Imazu update of the first week of July

The weather was rather unstable. Hot, humid, rainy, windy. We saw it all. Surprisingly many birds showed up in Imazu. I could not attend the monthly WBSJ meeting and went there a few days later. Early in the morning the Reed Buntings were as loud as usual. Crakes were scurrying in the rice paddies. I was hoping to see Painted Snipes and scanned every row of rice plants, but there were none. The Yellow Bitterns were flying frequently. I think there are 3 birds and 2 of them might be nesting. There were many starlings around and shrikes. Both the common kind. 1 Tern came flying in, soon followed by a Peregrine falcon. Thus, all small birds disappeared. Towards Tajiri bridge I was surprised by a couple of Mandarin ducks. How different they look in summer plumage! That was the first week of July.

Yellow Bittern, ヨシゴイ

Whiskered Tern, クロハラアジサシ

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ male and female

Great Reed Warbler, オオヨシキリ

Ruddy-breasted Crake, ヒクイナ

Butterfly Dragonfly - Chotombo, チョウトンボ 

Common Bluetail - Aomon Itotombo, アオモンイトトンボ

Gomadara Kamikiri Longhorn beetle, ゴマダラカミキリ

Common Centaury, ベニバナセンブリ is a medicinal herb in Europe

Our native Hibiscus Hamabo, ハマボウ