Oro Island, 小呂島

 The ferry gets cancelled so often, it is almost impossible to make a plan. I went twice this month. My second time was cut short by 2 days. On May 8 the weather was very pleasant. some shearwaters crossed our path and stayed around the boat for a while. 

Streaked Shearwater, オオミズナギドリ

On the island I had no time to spare. when this bird appeared on the side of the road I quickly took aim, not realizing what it was until I got to the pc

Black-faced Bunting, シベリアアオジ

May 20th was calm. The Shearwaters flew by again, but didn't stay. I strained my eyes looking for smaller birds

YES! About 80m away. Too far! But somehow I can see they are Japanese Murrelet, カンムリウミスズメ

Oro cats, well looked after. One of them came to sit with me on the porch after dinner.

On the way to school: No birds this time. Japanese Grass Lizard, ニホンカナヘビ

Metalmark Moth, ハマキモドキガ科 · 

The next day I was told to hurry back. The weather deteriorated and I would not have another chance until 4 days later. Oops! I ran to the harbor and was hit by a wall of fog. No ferry!

Fortunately the fog cleared when the rain started. We left for Meinohama mid-morning.

Streaked Shearwater, オオミズナギドリ again - in bad weather

Spring cats

Stray cats in early spring. These pretty kiddies are looked after and can enjoy their life in paradise.

Stray cats depend on us. It's our duty as humans to protect them from harm

Summer in Kuju / Aso part 1

Mid August we did a tour of the Aso Kuju region, found the Blue Bees in Minami Aso as reported in a previous post - (click here)

The weather was good, the sky summery blue. We frequently left the main road to try the smaller gravel roads and frequently had to back-track, but the scenery was stunning.

The midday sun was searing hot. Several cows were grazing in the fields. One had left the heard and approached us. What did she want? Just a bit of water probably/

In a wooded patch we found a large group of stray cats that were looked after in a way. But their hungry cries made us think their caretaker had not been there for a while. It was around Obon after all, time to visit family.

No hungry beasts this time, just a funny scene of cattle watching...

 

Recognize anybody?

At night we camped at one of our regular spots, watched the moon and the stars...

...and woke the next day up at first daylight

Nokonoshima Island, 能古島

The collection of Noko Island photo's is growing, time to publish some. I often take the camera when I walk to the school were I work, but then forget to post the results... 

The summer had been interesting, with small flocks of about 15 Stints roaming the beach. 

Red-necked Stints, トウネン

A single Curlew on the rock wall on the south coast. Probably Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ

A group of Long-tailed Tits, エナガ occasionally flew in and out of the bush near the school

The resident Pacific Reef Herons. I wonder if they had a nest somewhere...

End of summer

I still feel sad about the trees that were cut last year, but their stumps are now colorful with fungi

Hornets became a problem. they built nests that had to be destroyed. Too bad. 

One of the many stray cats enjoying the sunshine one early morning in September. Do hornets sting them too? 

October came and Flycatchers gathered. 

female Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ；Grey-streaked Flycatcher, エゾビタキ

others were there but would not pose for me.

On the 14th the first female Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ

The view of the city below is not from Noko Island, but it could have been ;-)

Ainoshima's stray cats

鳥がない時猫は楽し

Many eye infections and several broken limbs, but all fat tummies and straight tails

  

Living among the fishermen in the village the life of these stray cats is not that bad.

  

Winner of the beauty contest

The lady at the ferry terminal introduced a very friendly stray she named KOEKIE!

Memories of our own old KOEKIE flooded back.

  

Koekie came onboard in 1993, sailed with us from New Zealand to Fukuoka in 1994-1995 and died in a traffic accident in 2002.

今日の勉強　猫　＝　cat

                犬　＝　dog