Central Kyushu, part 2

This post is dedicated to Hankaiso, Ligularia japonica, ハンカイソウ, the tall yellow flowers of the Tadewara wetlands. But first, the beautiful sunset

Hankiyouso ハンカイソウ　only grows in West Japan. In June the flower buds look like pretty little pumpkins, which start to bloom early July. The beautiful deep yellow flowers soon wither and turn brown, but on the first days, they are absolutely stunning. I took many pictures, and being me, I added birds and bugs – of course.

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Not the best photo. I dealt with that in the previous post. At a different corner I found what I wanted:

Himekuro Hoshaku Hummingbird Hawk-moth,ヒメクロホウジャク

Hoshi Hoshaku Hummingbird Hawk-moth, ホシホウジャク

Chestnut Tiger, アサギマダラ

Chinese Peacock Butterfly, カラスアゲハ

High Brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン

Which Fritillary?

The Japanese Pallas's Fritillary, ウラギンスジヒョウモン

Lots of other wings, like these: Common Drone Fly, ナミハナアブ

Large Flower Fly, オオハナアブ Look at those eyes!

This last picture shows a Zitting Cisticola, セッカ flying towards its nest, in front of the yellow flower field

Central Kyushu, part 1

Mt. Kuju again. For the umpteenth time. It's so tempting to leave the heat of the city and wander in the coolness of the mountain forests...

The sky upon arrival on July 11th

Starting early - of course - after a good, cool night's sleep, I found very few birds at my regular check points. Near the bathing pool just this young one, I presume a Narcissus Flycatcher, that looked like it had just fallen out of the nest, but without any guarding parents, it seemed. 

キビタキ?

"My" Cuckoo flew over, but didn't land. Common Cuckoo, カッコウ

The Woodpeckers are always there, calling from the top of the trees. It's just a matter of finding that hole in the foliage...  Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

At the wetlands the tall yellow Hankai flowers were coming out. Still fresh and unblamished, they would make a perfect picture once a bunting perched on top. But it wasn't like that at all. The birds preferred the sturdy flowerbuds. Plus, they looked scruffy. From the heat? From childraising?

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Cisticolas were busy, flying back and forth with food for their fledgelings

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

In wetlands I found some orchids: Lobeless Platanthera, ミズチドリ

Kaki Lan, カキラン 

Nejibana, or Austral Ladies'-Tresses, ネジバナ

Several Tsuchi Akebi flowers, ツチアケビ in the woods

Everybody's favorite Lily: Morning Star Lily or Himeyuri, ヒメユリ

As expected there were butterflies. The biggest surprise was this Shijimi. I thought it was a worn Murasaki Shijimi, but had iNat look at it anyway and they came up with:

Kuroshijimi, クロシジミ  Niphanda fusca ssp. fusca

Small and cute: Ochracea Skipper, ヒメキマダラセセリ

Orange dots moving across the marsh, also in open spaces in the woods

High Brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン

No rare dragonflies, same as in the lowlands

Greater Blue Skimmer, オオシオカラトンボ

Noshime Tombo, ノシメトンボ 

This Firefly Moth looked slightly different from the ones I see here in Fukuoka. Just the shape, the white bands, Shiroshita Hotaruga, シロシタホタルガ 

So fluffy and soft looking, better not touch it though.

Ringo Dokuga, リンゴドクガ 

Oriental Monkey Beetles, コガネ love the flowers of Japanese Stewartia, ナツツバキ

Urabeni Edashaku, ウラベニエダシャク

Oohirata Carrion beetle, オオヒラタシデムシ

One more image of that spectacular sunset sky

To be continued

Red-rumped Swallows, コシアカツバメ

Mid July. You'd think the breeding season was over. Do they like these hot days? With so little rain, it must be difficult to find the right building materials. But a nest needs to be restored

Nest renovation, getting ready for a 2nd batch?

1 in, 1 out