Warning: this a long post! Bird lovers: there were very few wings, but some are in there.
This summer's mountain trips turned out quite different from what we'd expected. Many days of rain, a typhoon, insect attacks on our legs (swelling, itching, one week of hell!) and finally heavy rain and closed highways on the day of our return. Jaap never made it to the summit of Mt. Daisen, nor Mt Sambe. However we did walk (stumble) up to see the shrine and temple. Not all was bad, our handicap slowed us down. We took the scenic route up to the lover's sanctuary (by ski lift!), sat in the lounge chairs and giggled like a young couple. One big plus: Billie proved to be an excellent home! For Jaap and me and Nori the cat as well. We all slept a lot, which is something we don't do much usually. I even finished a book in 2 days. In between we wandered around. But not in the tall grass anymore 😀
Mt Daisen on a good day
Our first overnight spot
I don't really want to start with these awful photos, but it happened on the first day! We just walked around the ski fields a bit to get to know the place. The grass had grown and reached above our ankles...
And this was just the beginning. The next day it looked much worse. Our legs were swollen, itchy and painful. We managed to walk slowly and our first major outing was to the Temple Daisenji...
..and Ogamiyama Shinto Shrine Okunomiya
There were not so many people, but to avoid the weekenders we moved to yet another camping spot, also near a ski field and with a great view. A typhoon was making its way toward us and briefly we had heavy rain and strong gusts. Billie endured it all well and so did we. When the weather cleared we walked - little bits. And found flowers, butterflies and other small stuff that we hardly ever get to see around Fukuoka.
Diana Treebrown, クロヒカゲ
Hikagechou, ヒカゲチョウ, (Lethe sicelis) - endemic to Japan
White Admiral, イチモンジチョウ
Autumn had started, the Matsumushisou, マツムシソウ Scabiosa japonica started to bloom.
Pincushion flower
Pincushion flower
A visiting Sukibahoujaku Hawk moth スキバホウジャク
There were many Longhorn Beetles, like this:
Gomadara Kamikiri Longhorn beetle, ゴマダラカミキリ It is one of the most well-known species of longhorn beetle in Japan
A big moth crossed our path: Maimaiga? マイマイガ?
This is the head of an Inchworm, シャクトリムシ. Can you see the eyes?
The Dryad, ジャノメチョウ (Minois dryas)
Gossamer-winged butterfly, シジミ spec. There are so many species, I lost track with this one.
We rode the ski lift up - would never have done that on any other day!
And found a fortune in the forest!
A short walk uphill from Billie led to a hotel/restaurant. The day after the typhoon many wings had found shelter here. Wildlife around the auberge:
Freyer's purple emperor (コムラサキ)
Kisujishiroedashaku, キスジシロエダシャク Geometer moth spec.
Oomizuao, オオミズアオ (Japanese Luna moth) Beautiful moths that only live for 1 week.
Creating a nice decorative accent to the rustic entrance
Box tree moth, ツゲノメイガ
The evenings were spent watching the sun set behind the clouds over Yonago city
Little by little we could walk a bit further from the parking area. That's when we saw a White-backed woodpecker, オオアカゲラ
Female Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ
Willow Tit, コガラ
A flower that looks like a Japanese Toad Lily, ホトトギス. Maybe it's ヤマジノホトトギス, Yamajino Hototogisu
Kimonga, キモンガ, a moth that flies during the day.
Red-billed Leiothrix, ソウシチョウ
Many more of these again. Very photogenic creatures
Gomadara Kamikiri Longhorn beetle, ゴマダラカミキリ
After a few days we moved to Shimane ken. Jaap thought he could hike up Mt. Sambe and we needed a change of view. Though this was hard to beat: Farewell Mt Daisen!
The drive was ok, but soon more rain came down. Nothing to make but breakfast and...
Nothing to do but watch and wait.
Things to do:
Suddenly a dry spell, a short walk.
In an arbour in an old park: There were crazy people with cameras like me in the old days as well
Sambecho Ikeda. A quiet place, no people on the roads, but...
Gomadarachou, ゴマダラチョウ
One special tree
On the 12th we headed back to Fukuoka. It took a while to get out of the mountains to the coastal roads, where we expected less trouble as in over-flowing rivers and mud slides
Downtown Kitakyushu
Fukuoka urban expressway
What a wet holiday!
There is a collection of images of the moths we found below. If you're not into that don't scroll down. Some are very pretty though!
Himeshirofu Aoshaku, ヒメシロフアオシャク
Koyotsume Aoshaku, コヨツメアオシャク
Light Emerald, Kagishirosuji Aoshaku
カギシロスジアオシャク
Ogasawarakagiba Hooktip moth, オガサワラカギバ
Kurohoshifutao Swallowtail Moth, クロホシフタオ
Shirosuji Karasuyotou, シロスジカラスヨトウ
Komafukiedashaku, ゴマフキエダシャク
Unidentified Futaoga spec. フタオガ
Ikarimonga, イカリモンガ
Kamafuringa Tuft moth, カマフリンガ
Kuromondokuga, クロモンドクガ、male
Himekimadara Seseri, ヒメキマダラセセリ on Cranesbill spec. Genoshouko, ゲンオショウコ
Akahana Kamikiri, アカハナカミキリ
Shirobu Zoomushi, シロブゾウムシ
Japanese Ginseng, トチバニンジン
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