One day in the swamp

Exotic plants and some other stuff, whatever took my fancy

Round-leaved Sundew、Mosengoke  モウセンゴケ

Arimaumano suzukusa, アリマウマノスズクサ

Golden Orchid, キンラン

Monosashitombo , モノサシトンボ - White-legged damselfly

Wide-bellied Skimmer, ハラビロトンボ  female?

young male?

Female Hatcho Tombo, ハッチョウトンボ The males have the same color this time of year.

 Small black lumps jumping in the sand: Baby toads. Japanese Common Toad, ニホンヒキガエル

They were smaller than the Japanese Giant Weevil, オオゾウムシ

Oro Island, 小呂島

 The ferry gets cancelled so often, it is almost impossible to make a plan. I went twice this month. My second time was cut short by 2 days. On May 8 the weather was very pleasant. some shearwaters crossed our path and stayed around the boat for a while. 

Streaked Shearwater, オオミズナギドリ

On the island I had no time to spare. when this bird appeared on the side of the road I quickly took aim, not realizing what it was until I got to the pc

Black-faced Bunting, シベリアアオジ

May 20th was calm. The Shearwaters flew by again, but didn't stay. I strained my eyes looking for smaller birds

YES! About 80m away. Too far! But somehow I can see they are Japanese Murrelet, カンムリウミスズメ

Oro cats, well looked after. One of them came to sit with me on the porch after dinner.

On the way to school: No birds this time. Japanese Grass Lizard, ニホンカナヘビ

Metalmark Moth, ハマキモドキガ科 · 

The next day I was told to hurry back. The weather deteriorated and I would not have another chance until 4 days later. Oops! I ran to the harbor and was hit by a wall of fog. No ferry!

Fortunately the fog cleared when the rain started. We left for Meinohama mid-morning.

Streaked Shearwater, オオミズナギドリ again - in bad weather

Mid May sightings

A collection of wings that flew in the 2nd and 3rd week of May, mostly around Fukuoka.

The Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, サンコウチョウ was calling on May 6th, but I didn't get to see it until the 13th. And only briefly, with no one else around. Too bad, others would have taken buch better pictures...

There was a time when I hardly looked up to yet another one. Now I have to search hard.

Asian Brown Flycatcher, コサメビタキ

Inspecting the housing situation. Mr. and Mrs. Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリ

A migrator in Nishi-ku but not close by. Black-faced Bunting, シベリアアオジ

The first Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ to start nesting in a nearby park.

Japanese Wagtail, セグロセキレイ on a rainy Mayday. Feeding chicks, I reckon.

Up in a tall, tall tree the baby Black Kite,トビ was born.

A curious spectator. Ryukyu Minivet, リュウキュウサンショクイ.

Migrating Buntings

It was past the beginning of May and I didn't expect much. The overcast sky didn't help. However, when the sun broke through, little birds started to come out. They were there! In small numbers, between the Sparrows and Greenfinches.  The Prize of the day was the male Yellow-breasted Bunting, シマアオジ, who came to perch right in front of me and stayed for 3 minutes.

The female was there, too

Another hotshot, despite the fact that the handsome male was absent...

Chestnut Bunting, シマノジコ

One of my favorites: Little Bunting, コホオアカ

Yellow-browed Bunting, キマユホオジロ

From here a few late add-ons