Dave 2x
Well-known member
I have just returned from 6 day trip to Okinawa...being a family holiday I only had only one night and one morning allocated for birding/photography.
My main target was the Okinawa Rail which turned out to be pretty easy to find. Upon arrival at the Ada Garden Hotel in heavy rain, I could hear the rails all around but it took a bit of patience before a couple crossed the road.
Spotlighting at night with my guide Kimio Kanda (highly recommended, extremely knowledgeable guide) produced many more rails. Apparently these rails are sensitive to bright lights so no flash photography and when spotlighted he quickly filtered the light so as not to disturb them.
Spotlighting also produced Ryukyu Scops Owl and a couple of Northern Boobooks.
The next morning produced many more rails as they are extremely active in the first couple of hours of light. Further birds including a few Okinawa Woodpeckers, Varied Tit, Japanese Tit, Pale Thrush, Pygmy Woodpecker, Zitting Cisticola, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Dusky Thrush. Narcissus Flycatcher and Ryukyu Robin were heard only.
Animals seen included Ryukyu Flying Fox, Small Asian Mongoose, Habu, Sword-tailed Newt.
Here's a few photos, will add some more later...
Cheers
Dave
My main target was the Okinawa Rail which turned out to be pretty easy to find. Upon arrival at the Ada Garden Hotel in heavy rain, I could hear the rails all around but it took a bit of patience before a couple crossed the road.
Spotlighting at night with my guide Kimio Kanda (highly recommended, extremely knowledgeable guide) produced many more rails. Apparently these rails are sensitive to bright lights so no flash photography and when spotlighted he quickly filtered the light so as not to disturb them.
Spotlighting also produced Ryukyu Scops Owl and a couple of Northern Boobooks.
The next morning produced many more rails as they are extremely active in the first couple of hours of light. Further birds including a few Okinawa Woodpeckers, Varied Tit, Japanese Tit, Pale Thrush, Pygmy Woodpecker, Zitting Cisticola, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Dusky Thrush. Narcissus Flycatcher and Ryukyu Robin were heard only.
Animals seen included Ryukyu Flying Fox, Small Asian Mongoose, Habu, Sword-tailed Newt.
Here's a few photos, will add some more later...
Cheers
Dave