Nanayama swamp area in May

Our 2nd visit to the swamp this spring. I had to see the Golden Orchid. Last time it was still a flower bud. Now, 3 weeks later, are we in time? We stopped on the way at this small rural village where life seems to have stopped a 100 years ago...

yukinoshita, ユキノシタ a kind of saxifrage

Soldier beetle, (Joukaibon) ジョウカイボン 

We got to the swamp a bit late. Rain was in the forcast and we had little time to look around but... there it was!

Orchid revenge: Golden Orchid, (kinran) キンラン

Also on my wish list: Round-leaved Sundew, (mousengoke) モウセンゴケ

Colicroots, (sokushinran) ソクシンラン　　Asian Pogonia (tokisou) トキソウ

Japanese Fairy Bells, (houchakusou)  ホウチャクソウ

Solomon’s Seal, (amadokoro) アマドコロ

Dutchman’s Pipe Vine or Birthwort, (oobaumanosuzukusa) オオバウマノスズクサ

Japanese Iris, (kakitsubata) カキツバタ　　　Sweet Flag, (shoubu) ショウブ

There was still very little water in the swamp. We need rain. And lots! The poor little

Pygmy Water-lily, (hitsujigusa) ヒツジグサ has to survive on mud :-(

Toothed Ixeridium, (nigana) ニガナ

Clouds falling from the sky...

Young dragon flies don't have much color yet. It gives them a ghostly appearance. like this Damselfly, (itotombo) イトトンボ

Below a male Scarlet Dwarf, (Hachotombo) ハッチョウトンボ

 It will turn red later

Another kind of Dragonfly, a Skimmer I think. Will it become red, like the Scarlet Skimmer,  (shoujoutombo) ショウジョウトンボ ?

A lot of ants, apparantly because of the full moon.

Japanese Tree frog, (amagaeru) アマガエル;  frog of the day 

 There were the usual birds, including a small group of herons nesting near the lake. And one loud crying Grey-faced Buzzard, サシバ 

Suddenly the rain came down in buckets. Time to head back home