Kanatake walk November 20th

I expected it to be rather cold, but the sunshine was nice and though the wind was a bit nasty at times we were mostly comfortable. last month we had seen a number of birds, so I took a 420mm lens. The results are not all very good, specially since most birds were absent... except for the Rooks

Thunberg’s Chive, (Yamarakkyo) ヤマラッキョウ

Tankiri mame, タンキリマメ 

Isodon, (Yamahakka) ヤマハッカ

Sankodake, サンコタケ, Pseudcolous schellenbergiae

Japanese Kadsura, (Sanekazura) サネカズラ

Japanese Violet, スミレ

Rook, ミヤマカラス

70 Birds were counted

Bull-headed Shrike ♀,モズ

White variety of Water Willow, (Kitsunenomago) キツネノマゴ

Caterpillar of Artaxa subflav, (Dokuga)ドクガの幼虫

Cocoon of Common Mapwing, イシガケチョウ

Wild winter strawberries, フユイチゴ

Small Copper, ベニシジミ

Nurudemimifushi, ヌルデミミフシPockets of insects that live on a plant called Nurde, Chinese Sumac or Rhus and look like white lice.

キモグリバエ, (Kimoguribae) Frit Flies or Grass flies

They don't have any hair, which is why they look shiny

Grey wagtail, キセキレイ

Mayutate Akane, マユタテアカネ (kind of Darter)

Pink Sorrel, (Imokatabami) イモカタバ

Holly Blue, ルリシジミ

Buckwheat, ソバ

Water Pepper, ミゾソバ

Mid November in Imazu

Many winter birds have come, but not all. Below a compilation of sightings around the 17th

Among the Teals and Wigeons: 2 Tufted Ducks, キンクロハジロ, ♂ and ♀

And a Gadwall, オカヨシガモ. Hopefullt more will follow

At the other side of the road many birds were calling, but very few showed up

Common, Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

Could there be a raptor nearby...sure

Female Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ ♀ 

5 mins later... Falcon?

In the bushes along the creek, same place as before. 

8 Black-crowned Night Herons, ゴイサギ Welcome back!

a large number of Dusky Thrushes, ツグミ good to see them again, since last year there were so few

Already a regular, settled down in his territory;

male Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ ♂

And female Bull-headed Shrike, モズ  ♀

At the mudflats: around 8 Saunders's Gulls, ズグロカモメ

And 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ. This time really the last one?

Autumn in the mountains

The mountains south of Fukuoka city, on the border with Saga and towards Oita have many places to see colored leafs and birds. The ideal picture would be one that shows both ofcourse, but I will have to practice a bit more for that ;-)

Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ male

Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ

Grey Bunting, クロジ

A small flock was foraging in a thicket along the path at Mt Raizan. One pretty adult male stayed hidden - just a blur :-(

Heard them calling way before one decided to pay us a visit

Ryukyu Ashy Minivet, リュウキュウサンショウクイ

Around noon, when the light is harsha: Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, コゲラ

Long-tailed Tits, エナガ Always fun to watch