Nokonoshima 能古島

While walking my regular route on the way to the school I heard a Narcissus Flycatcher singing from afar. It didn't take long to locate it, a bright yellow and black colored male with a hint of orange on the throat. A bunch of Bramblings chased it away and I moved on.

The next day was my day off and I returned lugging my big lens. When I heard the singing I took position at the same place, but the bird didn't show up. Eventually I saw it landing on top of a high tree. That looked kind of strange, very uncharacteristic for a flycatcher. But then I understood: After a few notes it took off and flew far far far to the north. I guess that's how they start their  long-distance flights to their breeding grounds.  Bon Voyage!!

It made me feel happy and sad at the same time. Sad that I missed out on my shot, happy to witness such an important event. I comforted myself with other birds

Varied Tit, ヤマガラ with a present for his girl, いる?

 Mister Blue Rock Thrush, イソヒヨドリlooking elegant and refusing to turn around.

 I found the first small copper butterfly, ベニシジミand Gentianas, フデリンドウ (Gentiana zollingeri)

And then there was that hiriri sound, the call of Ashy Minivet, サンショウクイ

うれしい！

  female left, male right

On the way back I stole a quick glance at the usual corner:  Barn Swallows, ツバメ going about their business, doing their job. OK.

I returned home with a big bag of oranges. Present from Mrs S. ありがとう！

Starlingssss

There are so many species of Starlings in the world. Here in Kyushu we have our own very common White-cheeked Starling, ムクドリ. During migrating season we can see some others and this year we found a White-shouldered Starling, カラムクドリas well as a female Red-billed Starling, ギンムクドリ among them.

1 White-shouldered Starling, カラムクドリ and 2 White-cheeked Starlings, ムクドリ

White-shouldered Starling, カラムクドリ

The cheeky White-cheeked Starlings, ムクドリ parading on the edge of the field; the White-shouldered Starling, カラムクドリ just below.

Red-billed Starling, ギンムクドリ female

Below the White-shouldered Starling, カラムクドリ again

One of the White-cheeked Starlings, ムクドリ having fun with a couple of feathers - nesting material?

Greater Short-toed Lark, ヒメコウテンシ

Hard to distinguish, it prefers the far side of the bare soil field that matches the color of its feathers. Sometimes it flew to a greener patch, never for long

The back 

The wings

Later, when the sun was gone it stood out better.

Other birds around were Zitting Cisticola, セッカ

Common Stonechat, ノビタキ just a few, male and female. Below a male

And lots of Oriental Greenfinch, カワラヒワ

Blue-and-white Flycatcher, オオルリ

In the city park

The Cherry blossom is late, the flycatcher came early. The bright blue bird would make such a pretty picture in the white blossom. After failing my Sakura White-eye session I wanted to give this a try.

The bird was pretty, the blossom too, but to get them both....

 first lunch

a big fat juicy bee

then a bath in a muddy rain puddle that could not possibly clean anyone up

still it didn't diminish the colors 

followed by drying and preening

  

Back to the safety of the dark woods