Blog
Blog Birds
-
Common moorhen and its Chick
It is said that the Japanese name ‘Ban’—derived from the kanji meaning ‘guardian’ and ‘bird’—may have been chosen to signify the bird as the ‘guardian of the rice paddies’. Meanwhile, its English and French names, ‘wetland chicken’ and ‘waterfowl’ respectively, strike me as rather apt descriptions. A distinctive feature is their large, thick legs, even in chicks. They breed twice a year from May to September (with some pairs breeding up to four times a year), and in autumn on Ishigaki Island, it is not uncommon to see them accompanied by their young. As shown in the photograph on the…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Charming Ryukyu Flycatcher
The Ryukyu Flycatcher is now an endemic species of the Nansei Islands. Unlike the Narcissus Flycatcher that migrates to Honshu as a summer visitor, the male’s back is described as an olive color with little black. Although it can be difficult to tell depending on the lighting, you can see that the individual in the photo is, at the very least, not black. Another characteristic is that its throat has less of an orange tint. Since it does not sing from fall through winter, it can be difficult to spot, but on Ishigaki Island, it occasionally makes an appearance along…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Western yellow wagtail
The Western yellow wagtail passes through the Nansei Islands from late August through to October. Although it breeds in northern Hokkaido, it is a rare migratory bird on Honshu. In the rice fields of Hiratabaru on Ishigaki Island, large flocks of over 100 birds can be seen, mainly in autumn. During the migration period, they often travel in large flocks; I recall being overwhelmed in Senegal, where I was staying, by a flock of several hundred Western yellow wagtails that had migrated from Europe and were resting at the harbour. Although they are widely distributed from the Eurasian continent to…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Red-necked stint
This sandpiper is so small that it appears to have been born that very year (Tōnen in Japanese), hence its Japanese name ‘Tōnen’. It is one of the smallest sandpipers found in Japan. Although only about the size of a sparrow, it is a prime example of a long-distance migrant, breeding in Siberia and migrating to overwinter in regions stretching from South-East Asia to Australia. In summer plumage, its face, breast and back take on a beautiful reddish-brown colour, but during the autumn migration, it is more common to see birds in their drab winter plumage or young birds born…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Eurasian curlew
The Eurasian curlew is a large sandpiper that migrates to estuaries and mudflats on Honshu, where it can be seen in spring and autumn. Whilst it is rarely seen in Kyoto, which lacks large mudflats, a small number overwinter in the Nansei Islands. On Honshu, they are, unfortunately, usually too far away. However, on Ishigaki Island, they can be observed from a relatively close distance. The Eurasian curlew is characterised by its large, downward-curving bill. In Japan, the only other large sandpiper with a large bill is the Far Eastern curlew. Although the two species are very similar, the Eurasian…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Is the Purple Heron really purple?
The Purple Heron takes its name from the slightly purplish reddish-brown colour of its face, neck and breast. There are differences in colour perception between Japanese and non-Japanese people; for example, whilst in Japan a torii gate is described as vermilion or red, European people seem to find the term ‘orange’ more fitting. However, the Purple Heron is a rare bird whose name—whether in English, French or its scientific name—includes the word ‘purple’, suggesting it was named according to a universal perception of colour. Whilst it is a subtle shade when asked whether it is actually purple, the contrast with…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
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…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Growing population of Javan pond heron
The Javan Javan pond heron has become a frequent sight on Ishigaki Island. As its name suggests, this heron is native to Southeast Asia, including the island of Java. In recent years, several birds have been overwintering on Ishigaki Island, and they are often seen taking flight from the edges of rice paddies. It is reported that this year, they have been seen sporting their beautiful orange summer plumage from the head down to the neck. The winter plumage seen at this time of year is rather drab. As the Chinese pond heron also overwinters here, it can be difficult to distinguish…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Young Crested serpent eagle
Although the Crested serpent eagle is widely distributed across South-East Asia, in Japan it breeds only on Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island, and is designated as an endangered species. Adult birds have feathers on the back of their heads that stand on end when excited, giving them the appearance of a crown—hence the name. Whilst adults are generally brownish-grey in colour, newly hatched chicks are white right down to their bellies and gradually turn brownish-grey as they grow. Juveniles less than a year old are entirely white, and it is said that they begin to be spotted in autumn. As…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Long-toed stint
The Long-toed Stint is one of the smallest sandpipers to migrate to Japan. Its scientific name, Calidris subminuta, literally means ‘small sandpiper’. It passes through Japan in spring and autumn, but is particularly common in autumn. In the rice paddies of Hiratabaru—a renowned birdwatching spot on Ishigaki Island—large numbers of Long-toed Stints can be seen from September to October, and many overwintering individuals also reside there. Although not a rare bird, the sight of dozens of them pecking for food in the rice paddies is a spectacle almost unheard of on Honshu. On the other hand, as it migrates from…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Graceful Pied avocet
When I first took up birdwatching over 40 years ago, the Pied avocet was synonymous with ‘rare birds’. With its upward-curving bill and the beautiful contrast between its white and black plumage, I had always hoped to catch a glimpse of it in Japan one day. However, although numbers remain low even on Honshu, they have been migrating here almost every year in recent times and are no longer considered an extremely rare sight. That said, my heart still leaps whenever I spot one. When I was in Senegal, I often saw individuals wintering in the wetlands from September to…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island
-
Scaly-breasted munia
The Scaly-breasted munia is widely distributed from southern China to Taiwan, Indonesia, India and other parts of South-East Asia. It is a small bird characterised by the wavy pattern on its belly. Whilst 11 subspecies are recognised, the species has been introduced to the United States and Australia, and individuals inhabiting the Nansei Islands, such as Ishigaki Island, are considered to be non-native species resulting from escaped pet birds. However, as the species is commonly found in Taiwan, the possibility that they may have migrated from there cannot be entirely ruled out. Determining which birds are native and which are…
- Birds
- Ishigaki Island