Mt Kuju, May 24th

 After a long break, (too busy with work and visiting relatives) I finally had a chance to check out my favorite places. It was a cool sunny day. Summer birds could be heard all around, but it was hard to see them. They all seemed to hang out in the canopy. A loud singing Japanese Thrush came down for a while, ignoring his audience from a 10m distance

Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ

After a few minutes it returned to the top of the trees

There were many young birds, like this Japanese Tit, シジュウカラ

Another singer at the top of the forest trees, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, オオルリ

Quickly running out of view, a male Green Pheasant, キジ with his lady following

At the swamp I saw several of the usual Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

But there were no flowers tall enough for them to perch on

At the end of the afternoon, when the light had faded a Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ came down to catch a worm

I was wondering why so many birds stayed up high. Was it because there were so few insects for them down below?

Hidden in an obscured corner were a few Chigo Lilies, チゴユリ

The last Thunberg Gentian, ハルリンドウ ?

Attracted by the sap, 2 Japanese Labyrinth butterflies, ヤマキマダラヒカゲ side by side

Caterpillar of Hiro obi tombo edashaku, ヒロオビトンボエダシャク

Small Stuff in May

 It's getting humid and hot - time for small stuff when the birds don't fly.

In spring these Japanese Five-lined Skinks, ニホントカゲ get beautiful colors

Orchid types Sokushinran, ソクシンラン and Cremastra Orchid, サイハイラン

A bit of color, red stink bug アカスジカメムシ

Snails together

Flowers in Imazu, Blue and Yellow Iris; maybe コアヤメ, キショウブ　　　　　　　　

Caterpillar of Doguga? I don't know. Better watch out.

I don't remember these kinds of caterpillars from the Netherlands. As a child I often picked them up. they never were a problem. But here... OUCH!!!!

I was looking for shield bugs around Aburagiri trees, but only found this one. ヒメホシカメムシ

Plenty of long slithering creatures here!

Japanese Striped Snake, シマヘビ

Same place: Tiger Keelback, ヤマカガシ

Himerenge, ヒメレンゲ 

Saxifrage, ユキノシタ

Japanese Flash, トラフシジミ  Summer type

 

Smaller Green Flower Chafer, コアオハナムグリ on Bridal Wreath, ウツギ

Kanatake walk, May 17th

 It was hot. 7 People gathered, a small group this time. The staff of GCF reminded us to stop and drink regularly. It feels good to have people watching over you. 💓

2 types of the same kind of flowers, Tsukushi Tatsunamiso, ツクシタツナミソウ - with markings on the leaves ...

... and Tatsunamisou, タツナミソウ - without the markings

A different spec of orchid, a first for Kanatake and for me

ウスキムヨウラン, Lecanorchis kiusiana

As every year, Silver Dragons, ギンリョウソウ 

Butterflies were few and would not land and sit for a while. On wings: Old World Swallowtail, キアゲハ

Moths are different. This one forgot to hide. Kagiba Aoshaku, カギバアオシャク

Nejiki, ネジキの花

Peekaboo! ツユムシ, Sickle-bearing Bush Cricket

Peekaboo! Japanese Brown frog, ニホンアカガエル

big!

What's this? Asked Mr. M

What's this? I ask

Question spider

This year's Bush cricket, キリギリス fresh and green

Last year's? ツチイナゴ, Locust

A difficult one. Appeared to be Japanese Oakblue, ムラサキシジミ

Of the few dragonflies I was happy to see Four-spotted chaser, ヨツボシトンボ

Harabiro tombo, ハラビロトンボ male

These ones on wings too, I think 

A little extra, another moth. Kishita Hosoba, キシタホソバ

First of the year: Lamy Longhorn, ラミカミキリ

Daimyo Seseri, ダイミョウセセリ

ホソフタオビヒゲナガ, Hosofutaobi Higenaga moth or Long-horn moth, probably male

Silver-washed Fritillary, ミドリヒョウモン or male Sagana Fritillary, メスグロヒョウモン

Kind of Leaf beetle, ハムシ feeding on the guttation

Flowers of Chinaberry, センダン

Rain Lily, サフランモドキ