Central Kyushu, June 28-30 part 2, birds and others

Not many birds in this post. It was a butterfly weekend, remember? I worked hard on keeping my gaze down and concentrating on just that. However, once a birder... And there was nobody to tell me off about cheating on my self-inflicted rules.

Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

Eurasian Jay, カケス

Chinese Hwamei, ガビチョウ 

The baby deer again!

And my heart turned soft like soft cream...

Many buffers (people who go for butterflies) don't like the looks of moths. Or so it seems. But they can be pretty, too! Look at this one: Kiberi Shironamishaku, キベリシロナミシャク

What about the fair and white colored Japanese Swallowtail Edashaku, ウスキツバメエダシャク?

Or is it コガタツバメエダシャク?  シロツバメエダシャク?

Ok, this one is a bit scruffy, but whoever designed the pattern on these wings had an artful sense 

Shiromonkuro Edashaku, シロモンクロエダシャク

Lichen moths or Footman moth Gomadara Kokega, ゴマダラキコケガ

On to safer topics. Banded Darter, ミヤマアカネ 

Some of my hairy friends are caterpillars that look inviting and pettable, but I dare not touch them.

Some kind of Dokuga, maybe Akahige Dokuga, アカヒゲドクガ?

I've seen many Longhorn beetles lately, but this weekend there was only one

 Oak Longicorn Beetle, ハラアカコブカミキリ

Tsuchi akebi, ツチアケビ Orchids were blooming. They are impressive, but I would hardly call them pretty, unless very fresh. Worth a picture or 2

What a tail! Braconid Wasp sp, コマユバチ科 ?

Something lost its skin?

Mt. Kuju, Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ etc

Last part of our 2 days at Mt. Kuju. The weather was what could be expected during the raining season: Alternating rain and sunshine, the showers not too heavy, but clouds hanging in the valleys all day long. The woods were dark. Birds could be heard more than seen, but a few came down. While Jaap hiked to the top to see the last of Miyama Kirishima, I wandered the trails of a lower altitude, catching up with him on his way down. I wanted to see the flowers, but I have only 2 legs...

Eurasian Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ looking for insects on the ground in order to feed the kids

Got "something"

Juvenile, following mum and dad, waiting to be fed

Japanese Grosbeak, イカル on a similar mission up high

1 of 2 Chinese Hwamei, ガビチョ scurrying on the trail. A bit too far for a good shot

It's Snowbell time. Flowering trees are widespread around the Chojabaru area.

Japanese Snowbell, エゴノキ 

A pretty background for the Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker family, コゲラ

Fallen down from the yummy green leaves up high, a caterpillar of Great Purple Emperor, オオムラサキ??    I nearly stepped on it 💦

Continue your search for food and stay safe!

Misfortunes in the mountains, part 2

Continuing my walk around the Mt Kuju area my luck improved a little at the end of the afternoon, when a small flock of Thrushes landed not too far from me. I was pleased to see them with some autumn colors in the back 

Eyebrowed Thrushes, マミチャジナイ

Red Underwing, エゾベニシタバ

But then, at the river I JUST missed the Crested Kingfisher, ヤマセミ 😢

All that was left were 2 Brown Dippers, カワガラス

Another Mayumi tree with red berries. マユミ, Hamilton's Spindletree. Spectacular!

The noisy calls of a Chinese Hwamei, ガビチョウ betrayed its hiding spot. It came out briefly, but... I missed it. 😢

Heading to a look-out point for the sunset, but the dramatic colors of the day before were not repeated

In the far distance: Shika Deer, シカ

That's how it is, sometimes. We cannot always be lucky. Time for a bath.