Tomyo lanterns in Hakata

A yearly event in October, just 1 night. Most lanterns are on the ground so for low angle shooting it means: Very painful knees the next day! I visited 3 temples this time, Shofuku-ji, Shoten-ji and Tocho-ji. Kusuda jinja will have to wait till next year.

Children having a go at the soap bubbles

Many people dressed up in kimono

楽しかった

Nokonoshima, 能古島

On the way to work:  Persimmon, 柿

Cosmos, コスモス

Common Stonechat, ノビタキ

Noko nobi, won't you pose on the cosmos for me?

This couple of 83 and 85 grow their own rice and vegetables. They told me they used to fish as well.

元気がいい！

Daurian Redstart, ジョウビタキ The first 2 of the season

Bull-headed Shrikes, モズ　Everywhere!!

Grey-streaked Flycatcher, エゾビタキ,  just 1

At school: turn left turn right

 The last Greenbottle of the year ...?                            My best friend Yuki                             

Looking for red 1

The news about Amur Falcon sightings in Imazu sent me flying, These Falcons have reddish tarsi and face-markings.

Eurasian Kestrel, チョウゲンボウ

Pretty bird, but no red markings... 

A few kilometers to the west another one

 Very cute juvenile

But no red.

In between I came across these Common Stonechats, ノビタキ

Some males with a little left-over summer colors, the others pinkish brown. 

They like to perch on poles and sticks around the fields. There were a total of 7 in a row

resident Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ  munching on a bit of rice.

Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ vs Common Stonechat, ノビタキ

Common Stonechat, ノビタキ

トケン, Cuckoo

I spent a few hours watching this bird, thinking it might be an Oriental Cuckoo that had stopped by this autumn. If only it would call out! Regarding the banding on the chest and the vent it is most likely a Common Cuckoo. All images (taken with 300mm f2.8 and tc 1.4) have been cropped considerably.

Common Cuckoo, カッコウ