Kanatake walk in September

 On September 20th a group of 10 people walked around to find things of interest. It was partly cloudy and sunny and rather hot. As expected. We talked and walked, peered and gazed and took many photos. 

A favorite: Caterpillar of Dark Evening Brown, クロコノマチョウ 幼虫

Look at that rabbit face!

It was raptor migrating season and 21 Honey Buzzards, ハチクマ were circling above us, first thing in the morning

The Little Grebe, カイツブリ family, firmly staying out of sight

Varied Tits, ヤマガラ were eating the fruit of Japanese Snowbell, エゴノキ

Mesuguro Fritillary, メスグロヒョウモン

Hoverfly, アブ on Numadaikon, ヌマダイコン

Inchworm, larvae of Mugwort Geometer moth, ヨモギエダシャクガの幼虫

Larvae of Common Bluebottle, アオスジアゲハの幼虫

Short-tailed Blue, ツバメシジミ

Shirone, シロネ? オギノツメ

Clavulina fungus? カレエダタケ？シロソウメンタケ科

Nobudo wild grape vine, ノブドウ

That's Mint! I said. No, it's Nihon Hakko, they said. What does Google say?

Japanese Mint, ニホンハッカ

Rhynchospermum, シュウブンソウ

Lesser Emperor, ギンャンマ pair

Burnt-spot Hummingbird Hawkmoth, ホシホウジャク

Tsumajiro Edashaku, ツマジロエダシャク

Gomadarachou, ゴマダラチョウ

Japanese Tree Frog, ニホンアマガエル

Japanese Oakblue, ムラサキシジミ

Nekohagi, ネコハギ

Japanese Grass Lizard, カナヘビ

Yokozuna kissing bugs, ヨコツナサシガメ

I watched something crawling out of a white sponge-like mass. Maybe larvae of moths? They went airborne in a few minutes. Better keep a distance!

A fair number of young Barn Swallows, ツバメ are hanging around, mostly sitting on the wires. When will they leave?

Temminck's Stints, オジロトウネン

 Today, the 27th I had an hour in the afternoon and visited Imazu. There were quite some birds. The northern winds of the last days did some good. Among other (Red-necked Stints) were these 2 Temminck's Stints, オジロトウネン.  I didn't get to see them last year, so I was very pleased.

There isn't much to say about these birds. They stayed together, a little away from the other Stints.

One seemed very tired. Maybe they'd just arrived

September in Imazu 2

 No typhoons are heading our way and the days are long and hot. El Nino should bring us rain, but it is very little. Winds prevail from the south. Migrating birds are hard to find. On the 22nd a front came through, bringing a cool breeze. But still... I cannot find many migrating birds. 

The Garganeys, シマアジ are still around, 6 of them now

The duck below is a Teal, コガモ I was told. Thank you, Mr. K

And so are most others. I pointed it out now, I hope I got it right

There was the occasional Red-necked Stint, トウネン that can easily move around now that the water in the rice fields has decreased 

Well well, a young F.E. Curlew flying by! ホウロクシギ

Landing on the road... and taking off again right away

3 Dunlins, ハマシギ seem content at this half-dried up paddy field. The water snails are responsible for the big gaps in the crops. The farmers surely are not happy about that, but the dunlins are!

A Long-toad Stint, ヒバリシギ again!

And here a Marsh Sandpiper, コアオアシシギ elegantly moving around, accompanied by 2 Stints

And so, I came home with a number of images of different birds. Not too bad