Red

The morning was cold and the regular birds seemed absent. However, there was a flock of Siskins chatting high up the trees and I watched them for a while. I was about to return home when I heard the Bullfinches. 4 Birds stopped in the same tree were the Siskins had been feeding. One looked a bit different. More red down the belly. Aka Uso?

Red Bullfinch, アカウソ

A 'normal' Bullfinch, ウソ

Eurasian Siskins, マヒワ feeding on Nogurumi, ノグルミ

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, コゲラ   Again, I saw a bit of red there!

look

LOOK!

It's a male boy!

Bullfinches and some more, 2

Who knows when we will see them again... Hence the Bullfinches, ウソ once more

Feeding again on the fruit of Utsugi, ウツギの実

Also in the finch family: Long-tailed Rosefinch, ベニマシコ

Flying in and out, but not stopping for long

Eurasian Siskin, マヒワ in small and big flocks, decorating the tree

Elegant or Yellow-throated Bunting, ミヤマホオジロ. Quite skitterish and reluctant to stay put.

Such a pretty flower Japanese Star Anise, シキミ

Bullfinches and some more, 1

I finally saw the Bullfinches, ウソ after missing out on the last 3 years. It is just a matter of luck. 

They like the fruit of Utsugi, ウツギの実

Also in the same area a Eurasian Wren, ミソサザイ

Rustic Bunting, カシラダカ

And the first wildflowers.   Eutrema tenue, ユリワサビ

Dangling from a tree, catching my eye instantly

Cocoon, 繭 maybe of a moth

Asian Rosy Finches, ハギマシコ

Not a common sight in Kyushu. There seems to be a number of them visiting Mt Sefuri every winter. I had yet to find them and this month I got lucky. Though the bird is kind of dull for a finch I was quite excited to see 10 or 12 and thought they looked rather pretty in the soft winter sunlight.

Also in the same area Eurasian Bullfinch, ウソ

Eurasian Jay, カケス

Hikosan, 英彦山

In early spring we like to visit Mt. Hiko, or Hikosan. However the floods of 2 years ago made it too difficult for a while since many roads were closed and even today a part of the area is barred off. We saw enormous mounts of rubble covering everything in the valey. It will take a long time to clean that all up. As Jaap made his way to the top I hung around to find wings and things

Chinese Hwamei, ガブチョウ

Japanese Grosbeak, イカル

Can you find more than 21 birds?

Ryukyu Ashy Minivet, リュウキュウサンショウクイ

Bullfinch, ウソ

Seriba Oren  Coptis japonica (Thunb.) Makino var. major  セリバオウレン 

Didn't see any deer this time, but found one skeleton