The first of July

This rainy season brings us a lot of rain. Of course, that's what it is supposed to do. Still... it seems more than usual. Come to think of it, every year something is odd, uncommon. What is normal?
Today there is no sun in the sky; we have to make do with these:  Sunflower, ひまわり

A young male Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ singing its heart out in Kanayama

Japanese pit viper. Very poisonous but also very dead... :-(

In the evening

On sunny days the afternoons get so hot. But evenings are comfortable. 

  Nori on his watch

June compilation 1 Ajisai アジサイ

When the migrating birds have left Fukuoka there is that sudden gap of emptiness. It feels like your best friends are gone and you wish you could follow them, all the way to their breeding grounds in Siberia. But then comes June and the Hydrangea starts to bloom. Colorful insects appear, frog babies jump out and suddenly you are busy again...

June compilation 2

The first dragonflies and butterflies of the season:

Went out to look up an unusual visitor, but didn't get to see the bird... :-(

Might have been intimidated by this young fellow, the Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

There were plenty juveniles around, like these Eurasian Tree Sparrow, スズメ

When the tsuyu rains come you're bound to see snakes...