Parks in the west.

In the 2nd week of March the weather was variably sunny or cloudy, warm or cold, windy or calm. I was still dealing with the cold I had caught the previous month. Days were good or bad. On good days, I went out and walked in the parks.

Yellow-throated Buntings, ミヤマホオジロ had become very pretty in their summer colors.

In the bath tub

The female Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ also got a bit more color

White-eyes in Plum blossom, ウメメジロ are popular and easy camera targets. However, getting a good shot with the deep pink flowers is hard!

Umemejiro

Happy time of the year. If only I would feel better... Colds continue, one after the other. Before recovering from one, the next one floors me again. First time ever I take so much medication.

 

Plum blossom, 梅

Bees are out to collect their nectar.

White-eyes, メジロ love it, too

Eurasian Siskin, マヒワ and some more

I went to the same place on a warm winter day. The small flock of Siskins remained hiding in the trees till midday, when they ventured out to their watering hole. Green Pigeons were calling.

Eurasian Siskin, マヒワ male

female

A dark place, under a small stream

At the orange orchards. 

My camera likes the oranges rather than the small fast moving birds.

Japanese Bush Warbler,ウグイス

Warbling White-eyes, メジロ

A single female Elegant Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ showed up as well.

The first plum blossom 梅 Japanese Quince, カリン on January 19th 

 Thank you for the correction, Mr. M.

Masked Bunting, アオジ

Plum and some more

The plum is in full bloom, but somehow I seem to miss out on it. Only 5 min I had for these White-eyes on February 27th

Warbling White-eyes, メジロ on plum blossom, ウメ

Not the very first butterfly of the year, but worth a place in this post

Asian Comma, キタテハ

I saw a Wren skipping from rock to rock in a mountain stream but it quickly disappeared. Waiting for it to come back another bird flew in. Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Persian Speedwell, オオイヌノフグリ

Plum, 梅

All those dark cold days after the New Year's holidays we long for warmth and light. And then, suddenly, there is Plum. The blossom came early this year. The first images are already 2 weeks old.

Japanese White-eye, メジロ in a  Plum tree, 梅

Officially spring starts on the 1st day February. Visiting birds start leaving then. I look out for ducks' courtship displays. Magpies and Shrikes are flying by with presents. Some are already preparing a nest. But my days are still cold. I'm looking forward to hear the Uguisu sing.

After reading an article about Kofuji in Itoshima I went there to see the 3000 or so plumtrees. The  slope of Mt Kaya was filled with trees that produce the 'ume' for Japanese 'umeboshi' pickles and they were all in bloom. Their flowers are white and small. Pretty for the eye, not so much for the camera. The decorative plum trees that the locals keep in their gardens are much more photogenic. Below the result of a cloudy afternoon.