Oriental Greenfinch, カワラヒワ on Rapeseed (ナノハナ)

In Holland they are called Groenlingen, in Japan Greenfinches, the same bird but slightly different. They sure like the seeds of Rapeseed.... The oil must be good.

 

Barn Swallow, ツバメ

While some birds are still building nests...

...others are allready feeding chicks

Kanatake meeting May 15th

Compillation of flowers, insects and other things that were noted.
Japanese Pit viper or Mamushi, マムシ!!!

Nippleworts, (yabutaberako) ヤブタベラコ

Japanese snowbell, (egonoki) エゴノキ

Left: Annual Blue-eyed grass, (Niwazekishou) ニワゼキショウ,    Right: Purple-eyed grass, (Ooniwazekishou) オオニワゼキショウ The smaller one (!)

Annual Blue-eyed grass, (Niwazekishou) ニワゼキショウ

Bridal wreath, (Unohana or Utsugi) ウノハナ,  ウツギ

East Asian yellow water-lily, (kouhone) コウホネ

Yellow iris (kishoubu) キショウブ

Japanese Water iris, (Nohanashoubu)  ノハナショウブ

Kousa dogwood (yamaboushi) ヤマボウシ

Common bluebottle, (aosuji ageha) アオスジアゲハ

yamakimadara hikage, ヤマキマダラヒカゲ

 

Japanese tree frog, (amagaeru) アマガエル

Lots of slimy yucky stuff, like Woodlice (Dangomushi) ダンゴムシ Japanese kids love them!

Euphaedusa subaculus snail (Kyushu namikogiseru) キュウシュウナミコギセル

Japanese Pit viper or Mamushi, マムシ

Yellow spotted stink bug (kimadarakamemushi) キマダラカメムシ

Flat-headed wood-borer, (ubatamamushi) ウバタマムシ

Imazu update May 19th

The strong southern winds and heavy rain should have brought us some wings. One of the first things I saw was not a bird, but the fox. Still here? Here again? He (or she) disappeared in the same bush as before...

Leisurely walking the deserted road, Japanese red fox, キツネ

3 Mute Swans, コブハクチョウ had come to pay us a visit. An adult and 2 juveniles

They like to act in formation. I wonder why.

A flock of Egrets flew in. About 22 birds, half of them Cattle Egret, アマサギ, the other half Intermediate Egret, チュウサギ

It took a while for them to settle down

Other birds include Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

Meadow Bunting, ホオジロ

Yet another 2 Bull-headed Shrike, モズ fledgelings. I keep running into these.

Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

The scene at the flats during high tide, with 20+ Whimbrels, チュウシャクシギ and 3 Black-faced Spoonbills, クロツラヘラサギ