Mt Kuju area, part 1

The weekend was planned. We had kept 3 days free of appointments and had no commitments except for some PC jobs that could be done via the internet. Contrary to the previous week the weather was good. The forecasted rain didn't materialize and the temps stayed at a comfortable 20something. However, Jaap put his back out and could not hike his favorite trail...

First sunset 

I was surprised to see an Orange Hairstreak, アカシジミ almost right away on the first morning. 

On my regular rounds, I met the regular Kibi again

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

Pretty white flowers stuck their heads out in the wetlands. Shiraitosou, シライトソ。

This Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ perched on a pole did not fly up when I passed him on the boardwalk

A Blue Admiral, ルリタテハ came to rest at a near-perfectly colored background of grey stones that brought out the blue on the wings

A Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ baby had just left the nest. It looked bewildered at me and had not learned yet that it was supposed to be scared of humans😆

I went back to the butterfly field in the afternoon I saw 20, 30 or more Orange Hairstreaks, アカシジミ circling the top of the trees. Sometimes one came down briefly

The flowering Chestnut trees were the most popular. Looking through my bino's I found a Purple Emperor there as well. Is it the Great Purple Emperor? No, the black form of Freyer's Purple Emperor, クロコムラサキ

Walking down the length of the field I was startled by a オオジシギ, Latham's Snipe that had been hiding in tall grasses. It called and flew up, then disappeared behind the trees.

A Cuckoo came to the bare tree but didn't call, Its eyes were yellow, so would that make him a Commoner? カッコウ

It was an interesting start of the weekend!

Imazu old stuff

 Spending ore time in the mountains nowadays, I almost forgot about the Imazu bird. Sorry!

Great Egrets at high tide, ダイサギ

A Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ with a problem

Eurasian Skylark, ヒバリ

Sniped in the Lotus field: Common Snipes, タシギ

In front a Common Snipe, タシギ. At the back a bigger looking bird that called several times, did not enter the water much and acted kind of different. Latham's Snipe オオジシギ? Asking several other birders the answers are mixed. Not clear. 

Cattle Egret, アマサギ

Other waders had left with the southern winds, but this Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ is not in a hurry to leave

Osprey, ミサゴ taking a bath in fresh water

Pacific Swifts, アマツバメ

A rainy day in August.

It's raining all day long and the world looks dark and wet. I should do something about that mountain of laundry, but I'm bad...
There were a number of waders around Imazu, Grey-tailed Tattler, Terek Sandpiper, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Dunlin and one Long-toed Stint.
And a snipe. Latham's I think.

Red-necked Stint, トウネン

 

Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ

Latham’s Snipe, オジシギ

Migrating birds in Fukuoka 8

On the way down from a refreshing, but bird-less walk in the mountains I stopped briefly at the fields near Imazu to see if anything new had arrived. Most ducks had left and there were no terns yet. The high tide kept me away from the mudflats, so I don't know what was there. But in the far back of this bit of land I spotted a long bill. The face that was attached to it did not seem to be that of a Common Snipe as I had first suspected, so I took the time till some more bodyparts became visible through the grass. And then there it was: a Latham Snipe. My instincts had not lied to me, I felt good.

Latham's Snipe,  オオジシギ

Soon it flew and disappeared again, but now some friends, (old time birders) who had seen me staring into the field wondered what was there, so I waited around again with them. From where I had seen the bird diving into the bush a little head peaked out every now and then. We concentrated and waited and waited...till it stepped out and then... it seemed to be a Common Snipe...

Common Snipe,  たしぎ

Ahh, disappointment. I felt unconfident again, doubting my own judgement. However, a few minutes of polite conversation later... another snipe stepped out. Guess who?

Left: Latham's Snipe,  オオジシギ　  Right Common Snipe,  タシギ

I don't think they were the best of friends. Latham is chasing Common. Why did they choose the same poll of grass to hide in?

Again?!

Migrating waders 4, Latham’s Snipe, オオジシギ

September 1^st was my lucky day. Not far from the godwits these 2 snipes popped up. I didn’t know what they were, but That’s what WBSJ members are for. Thank you Mr.H!

They were a bit too far from the road for sharp images and once the car stopped they moved from their conspicious spot to the side of a ditch, but it was my first time to see them well so again I took as many photo’s as possible.

Latham’s Snipe,  オオジシギ