Common redshank

　Although a small number breed in eastern Hokkaido, the Common redshank is rarely seen on Honshu. It is a rather plain-looking bird overall, but, as its name suggests, its red legs are a striking feature.

　In the Nansei Islands, including Ishigaki Island, it is commonly seen in rice paddies and similar habitats—except during the summer—and calls with a distinctive ‘puui’ sound.

　It is a bird with a wide global distribution, and individuals that breed in Europe migrate as far as central Africa during the winter. When I was working in Senegal, I was often surprised to see them even in filthy rubbish dumps—a scene that was the complete opposite of the beautiful views on the Notsuke Peninsula and the Kiributo Wetlands, where one can observe their summer plumage with its distinctive black vertical stripes.