West Fukuoka, 1st week of July

The days are hot; it's not sensible to walk under the scorching sun. A bit of wind feels comfortable, but the sun burns even more. I often think: What am I doing here? Taking refuge in the cool safety of the car is not an option. When will I get air conditioning????

A young Falcon crossed our path, to the uttermost delight of novice birders.

Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ

A flock of Plovers, with youngsters screaming to keep up.

Little Ringed Plovers, コチドリ

Eastern Spot-billed Ducklings, カルガモ -  barely visible in the rice field

Zitting Cisticola, セッカ - perched on its favorite spot.

On to the shrines in the west: Brown Hawk Owl (Boobook), アオバズク

You are a little too close to the road, papa.

Safely high up in the tree

The ugly stumps of recently cut bamboo have become convenient drinking cups for the Pigeons

Oriental Turtle Dove, キジバト

 Yabumyoga, ヤブミョウガ  Pollia japonica

Fejervarya Rice Field Frog, ヌマガエル

Transverse Moth, フタトガリアオイガ   Xanthodes transversa

Japanese Giant Gecko, ニホンヤモリ

Central Kyushu, June 28-30 part 2, birds and others

Not many birds in this post. It was a butterfly weekend, remember? I worked hard on keeping my gaze down and concentrating on just that. However, once a birder... And there was nobody to tell me off about cheating on my self-inflicted rules.

Japanese Green Woodpecker, アオゲラ

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

Eurasian Jay, カケス

Chinese Hwamei, ガビチョウ 

The baby deer again!

And my heart turned soft like soft cream...

Many buffers (people who go for butterflies) don't like the looks of moths. Or so it seems. But they can be pretty, too! Look at this one: Kiberi Shironamishaku, キベリシロナミシャク

What about the fair and white colored Japanese Swallowtail Edashaku, ウスキツバメエダシャク?

Or is it コガタツバメエダシャク?  シロツバメエダシャク?

Ok, this one is a bit scruffy, but whoever designed the pattern on these wings had an artful sense 

Shiromonkuro Edashaku, シロモンクロエダシャク

Lichen moths or Footman moth Gomadara Kokega, ゴマダラキコケガ

On to safer topics. Banded Darter, ミヤマアカネ 

Some of my hairy friends are caterpillars that look inviting and pettable, but I dare not touch them.

Some kind of Dokuga, maybe Akahige Dokuga, アカヒゲドクガ?

I've seen many Longhorn beetles lately, but this weekend there was only one

 Oak Longicorn Beetle, ハラアカコブカミキリ

Tsuchi akebi, ツチアケビ Orchids were blooming. They are impressive, but I would hardly call them pretty, unless very fresh. Worth a picture or 2

What a tail! Braconid Wasp sp, コマユバチ科 ?

Something lost its skin?

Central Kyushu, June 28-30 part 1 butterflies

It was a butterfly weekend, so I kept my gaze mostly down and tried to ignore whatever was calling and flying above. That's really hard!

Orange Hairstreak, アカシジミ

The star of the weekend: ミドリシジミ

エゾミドリシジミ, Favonius jezoensis?

Another Hairstreak, the Black-banded, ミズイロオナガシジミ

Pallas's Fritillary, ウラギンスジヒョウモン

Great Eastern Silverstripe, オオウラギンスジヒョウモン · 

High Brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン

 Japanese Treebrown, ヒカゲチョウ

 Eurasian White Admiral, イチモンジチョウ

Another one that I was pleased about, though it didn't show its colors often

 Freyer's Purple Emperor, コムラサキ

 Common Beak, テングチョウ

So much for the butterflies. It's not a bad collection, considering the fact that I was all by myself. There are still some bufs on my wishlist. Of course. It gives me a reason to try again. 😉