Bird-babies: Grey-headed Lapwing, ケリ

The weather has turned hot and sweaty. Very few migrating birds are around. The season is nearly over. Summer visitors are building their nests and some birds are already looking after their young. Like these Lapwings. There were 3 chicks in a rice paddy, acting endearingly clumsy when trying out things to eat, attempting to jump and fly. :-)

  

The parents seemed pretty relaxed, watched out from the elevated corners of the rice field or led the family to another paddy.

  

All 3 in one frame

A few paddies down were more birds and one particular angry bird was very upset with the presence of a farmer, flying low over his head in feint attacks, yelling all the time. I asked the farmer if he'd seen any nests, but got a vague answer. I hate to think of what might have happened here...

central Kyushu

Another early morning in the center of Kyushu, far away from the city.

Eurasian Jay, カケス

I keep on running into these guys. This is the 5th of the season:

Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ  treating me with a serenade from the top of the tree

Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

Japanese Grosbeak, イカル seem to be everywhere

Under the big trees of the highland forests are many mushrooms 

And flowers I don't normally see. Like this Gentiana Zollingeri,フデリンドウ

Disporus Lutescens, キバナノチゴユリ

And some nameless beauties. Can anybody tell me?

  

Chestnut-eared Bunting, ホオアカ

Always check out these pretty Buntings when we go the the highlands of Mt Kuju. There were a number of couples nesting. I wonder, would any of my Fukuoka winter favorites be among them?

They liked to perch at this typical place. Maybe because the reed wasn't very tall yet

  

 preening

Mr. Pheasant and his girls

I was looking out for them and got my reward! Common Pheasant, キジ

 First I just noticed some action in the far corner of a field.

I changed to a bigger lens and out came a magnificent male with 2 females

After a few minutes the ladies turned my way, quickly followed by the boss.

The female, who had been shuddering in display shook out her feathers...

... in a cloud of dust.

When the male strode off the girls got to spend some quality time together

He himself made a big fuss and called out to ward off his rivals...

...or attract more ladies to his harem

Come on, I'm handsome!

The place I call our backyard

We don't have to travel far to this place just to the south of the city and there sure is a lot to see.
This weekend the weather was good. So good that I didn't expect much. However, there were lots of songs and calls. I didn't get to see all of them, but it's good to know what's there.

Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ didn't hang around much where I could see him, but was there most of the early morning.

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

Having regular arguments with a Blue-and-White Flycatcher, オオルリ

Butterflies look good this time of year. Later in summer they loose bits of their wings and start looking kind of worn. Below a regular Ageha, probably カラスアゲハ

Next a not so regular one, ジャコウアゲハ and I think it's a male

As usual some flowers without a name...