I squeezed in some birdwatching alongside a work trip to Yonaguni Island. Strong winds and occasional rain kept migrant numbers low.
Even so, there was a spring feel to it: Common Hoopoe, a flock of several dozen male White Wagtails, a group of around 30 Red-throated Pipits, and large flocks of Eastern Yellow Wagtail.
A Eurasian Hoopoe near the northern coast. It was foraging in light rain.
A work trip to Yonaguni Island gave me a little time for birding. I had hoped for rarities like the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo and Grey-faced Buzzard from the previous year, but it didn't quite work out that way. Even so, I got to see a flock of Eurasian Siskins — a species you rarely encounter on Ishigaki — so it was an enjoyable trip.
My first Naumann's Thrush of the season turned out to be on Yonaguni Island.
I spent the New Year holiday in Nagoya and managed about an hour of birdwatching. I had hoped to see a Japanese Wagtail, but unfortunately that didn't happen.
Meadow Bunting — a species I almost never get to see in Okinawa.
About five days on Yonaguni for work. Managed a little birdwatching in the spare time. Around Yonaguni Airport: two Upland Buzzards, an Eastern Buzzard, a Hen Harrier, a Peregrine Falcon and a Common Kestrel, apparently hunting small birds in the grass along the runway.
Pale Thrushes were present in large numbers across the island — flocks of thirty or more in the best spots. A few Brown-headed Thrushes were also seen. Pale Thrushes and Brown-headed Thrushes were concentrated mainly in the northern part of the island from Sonai to Kubura, while Dusky Thrushes were conspicuous in the south from Minamimakiba to Hikawa.
Little Buntings, Eastern Yellow Wagtails, Red-throated Pipits and Daurian Redstarts were all holding on through the strong winds. At Kubura fishing port, two Black-tailed Gulls and four Black-headed Gulls were staying over.
A juvenile Upland Buzzard appeared in the distance.
I had a work trip to Yonaguni Island after a long absence, so I went birding in my spare time. I came across a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo — found it at a private house in Sonai. It looked annoyed at being pestered by a Brown-eared Bulbul. I also spotted what appeared to be a Pale Buzzard.
Across the island, Emberizas were coming in in good numbers — Rustic Bunting, Yellow Bunting, Little Bunting and others. Narcissus Flycatcher, Daurian Redstart and Grey-streaked Flycatcher were staying all over the island. One Common Pochard had dropped into Kubura Mitou.
A juvenile Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo. It seemed to be using the drainage channel running behind some houses, but was chased off by a Brown-eared Bulbul and flew away somewhere.
I confirmed incubation beginning at a fifth Ryukyu Scops Owl site. The Ruddy Kingfisher female near my home has not been seen much lately, so she may also be incubating.
The rescued Crested Serpent Eagle, Mitchan, keeps getting driven off by the territorial male in this area, but comes back undeterred and keeps searching for food. I hope she builds up her strength properly this summer, gets through the winter, and grows into a fine adult.
The Lesser Whistling Duck is still present. Its reactions to passing vehicles and crows have settled down and its daily routine has become predictable, so a long stay looks likely. If it summers over, it will be a treat for many birders.
A male Ryukyu Scops Owl keeping watch over the nest. This is the third consecutive year breeding at the same site.
This season Ishigaki Island has a rich variety of raptors, including wintering birds. Upland Buzzards: three birds at two locations on the island. Peregrine Falcons: juveniles, subadults, and adults all seem to be present in unusually high numbers. Common Kestrels are everywhere.
The Black-winged Kites are approaching the end of the breeding season, and the juvenile Crested Serpent Eagles become more active in their foraging as the weather warms.
Black-winged Kite in the middle of breeding. The chicks will fledge soon.
数日前から滞在中のチュウヒをやっと撮影できました。石垣島へのチュウヒの飛来は近年、少なかったので久しぶりの越冬を期待しちゃいますね。
カタグロトビは毎日、夕方になるとペアで餌取りに現れます。西風が吹くと西日に映える美しいカタグロトビの姿が拝めるのですが、最近は北風ばかりです…。^^;
昨年に続き、今季も石垣島のノスリの渡りは好調で今日は2羽がランデヴー飛行のように舞い上がっていました。
Eastern Marsh Harrier, juvenile male. What a beautiful bird.
与那国島出張で仕事の合間に少しだけ探鳥してきました。観察できたのは45種と少なめ…。
小鳥が大変多く、コホオアカとジョウビタキが特に多かったです。ついでマミジロタヒバリ、ムネアカタヒバリ、ハクセキレイ、シロハラ、シマアカモズ、ノビタキの順。ルリビタキとハチジョウツグミ、 シベリアアオジは1個体ずつ撮影できました。
撮影できなかったけど数が多かったのが、アカヒゲとノゴマ。ノゴマは2回ほど目の前に現れたのですが、狭い道路で一瞬の出来事で撮影できず。アカヒゲは地鳴きをあちこちで聞きました。クロツグミやミヤマホオジロ、ウグイスあたりは粘れば撮れそうです。
猛禽類はノスリやサシバ、チョウゲンボウ、ハヤブサ、ミサゴなどを確認。ノスリのみ撮影。カタグロトビは写真に収めたかったのですが、警戒心が強すぎてかないませんでした。カタグロトビは石垣島のように繁殖している可能性もありますね。
カモはキンクロハジロが数十羽とハシビロガモが十数羽。オシドリも2羽いました。そして、沖縄では珍しいスズガモを2羽撮影することができました!! トビ、ハシボソガラス、モズと同様にスズガモを撮影できたことは沖縄の人にしか分からない感動。^^;
There were plenty of Little Buntings, but twigs kept getting in the way for photos.
最近、石垣島内ではノスリが多く観察されていますが、どれも本土で繁殖するノスリではなく、大陸から渡ってきた亜種のノスリのようです。 先日のハヤブサ幼鳥 も大陸から渡ってきたと思われる個体でした。違和感を覚える個体ですが、オオノスリでもケアシノスリでもありません…。^^;
今年は、 サカツラガン 、 レンカク も滞在中で大陸からのお客さんが多い石垣島です。
昨年はハイタカが多い年でしたが、今年はチョウゲンボウの飛来が大変多いです。
A juvenile Eastern Buzzard that has come from the continent. Will it overwinter, or push further south?
サトウキビ畑にノスリが1羽。 2カ月以上前に見たノスリ成鳥メス と同じ個体かもしれません。たくさんいるサシバに追い立てられて迷惑そうだった。^^; サシバは、50メートル移動するごとに現れた。サシバの春の渡りには1カ月ほど早いけど、数をかなり増やしている。
チョウゲンボウも高い頻度で出会い、合計で4羽ほど、ハヤブサも1羽を遠くに認めました。
先日の チョウセンチョウゲンボウと思しき個体 は発見できず。換羽が進んでいたらチョウセンチョウゲンボウがどうかはっきりすると思ったのですが…。
猛禽類がうじゃうじゃいるのでミフウズラは1羽も発見できず…。^^;
An adult female. Common Buzzard — rare in Okinawa. Wherever it went, it was driven off by Grey-faced Buzzards.
夕方、ノスリがホバリングして獲物を探していると、チョウゲンボウの襲撃にあっていました。チョウゲンボウは、自分の縄張りからノスリが出るまでしつこく追い回していた。
沖縄ではノスリは珍しいです。チョウゲンボウ、サシバはあちこちにいますが、ノスリは数年に1〜2度ぐらいの出会いでしょうかね。
An adult female Eastern Buzzard hunting in the evening.