Imazu, WBSJ meeting

February 4th. The forecasted rain didn't come, but the clouds remained. Very few small birds showed up. Imazu has become a raptors paradise

Common Reed Bunting, オオジュリン

Great Crested Grebe, カンムリカイツブリ

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, ハイタカ

 Little Grebes, カイツブリ in the creek

The moment the Hen Harrier, ハイイロチュウヒ met the Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

And moved on

Eastern Buzzard, ノスリ

And so everybody watched this pretty bird looking out over the fields.

Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ 2

During a short lunch-time walk in K. the Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ that I always hear and sometimes see, suddenly decided to come down and show himself. Pretty boy!

2 Eastern Buzzards,  ノスリ were hunting together. It must have been lunch-time for them as well.

When I noticed a big flock of Starlings I stopped the car to see who was in there. 4 or 5 Common Starlings, ホシムクドリ among 150 White-cheeked Starlings ムクドリ

After that there was not much to report. Just a Black-faced Bunting, アオジ

Only 2 Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ and 2 Little Grebes, カイツブリ in the dam lake

Others had taken to their wings a minute before

Kanatake walk in September

 On September 20th a group of 10 people walked around to find things of interest. It was partly cloudy and sunny and rather hot. As expected. We talked and walked, peered and gazed and took many photos. 

A favorite: Caterpillar of Dark Evening Brown, クロコノマチョウ 幼虫

Look at that rabbit face!

It was raptor migrating season and 21 Honey Buzzards, ハチクマ were circling above us, first thing in the morning

The Little Grebe, カイツブリ family, firmly staying out of sight

Varied Tits, ヤマガラ were eating the fruit of Japanese Snowbell, エゴノキ

Mesuguro Fritillary, メスグロヒョウモン

Hoverfly, アブ on Numadaikon, ヌマダイコン

Inchworm, larvae of Mugwort Geometer moth, ヨモギエダシャクガの幼虫

Larvae of Common Bluebottle, アオスジアゲハの幼虫

Short-tailed Blue, ツバメシジミ

Shirone, シロネ? オギノツメ

Clavulina fungus? カレエダタケ？シロソウメンタケ科

Nobudo wild grape vine, ノブドウ

That's Mint! I said. No, it's Nihon Hakko, they said. What does Google say?

Japanese Mint, ニホンハッカ

Rhynchospermum, シュウブンソウ

Lesser Emperor, ギンャンマ pair

Burnt-spot Hummingbird Hawkmoth, ホシホウジャク

Tsumajiro Edashaku, ツマジロエダシャク

Gomadarachou, ゴマダラチョウ

Japanese Tree Frog, ニホンアマガエル

Japanese Oakblue, ムラサキシジミ

Nekohagi, ネコハギ

Japanese Grass Lizard, カナヘビ

Yokozuna kissing bugs, ヨコツナサシガメ

I watched something crawling out of a white sponge-like mass. Maybe larvae of moths? They went airborne in a few minutes. Better keep a distance!

A fair number of young Barn Swallows, ツバメ are hanging around, mostly sitting on the wires. When will they leave?