Nanayama swamp area in May

Our 2nd visit to the swamp this spring. I had to see the Golden Orchid. Last time it was still a flower bud. Now, 3 weeks later, are we in time? We stopped on the way at this small rural village where life seems to have stopped a 100 years ago...

yukinoshita, ユキノシタ a kind of saxifrage

Soldier beetle, (Joukaibon) ジョウカイボン 

We got to the swamp a bit late. Rain was in the forcast and we had little time to look around but... there it was!

Orchid revenge: Golden Orchid, (kinran) キンラン

Also on my wish list: Round-leaved Sundew, (mousengoke) モウセンゴケ

Colicroots, (sokushinran) ソクシンラン　　Asian Pogonia (tokisou) トキソウ

Japanese Fairy Bells, (houchakusou)  ホウチャクソウ

Solomon’s Seal, (amadokoro) アマドコロ

Dutchman’s Pipe Vine or Birthwort, (oobaumanosuzukusa) オオバウマノスズクサ

Japanese Iris, (kakitsubata) カキツバタ　　　Sweet Flag, (shoubu) ショウブ

There was still very little water in the swamp. We need rain. And lots! The poor little

Pygmy Water-lily, (hitsujigusa) ヒツジグサ has to survive on mud :-(

Toothed Ixeridium, (nigana) ニガナ

Clouds falling from the sky...

Young dragon flies don't have much color yet. It gives them a ghostly appearance. like this Damselfly, (itotombo) イトトンボ

Below a male Scarlet Dwarf, (Hachotombo) ハッチョウトンボ

 It will turn red later

Another kind of Dragonfly, a Skimmer I think. Will it become red, like the Scarlet Skimmer,  (shoujoutombo) ショウジョウトンボ ?

A lot of ants, apparantly because of the full moon.

Japanese Tree frog, (amagaeru) アマガエル;  frog of the day 

 There were the usual birds, including a small group of herons nesting near the lake. And one loud crying Grey-faced Buzzard, サシバ 

Suddenly the rain came down in buckets. Time to head back home

今津探鳥会 imazu tanchoo-kai June 2nd

The theme of the day seemed to be young birds. It started with a crows' nest holding 4 chicks. There was lot of fluttering of immature wings. The pens not well develloped yet.

Carrion Crow, ハシボソカラス

Mama Spot-billed Duck, カルガモ  was a bit nervous in that narrow ditch. She had to look after 7 little spotted tiny billed ducklings

White Wagtail, ハクセキレイ fledgelings; 1 resting on the curb with 2 sibblings among the pebbles - warmed by the sun and hard to detect - not such a bad place!

Very few migrators, but one Chinese Egret, カラシラサギ sat conspiciously on a pole

And in the far distance 2 pairs of red legs and 1 pair of yellow legs

Redshank, アカアシシギ Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

The Chinese Egret, カラシラサギ once more

A single Far Eastern Curlew, ホウロクシギ flew in when the tide retreated

A small group of ducks is still around, mostly Wigeons and 1 male Falcated Duck, ヨシガモ

After the meeting some of us went to see the Red-necked Phalarope アカエリヒレアシシギ at Muromi River. She seems to have an injury, but is doing quite well.

 Pretty lady!

Fleabane, Daisy,  (himejo-on) ヒメジョオン

Windmill Pink, (mantema) マンテマ

Yellow Glandweed, (seiyouhikiyomogi) セイヨウヒキヨモギ

Japanese Honeysuckle, (Suikazura) スイカズラ

Brazillian Waterweed, (ookanadamo) オオカナダモ

according to google a souvenir from careless aquariumholders

Oriental Greenfinch, カワラヒワ on Rapeseed (ナノハナ)

In Holland they are called Groenlingen, in Japan Greenfinches, the same bird but slightly different. They sure like the seeds of Rapeseed.... The oil must be good.