Mountain Hawk-eagle, クマタカ

Going to the mountain is one thing. There are mountains and mountains. Some are fierce, others are gentle. This one is strong, imposing, a bit fearful. I am glad I had company on this visit. We came here to see the Eagle. It flew once. I feel deep respect for both the bird and the mountain.

A Grey Wagtail, キセキレイ calling its mate

Look at that nest! A bit noisy at times.

Other birds included a couple of Eurasian Siskins, マヒワ

Shikoku highlights

Images of our trip to Shikoku in December last year. It was our 2nd time there and though the time of year was the same, weather conditions were very different. Our route was too of course. 

On the ferry from Beppu to Misaki

Shikoku is a very quiet place with little tourism. There are many surprises, like these mammoths made of straw in a field just along the road

Shimanto River, supposedly the cleanest river in Japan, has several submergible bridges.

Soaring over our heads: Japanese Hawk Eagle, クマタカ

Minokoshi coast, with rock formations that look like they come from another planet.

Back to earth: Shoryuji Temple nr 36

 

Kochi city

Leading the flock: American Wigeon hybrid, アメリカヒドリ雑種

Naked Flowers digital light show at Kochi Castle 

Not exactly my favorite form of art, but I liked the image of the Fairy Pitta that they used in their logo. The audio was also specked with pitta calls, but I doubt any of the visitors realized that.

Umpen Temple nr 66

Idei potholes in the Matsuda River near Sukumo

On the way back a stop at Kurashiki...

...and a rest area near Hiroshima

Back in Kyushu on January 1st 2022. The first sunrise from Yukuhashi

Happy New Year!💓

Japanese Hawk Eagle, クマタカ

 A holiday at Mt Hiko, what can we expect?

The wind was strong and the temperatures low despite the sunshine, but out of the wind it felt like a Dutch summer. However, there were no birds to speak of. A detour in Mr. H's car brought me to new valleys and ridges. We were there to find an eagle and sure, there was one, soaring in the sky. A juvenile:

Followed be an adult female, the parent maybe, after a few minutes.

That was wonderful. First time to see it a little closer than a moving pinpoint in the sky.

Other things of interest were a female Copper Pheasant along the road. (I had just learned that they are the Hawk Eagles' prey, ouch!) a huge Japanese common toad, ニホンヒキガエル

And セリバオウレン, Coptis japonica var. dissecta

The next day the wind had died down an there was a little more wild life, but still a striking absence of small birds, other then Japanese Grosbeak, イカル

Japanese Sika deer, ニホンジカ

Greetings from Hiko-san!