over the place.
Young Crested Serpent Eagle no. 16 is now being seen reliably along Route 16.
Sandpipers and plovers are thin on the ground this season, but there are at least a few Pin-tailed Snipe, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper about.
The Brown Hawk-Owl is back for this season. This is a male.
The arrival of Common Hoopoes on Ishigaki this season has been a drawn-out, straggling affair. There are spots where you can watch Common Hoopoe and Ruddy Kingfisher at the same time, and visiting birdwatchers from the mainland all seem very pleased about that. ^^
On this day I found three Common Hoopoes at two locations and nearly ten Ruddy Kingfishers. For some reason every individual was completely unafraid, and photographing them was stress-free.
A Eurasian Hoopoe that looked a little tired — perhaps it had just arrived.
The one Crested Serpent Eagle juvenile that's been reliably viewable was at it again today — foraging at its own pace in the rice fields, walking the bunds and catching what looked like small insects.
Malayan Night Heron adults are turning up more often. This day I had three adults and one juvenile.
The Pin-tailed Snipe is still present. The same paddy field held nearly 30 Common Snipe — presumably spring migrants passing through. New arrivals of Common Redshank, Common Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper were also noted. Migration is picking up pace.
The season's first Northern Lapwing and Grey-headed Lapwing have also arrived.
A completely fearless Crested Serpent Eagle, juvenile.
Around seven Pied Avocets are staying at several sites. Water levels in the island's paddies are low, so shorebirds are scarce.
First-winter Pied Avocet.
Overwintering in the paddies: Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Little Ringed Plover, and Northern Lapwing. Dozens of Common Snipe are staying, but Swinhoe's Snipe have not been found…
Pied Avocet, first-winter.
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.
The first Pied Avocet, Spotted Redshank, Eurasian Wigeon, and Northern Shoveler of the season have arrived. I had been hearing Japanese Leaf Warbler by call for several days, but this time I finally managed a photograph.
Pin-tailed Snipe numbers have dropped; today I could only squeeze out a single bird. Swinhoe's Snipe are past their peak but still well represented. Common Snipe are increasing.
Pied Avocet, juvenile.
Ruff have turned up at several sites, almost all juveniles. The regulars — Red-necked Stint, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Redshank, and Long-toed Stint — are present in paddies everywhere. Dunlin have started to appear as well.
The first Pacific Golden Plovers of the season arrived in small flocks of juveniles. Around the park and cattle sheds, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, Red-billed Starling, and White-shouldered Starling are also increasing.
A juvenile Ruff.
A juvenile Asian Dowitcher has arrived. It is moving around the paddies together with Common Greenshank and Black-winged Stilt.
Broad-billed Sandpipers are turning up in paddies across the area — four birds in three locations. All juveniles, naturally. I'd love to see an adult one of these days….
Multiple Ruffs have also arrived. Temminck's Stint numbers are slowly building too.
The first juvenile Eurasian Whimbrel of the season was also confirmed. The paddies are getting livelier with each passing week of autumn.
Long-billed Dowitcher, juvenile. It startled every time a farmer's light truck passed.
In this sideshow from the 1st Ishigaki Snipe Camp, I introduce the birds encountered during two days of snipe hunting.
A Javan Pond Heron was found — the fourth individual on Ishigaki this season. First juvenile Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, and Red-necked Stint of the season were confirmed. An adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was seen for the first time this season. A Greater Painted-snipe family with small chicks was encountered.
Please also see the day 1 and day 2 reports.
A Javan Pond-Heron that stayed for several days.
Still stalking Pin-tailed Snipe the day after, trying to get shots of the tail feathers. And then — incredibly!! — I managed to get video with the call of a Pin-tailed Snipe!! It's shaping up to be another wonderful autumn migration season!!
I recorded my first Marsh Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper of the season. Common Redshank and Whiskered Tern had also arrived.
An extremely close Pin-tailed Snipe. Preying on a cricket.
Oriental Pratincole and Kentish Plover are breeding well, with many fledged chicks on view. The Oriental Pratincoles in particular have formed a flock of nearly 60 juveniles. At the reclaimed land site, chicks from several Kentish Plover pairs have fledged and are running around energetically.
The Little Terns, which share the same site as the Kentish Plovers in a colony, had their nests flooded by heavy rain brought by the typhoon. Some eggs that had been submerged for several hours did hatch, but their prognosis looks poor.
In the rice paddies, juvenile Common Redshank arrived for the first time this season. Every year, Common Redshank is the first shorebird species to arrive as a juvenile.
Migrating waders and plovers are gradually increasing. Wood Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint and Grey-tailed Tattler have arrived in the paddies. On the coast, Greater Sand Plover, Siberian Sand Plover and Grey-tailed Tattler numbers are building.
Oriental Pratincole in juvenile plumage (left) and first-winter plumage.
Once mid-July passes, the autumn migration of waders and plovers really picks up. As usual, Wood Sandpiper and Long-toed Stint lead the way. Then Common Greenshank, Grey-tailed Tattler and Greater Sand Plover start pouring in one after another.
Meanwhile, Black-naped Tern and Little Tern are right in the middle of raising their chicks. This season I have seen no sign of Roseate Tern breeding. I can only hope numbers improve going forward….
Common Redshank, first-summer 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.
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.