Hokkaido part 1

June 20th, 2026. The long-awaited trip to the north has begun. One of the first sightings was the big fish-eating eagle, 

White-tailed Eagle, オジロワシ

The first evening we watched 2 owls, the world's biggest fish owls:

Blakiston's Fish Owl, シマフクロウ

A pair flew in. While the male waited in a tree along the river, the female caught one fish after another.

When the female had enough, she left and made room for her mate.

 It was said they had a nest nearby.

The whole performance lasted 20 min at least. I never thought we could watch these birds this easily, in a relaxed way. We returned to our hotel fully satisfied. 

I saw just these 2 birds, but someone else noticed more. 9 In total!

Kusembusan in June

One day, when I was looking for butterflies, somebody told me about this mountain location between Fukuoka and Saga. I wanted to go there, to see what was there and, moreover, to explore a new place. I had not been lucky with some Fritillaries, yet here I found some. I have no confidence in determining their gender, but I guess the one below is a male.

Silver-washed Fritillary, ミドリヒョウモン

To my surprise, an Indian Awlking, アオバセセリ stopped by at the same tree. I knew the season was officially over; nevertheless, I had only once ever seen one in Hiroshima, so despite its ruffled appearance, I was very happy with this encounter.

Wings and Things also include moths. Below is one of Japan's biggest, a Japanese Moon moth, オオミズアオ. I've always felt sorry for them since I found out they don't have a mouth. If they cannot eat, they must surely die of hunger...

This marking looks like the lacking mouth

Another moth, abundant at the mountain top. The delicate wings look almost transparent. I found the Japanese name ホシベッコウカギバ and that it's probably a male, but I don't know what it's called in English, except that it belongs to the group of hook-tip moths. Does it have a mouth?

Then these caterpillars would turn into moths as well, I guess. Which one?

Owlet moth キバラケンモン? Somebody should think about the English names for these insects

Upon returning to nishi-ku I briefly stopped to check a sap tree. 

Titan Stag Beetle,ヒラタクワガタ - First one this year

Now, I must go home and get ready for the trip to Hokkaido!

Kashibaru Wetlands

Mid-June, the Dragonflies should be active. 

First one: Scarlet Dwarf, ハッチョウトンボ - male

Narrow-striped Bluet, セスジイトトンボ

Below in a mating wheel position. The male is blue, the female pale green

High brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン

Oriental Swallowtail Moth, アゲハモドキ

ツバメシジミ, Short-tailed Blue

Watershield, ジュンサイ

Arima umano suzukusa, アリマウマノスズクサ

Kakiran, カキラン Pretty as usual

Asian Pogonia,トキソウ Standing out proud by itself

Round-leaved Sundew, モウセンゴケ

This year I could not take any good pictures of it. Too much other stuff

Pygmy water-lily (ヒツジグサ)

Japanese Tree frog, 日本アマガエル

Just when I thought I didn't need to see another Tree Frog, my eye fell on this one: シュレーゲルアオガエル, Schlegel's Green Tree Frog. Look at the way his limbs fold into his body. He resembles a foetus

Then I saw another one, and another, and another... 5 or 6

Watching a firefly

At last some birds. Grey Heron's nest, アオサギ

Grey Wagtail, キセキレイ, adorning a roof ornament

Small stuff achi kochi

Continued from previous post. The nurses have finished checking my bandages and are back at their station. I take out my laptop and I find so many small treasures in June's photo album, I cannot possibly post them all. 

West Fukuoka: Young Wagtails, exploring their world, White Wagtail, ハクセキレイ

Jumping out of the green wild bush: Gooseneck Loosestrife, オカトラノオ

I was worried that the people with their big nets would find it. It's been here 2 weeks now. So far so good. メスグロヒョウモン · Sagana Fritillary

At the usual tree the first beetles have arrived

Drone beetles, カナブン

カシワマイマイ幼虫 · Caterpillar of Pink Lymantria Moth

A little further south, Pea Blue, ウラナミシジミ

Every year's classic: Small Coppers, ベニシジミ on Daisy Fleabane, ヒメジョオン

How many butterflies? Cabbage Whites, モンシロチョウ

It's the perfect weather for Rain Lilies, サフランモドキ. The Large Skipper, キマダラセセリ likes them as well.

This year they appear "everywhere" Short-tailed Blue, ツバメシジミ

Japanese Grass Lizard, ニホンカナヘビ

This perfectly shaped orange blob was calling me from far. 

In one corner of the park were clusters of young pretty Stinkbugs, nymphs of the Southern Green Stink Bug, ミナミアオカメムシ

They like to huddle together

Left over from Mt Kuju: Emerald moth sp. コシロスジアオシャク

Hoso Longhorn Beetle? ホソカミキリ

Flowers of the Japanese Snowbell, エゴノキ, floating down the stream