Mt Kuju, part 2

 The following day I did a quick run around the same trail before we returned to the real world again. 

A Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ maybe the same bird as yesterday, was singing its beautiful song again

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ - Not yesterday's

A female nearby

Aahh, a Jay again. They are too busy to pay attention to hikers and birders now.

Eurasian Jay, カケス

The deer were at the same location - asleep when I found them. They slowly got up. Lazy buggers

Japanese Shika deer, シカ

Not so lazy, too fast for me, a wild Rabbit, ノウサギ

The small Tits, that like the dark trees behind the marshes are easy to follow

Coal Tit, ヒガラ

Some other small flowers, a kind of Chickweed, I think.  Common Chickweed, コハコベ?

Jumping up from the wet soil, Silver Dragons, ギンリョウソウ! Not an army yet, but a start

Blobs of bright orange fungi. What are they called? Witch's Butter, コガネニカワタケ?

And here is that rare butterfly again. Just one. Mountain Skipper, ミヤマセセリ

Mt Kuju, part 1

In the 3rd week of April, we had a break from our busy schedules and fled to the mountains. Despite the rain we did what we liked. Jaap hiked his favorite trail and I came back with these results

A curious yellow Flycatcher came to check me out. It stayed for a few minutes.

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

Mr. Kurotsugumi could be heard from a mile away.

Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ

At the wetlands various summer visitors were getting ready to produce babies

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ in an unusual spot

He went down to the grassy field, where his lady was waiting.

Present?

Flowers in the wetlands: Japanese Primrose, サクラソウ  

In the woods behind the marsh, Shika deer, シカ were quietly feeding. They were not very concerned with me watching them from the trail.

I looked for fawns, but the smallest deer was probably last year's

Always around, but recently difficult to capture, Eurasian Jay, カケス

On the forest floor, where the moss is bright, small delicate flowers pop up.

False Starwort, ワダソウ

Migrators in the city park: Siberian Robin, Japanese Thrush and some more

 When the thrill of the first Blue-and-White Flycatcher wore off, I returned to see what was up. A colorful Robin came out of the bush

Siberian Blue Robin, コルリ

It was then that my camera failed. Fortunately, I found the issue. The bird was very friendly and came back a few times.

There were many Thrushes in the trees, but they were very reluctant to come down and out of the darkness. Only one bird was brave enough.

Eyebrowed Thrush, マミチャジナイ

While waiting, White-eyes visited the Maple trees and made it look like autumn

Warbling White-eye, メジロ

That day I hoped to see a Yellow Flycatcher, but I was out of luck. However, on my way out, I encountered another blue colored bird. 

Red-flanked Bluetail, ルリビタキ -  "mesu-type", or female type.

Coming from a dark area, I had not adjusted the exposure settings yet, thus the result looks bright. 

From light to dark, a pretty female Thrush just a few meters away.

Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ ♀

This was another great day. But when will I see a Yellow Flycatcher?

Small stuf around Kanatake

 My camera gear is much more tuned for small creatures. I love to take photos of beetles, butterflies, caterpillars etc. Below a compilation:

Caterpillar of Japanese Siren butterfly, ゴマダラチョウの幼虫

Look at that "rabbit" face!

 

Caterpillars of Squeaking Silkmoth, ウスタビガ

Pink-barred Angle moth, ウラベニエダシャク

Indian fritillary, ツマグロヒョウモン pairing

キクラゲ, Jelly Ear

Japanese Gentian, フデリンドウ

Brittlestem, ナヨタケ科

Noble Orchid, シュンラン

Thin-legged Wolf Spider, コモリグモ - with eggs

Small Copper, ベニシジミ