ルリビタキ, Red-flanked Bluetail

Friday was a public holiday and Jaap's running mates got together for a mountain run and a pick-nick on top. My legs won't keep up with them, but Shooji yama, near Dazaifu is always a good place to wander around. As colors are fading and the leaves are falling winter birds show up everywhere. The place was loaded with ruribitaki, little blue robin type birds.    嬉しい!! Also the parks around the botanical gardens, where it's easier to carry a camera and tripod.

ルリビタキ, Red-flanked Bluetail

Other birds in the same trees

エナガ, Long-tailed Tit;  コゲラ, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker; シロハラ, Pale Thrush

今日の勉強:   嬉しい = ureshii, happy.

Yufuin in Autumn

One sunny day in November I was invited to come along on a bus trip to Yufuin, a famous town for hot springs  in Oita prefecture. Rounding the bend after the last tunnel on the highway the local mountain, Yufu dake came in view with... a white cap. Snow! 

The autumn colors were amazing, and thanks to a less favorable weather forecast not too many tourists.

Capturing the kingfisher perched near the edge of the pond made it a perfect day.

  カワセミ, Common Kingfisher

November in the park

It has become cold, I should dig out my winter clothes. But it's much nicer to be out in the park then in a stuffy storage shed. Even when it's overcast. I also should write more in Japanese. If only there were 48 hours in one day...

A very friendly Robin entertained many birders and photographers. It was 1 of 6 that we saw that day, all around the botanical garden and the surrounding park.

コマドリ, Japanese Robin

It came within 1 meter of me, and I could only take this photo at 100 mm. It felt good to have the 70-300 mm zoom lens, a peanut under the regulars.

Fluttering in the foliage of maple trees: Goldcrests. Cute little birds with big eyes and a bright golden crest on their head, which I was hoping to capture in a setting of autumn colored leaves... Alas, maybe another day.

キクイタダキ, Goldcrest

Overripe persimons (kaki) attract all kinds of birds. These Eyebrow Thrushes were having a feast

マミチャジナイ, Eyebrowed Thrush

One day there's nothing to see, the next: Wow!  きのこ, mushroom

Sefuri in November

 When winter birds come early and flowers blooms late, this is what you get:

     Siskins in the Cosmos    マヒワ

 

Others in the same area:  Black-faced Bunting,  アオジ

Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

Another bunting, possibly Meadow Bunting,   ホオジロ? 

And Brambling, アトリ

Autumn

Autumn colors at Kannon of Raizan

Other creatures than birds:

Japanese Rat Snake, アオダイショウ

Who is scared of spiders? This sweety is carrying her egg case with her while she keeps a good look out with her 8 eyes. クモ

Chestnut Tiger butterfly,  アサギマダラ

Another common snake:  ヤマカガシ, Tiger Keelback

Migration season 2

Again seasonal birds, followed by some butterflies

Common Stone chat, ノビタキ

In Holland they are called Roodborsttapuit. It felt strange to watch them on opposite sides of the globe.

Should be staying for the winter, but I see them only in summer. Where do they go? セッカ

Together in the same field: Zitting Cisticola,  セッカ 

  セッカ

The Chestnut-cheeked Starlings were sighted a few of weeks before, among White-cheeked Starlings, flocking together before heading south. コムクドリ

Not a migrator, but a resident at Muromi River, I cannot let the bird just sit there unnoticed: 

Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Kingfishers make me feel better when I sense the loss of wild birds around me.

I hope this year is going to have more visitors than last year!

Painted Lady, hime-aka-tateha

Comma Butterly,  Shii-tateha

below Indian Fritillary,  MAYBE ki-tateha, correction: TSUMAGUROHYOMON ツマグロヒã ウモン

(thank you Keiko-san)

above = male,   below = female

I'm not doing well with these in Japanese; have to go and find a better field guide