Ruddy Kingfisher, アカショウビン 1

You go for one bird and meet another. That happens often. The target bird was there, but would not show itself. 5Meters away, hiding, no view. I passed the point for Ruddy Kingfisher. There was the bird, but where are the crowds? There must be something better around

Ruddy Kingfisher, アカショウビン

There is a lot of small stuff to see on the mountain. Like mushroom beetles on a mushroom

An unknown flower. Brush Gentian, フデリンドウ?

Big frogs in the night

And the Lilacine Bushbrown, コジャノメ

The Wren at the shrine finished building its nest. I want to see the chicks!

Hikosan 2

When visiting Mt. Hiko, a stop at the Takazumi Shrine is due. I had not expected to stay more than a few minutes, but when I saw the Wren flying in and out, I was hooked.

Eurasian Wren, ミソサザイ

Yes, the nest was inside! (no picture)

Just a few more.

Around the Shrine: Japanese Stone Orchid, セッコクラン

Water Tabirako, ミズタビラコ

Laceshrub, コゴメウツギ

Futarishizuka, フタリシズカ with guttation visible on the edge of the leaves

the Spangle, カラスアゲハ

Mt Kuju, part 2

 The following day I did a quick run around the same trail before we returned to the real world again. 

A Japanese Thrush, クロツグミ maybe the same bird as yesterday, was singing its beautiful song again

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ - Not yesterday's

A female nearby

Aahh, a Jay again. They are too busy to pay attention to hikers and birders now.

Eurasian Jay, カケス

The deer were at the same location - asleep when I found them. They slowly got up. Lazy buggers

Japanese Shika deer, シカ

Not so lazy, too fast for me, a wild Rabbit, ノウサギ

The small Tits, that like the dark trees behind the marshes are easy to follow

Coal Tit, ヒガラ

Some other small flowers, a kind of Chickweed, I think.  Common Chickweed, コハコベ?

Jumping up from the wet soil, Silver Dragons, ギンリョウソウ! Not an army yet, but a start

Blobs of bright orange fungi. What are they called? Witch's Butter, コガネニカワタケ?

And here is that rare butterfly again. Just one. Mountain Skipper, ミヤマセセリ

Aimlessly in Kumamoto

A short break between jobs in Kumamoto, at our favorite hot spring campsite. The sun was out, fruit trees bloomed, Swallows were chattering, what else would you want? I can think of a hundred things or more, apart from the White-eyes in the Sakura trees that were so very absent...

Barn Swallow, ツバメ

Papillons in the gardens! Chinese Windmill butterfly, ジャコウアゲハ on Wild Radish, ハマダイコン

Chocolate Vine, アケビ It's the name that makes me love this plant.

Things that you run into, when aimlessly walking around: An old house in the countryside with a remarkable entrance

On the way back, we stopped at the Ariake Sea side to look for waders at high tide. There were NONE! Fortunately, a few Green Pigeons called from the trees and came down for a quick sip. That was all.

White-bellied Green Pigeon, アオバト