Common Kingfisher, カワセミ

Now is the time that young birds have to learn to find food by themselves. For Kingfishers, who eat small fish and shrimps this can be a real challenge. Many chicks don't make it. They can't swim well yet and they drown, or don't catch enough to live on. Let's keep our fingers cross for these ones. The heatwave must affect them as well

How to eat shrimps Japanese style: First catch one

Pray

Go!

Ah well... Try again

and again

Get angry

Real angry (with yourself)

Contemplate...   Don't give up

Finally...!

And now?

Take it to a safe spot

And eat it

OK!

 

Then relax

Time for another one...

Brown Hawk Owls, アオバズク

There are few birds to go out for right now, this is how it is in summer around Fukuoka.
One thing to look forward to is the birth of Brown Hawk Owls, アオバズク

Very few pairs are nesting this summer. I wonder if they knew beforehand about the natural disasters we are experiencing right now

Parents watching the nest don't get much sleep. With this years temperatures soaring above 37°C it must be hard on them as well. 

Ural Owl, フクロ

Before the first typhoon and before the heavy rains, I went to see this family of Owls
Resting up in a high tree it took some time to locate them and I only saw one parent, maybe Mum, but there were 2 chicks and they were stars of the day!

 

Just about 3 weeks old... still too young to survive by themselves, but full of curiosity and eager to explore.

HI!!

 My sibling is sitting on the left, can you see him?

 There he has come out a bit. 

One of the parents again. Didn't move a bit, just watched the kids.

Momochi fireworks, July 18th 2018

I missed it last year, but this time I made sure I was there!