Amami Ohshima, 奄美大島

We flew to the islands to attend a wedding and took the time to drive to a forest near Naze, Amami city where I hoped to see the Lidth’s Jay. We caught a glimpse of a pair passing by and later, on the edge of the wood found another pair feeding on nuts near a stream.

Lidth’s Jay,  ルリカケス 

There were a large number of raptors in and around the mountains, mostly Grey-faced Buzzards

Grey-faced Buzzard,  サシバ

In the nature reserve we found flowers of the plant called yakkosou, or Mitrastemon Yamamotoi, which are related to the Rafflesia that mysterious flower that is the largest in the world and grows in Borneo.

 Mitrastemon Yamamotoi,  ヤツコソウ

I think I will visit Amami Ohshima again some time next year.

Japanese Robbin, コマドリ

Twice a year, in autumn and spring we get the chance to see Japanese Robins in and around the Botanical Gardens of Fukuoka. In November they leave from here on their journey south and stay only one or two days.  During the summer they stay in the mountains here in Kyushu, but I have never seen any there and I haven’t heard of many such sightings. It’s hard enough to spot them in the relatively small and open park. They hide in the darkest bushes, come out briefly to pick up some insect and disappear again. However, at the right time in the darkest corner this is what we get:

Japanese Robbin,  コマドリ 

  adult male

hiding in the bush another female

3 were spotted by J and me and we heard about one more, so 4 Robins in all: That was a pretty good day.

Other birds seen that same day:  Pale Thrush,  シロハラ

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker,  コゲラ (as usual)

  

Brambling,  アトリー feeding on Maple seeds,  モミジ

The previous day on the way to school this young flycatcher jumped right in front of me as if he expected me to feed him...

Another bird that acted like a fledgeling today:  Varied Tit,  ヤマガラ

Mugimaki Flycatcher, ムギマキ

A day in the mountains, looking for that special tree, Zanthoxylum ailanthoides,  カラスザンショウ to find the Mugimaki Flycatchers. There were a number of females around, but just one male showed up. Other birds were mostly Eyebrowed Thrushes and one Pale Thrush.

Mugimaki Flycatcher,  ムギマキ

Eyebrowed Thrush,  マミチャジナイ

Pale Thrush,  シロハラ

A day in the park, Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

After so much bad weather, rain and strong typhoon winds, there was bound to be something to see at Minami Koen. That park, more or less in the middle of the city gets a lot of temporary visitors in spring and autumn. It's high elevation makes it a welcome stop for birds on their way - south in this season.

Blue-and-white, Asian Brown and Narcissus Flycatchers were spotted. And the wintering Daurian Redstarts were seen again.

Narcissus Flycatcher,  キビタキ

Asian Brown Flycatcher,  コサメビタキ

female Daurian Redstart,  ジョウビタキ   Insisted on having its picture taken

Blue-and-white Flycatcher,  オオルリ Very high in the canopy

Tomyo lanterns in Kushida Shrine

An autumn festival held in Hakata at several locations. Paper lanterns are displayed in patterns, lining a walkway or creating a picture. Some lantarns look like simple colored paper bags, others are decorated with flowers or shapes or whatever the maker fancied. These photos were taken at the Kushida Shrine.

 

First winterbirds

Just arrived with the strong northerly winds of a typhoon in Shikanoshima:

Daurian Redstart,  ジョウビタキ 

2 females and 2 males

Happy to see you again

Earlier this morning in the west:  Spotted Redshank,  ツルシギ

and Siberian Stonechat,  ノビタキ

On the way home: Pacific Reef Egret,  クロサギ

dressed for a Halloween party?