Love story

A pair of Kingfishers in spring

Mr. Kingfisher hurrying home with his catch of the day.

Where the Mrs. is waiting

Present!

Off to get some more (after eating the fish himself)

     

Dozo

Arigato!

  

For these last 2 images of the male Kingfisher I was allowed to use a 500mm lens, courtesy of Mrs    Kubota. Thank you, Kubota-san!

Other birds on the same day

コサギ，　Little Egret

ジョウビタキ，　Daurian Redstart male

今日の勉強　　欲しい　自分の500mm lensがほしい！
お仕事を頑張りましょう

Action in the harbor

港のファイト

Fishermen keep life fish in nets in the harbor basin alongside their boats. This attracts fish from the bay, which in its turn attracts birds. There are always gulls and herons around and in winter the cormorants often come in for a feed. The cormorants catch their meal under the prying eyes of these herons and gulls., who are always keen on an easy meal. Coming up for air and a bite can be quite a challenge.

カワウ VS　カモメ    Cormorant versus Gull

だれの勝ち？  Who won?

カワウ VS　アオサギ   Cormorant versus Heron

Heron landing on top of Cormorant.

2nd Heron flies in.

Most of the action appears to be under the surface.

Heron 2 dives down while heron 1 holds on to something, most likely the cormorant

3 birds emerging and the winner is... Heron nr 2.

カワウ, Great Cormorant
セグロカモメ,  Herring Gull
アオサギ, Grey Heron

今日の勉強　　なし！　春休みですから

dancing feathers

風が強い日　アオサギの羽が踊っています

 

アオサギ, Grey Heron

風がない日

カワウ, Great Cormorant

今日の勉強　 強い  =  tsuyoi

                     踊る  =  odoru

Yanagawa sagemon

Wednesday I took the train to Yanagawa to see the decorations for the Hinamatsuri (doll's festival)

I rented a bicycle at the station and crossed town, stopping at various locations to look at the hina dolls and sagemon decorations. The weather had cleared after a period of heavy overcast and tourists rode the canal boats. I stayed much longer than intended and used all the memory of the scandisc.

 水曜日柳川に列車を持って行った. 駅で自転車を借して あちこち町の中に　ぼんぼり、おひな様やさげもんめぐり沢山を見ました. 色わすごかったなのに、写真を撮るわとっても楽しかったです. 福岡に戻ったらお友達と話して、それわ面白くないと言いました...

Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形, hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.

The full household is much bigger then this, making it too much for one image

The lady is wearing 12 kimono's, all layered on top of each other.

The 100 year old pair at Kitajima's house

Sagemon bonbori and hanging decorations

  

scenes around town

 

柳川の川下り

 

梅わ咲いていました　ジョビタキが　留まって来た

ユリカモメの頭黒クなってきた。

   

ユリカモメ, Blackheaded Gull　   ジョビタキ, Daurian Redstart                  

餌お食べているコサギ

コサギ, Little Egret

 今日の勉強 　借りる =　kariru

                　                 自転車 =   jitensha