One day at Mt. Kuju

After Mt Hiko I drove to Oita, to meet up with the hikers. The season of pink was in full swing. Hikers everywhere. The only bird I saw was a bunting in the wetlands.

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

On to small stuff then. White Admiral, イチモンジチョウ

High Brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン 

Checking the sap producing trees. As expected: many Japanese Labyrinth, ヤマキマダラヒカゲ

2 pretty Scarce Tortoiseshell butterflies, ヒオドシチョウ 

Who is that, flying erratically around the sap tree?

Landing in the grass beside me after a few clumsy attempts

What attracts you to my bino's? The smell of my sweaty hands?

On the tree again

Male and female Rhinoceros Beetle, カブトムシ

Four-spotted Sap Beetles, ヨツボシケシキスイ

High Brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン  again

Some flowers I had seen before, but forgot about. iNat says it's East Asian Wintergreen, イチヤクソウ · 

A great day, just before the rain

Ruddy Kingfisher, アカショウビン 2

Continued from the previous post

Driving by again. Wow, the Kingfisher offers a good view! This time I just get out of the car quickly to take a few shots. Then moved on.

Ruddy Kingfisher, アカショウビン

Some more small stuff. Widelip Orchid, aka Sphinx Orchid, クモキリソウ

Some buffs after the morning rain. Large Skipper, キマダラセセリ

Short-tailed Blue, ツバメシジミ

Large Skipper, キマダラセセリ again and Chinese Tropical Fritillary, ツマグロヒョウモン

sheltering for the night

Ruddy Kingfisher, アカショウビン 1

You go for one bird and meet another. That happens often. The target bird was there, but would not show itself. 5Meters away, hiding, no view. I passed the point for Ruddy Kingfisher. There was the bird, but where are the crowds? There must be something better around

Ruddy Kingfisher, アカショウビン

There is a lot of small stuff to see on the mountain. Like mushroom beetles on a mushroom

An unknown flower. Brush Gentian, フデリンドウ?

Big frogs in the night

And the Lilacine Bushbrown, コジャノメ

The Wren at the shrine finished building its nest. I want to see the chicks!

Big trees, shrines and pigeons

The best place to see old, big trees in Japan. Shrines. The Camphor trees are home to many birds. They often have orchids growing from the thick branches. Lots of insects live there. The rope made of rice, called Shimenawa, marks the tree as holy, or spiritually significant.   

Looking at the photos, people from Fukuoka would recognize this place right away.

May 23rd, the first Brown Hawk Owl of the season, アオバズク 

Rock Doves, カワラバト have splendid colors. When the light is right, their feathers get a metallic hue in blue, green and purple. They complement the curved branches of the ancient trees.

Sacred bathing