Nanayama samp June 28th

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Brown Hawk Owl,アオバズク

It took us a while to find it, but here we are; 1 bird. Where would his lady be?

At the same tree these orchids
フウラン, Vanda falcata, the wind orchid.

Little Grebes, カイツブリ

These birds build their nest in this pond right in the open, for everyone to see. They must feel safe amid the surrounding buildings. Even though the peregrine Falcon knows about it. But I didn't notice any crows. Good luck to them!

June 23rd

3 Days later

June 30th

Crested Kingfisher, ヤマセミ

We drove to the mountains in Saga to see these birds. There were 3 juveniles that had recently left the nest and were not good at finding food yet. An adult male was there as well, father keeping an eye on his offspring? The clean water and morning mist added to the pristine scenery of the mountain stream made this a special experience.

Below the adult male

Kanatake walk, 2020-6-17

After 3 month absence 10 people gathered for the monthly meeting. The weather was pleasant, not too hot and no rain. It felt great to be out there again.
First thing we found was a number of newts in a gutter:

Japanese fire belly newt (アカハライモリ)

Followed by a tiny frog of some sort  カエル ( ウシガウル??) Bullfrog?

コアオハナムグリ, Flower Scarab spec on Rain Lily, (Safuranmodoki) サフランモドキ

チャタテムシ, Bark flies Running up and down the tree in formation. 

わからない物 - But thanx to Mr. T we have an explanation: They appear to be cocoons of the Braconic wasps, コマユバチ, tiny parasitoid wasps that devour caterpillars.

Common Mapwing, イシガケチョウ

Nippleworts, (yabutaberako) ヤブタベラコ

A new-born mantis, カマキリ, maybe Giant Asian Mantis, ハラビロカマキリ

Identifying ノコギリカミキリ, Sawtooth Beetle

(ニセ？)ノコギリカミキリ, Sawtooth Beetle

A little off our usual trail: コクラン, Tall Twayblade

Fruit of Ginryoso, ギンリョウソウ Silver Dragons

Road kill: Tiger Keelback, (Yamakagashi) ヤマカガシ 

ネムノキ, Persian Silk Tree

The highlight of the day: Caterpillar of the Common Mapwing, イシガケチョウ 幼虫

Another one, smaller in the same bush

And from that same spot we had a clear view of a ツクシマイマイ, Tsukushi maimai

There were several Lamy Longhorn, (Ramikamikiri) ラミカミキリ

And one Caterpillar of Ramie Moth, (Fukurasuzume) フクラスズメの毛虫

Next time we will see many more

コウホネ, East Asian yellow water-lily

Chinese Snake Gourd, (Kikarasuuri) キカラスウリ

Smelling sooo nice:  テイカカズラ, Asiatic jasmine

コフキトンボ ?  シオカラトンボ ? , There is no fold in the 3rd body segment, so I suppose it is the latter, シオカラトンボ Shiokaratombo

http://www.kannousuiken-osaka.or.jp/zukan/zukan_database/konchu/5350b31ec1be415/3750c038a25e6f8.html

I'm not good with dragonflies. Will try harder this year.

And so Mr. T came up with another spec: ハラビロトンボ, Harabirotombo. Yet another type of skimmer that likes fresh water

Rain Lily, (Safuranmodoki) サフランモドキ

Saururus chinensis (ハンゲショウ)