An overnighter in the mountais of Oita. Part 1: Oike

We like to go here early in the season, when the trees haven't got many leaves yet and the birds are a bit easier to see. Sometimes we get lucky and see some of the summer visitors, but this day birding was very slow. Ah well, there are always flowers...

Birds

Brown Dipper, カワガラス

Eurasian Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ

Varied Tit, ヤマガラ

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, コゲラ

There were other woodpeckers, sometimes quite close, but I didn't get more than this:

　White-backed Woodpecker, オオアカゲラ

  :-(

Nesting Winter Wren, ミソサザエ

Flowers

Japanese fairy bells,  (Houchakusou) ホウチャクソウ

Yukizasa,  ユキザサ

Five-leaf akebia or Chocolate vine (Akebi) アケビ

Yamashakuyaku, ヤマシャクヤク

Ground-ivy (Kakidooshi) カキドオシ

Chigoyuri, チゴユリ(Japanese Fairy Bells)

Ginriousou, ギンリョウソウ

Kurumamugura, クルマムグラ

Ichirinsou, イチリンソウ

Tsukushi tanigikyou, ツクシタニギキョウ

Yamarurisou, ヤマルリソウ

part 2, Choojabaru

Nyoisumire, ニョイスミレ

Silky wisteria, (Yamafuji) ヤマフジ

Harurindou, ハルリンドウ

Matsu seedling マツ

Mitsuba tsuchiguri,ミツバツチグリ

Marsh Marigold, (Ryuukinka) リュウキンカ

Japanese primrose (sakurasou)サクラソウ

Sawaoguruma, サワオグルマ

Ginriousou, ギンリョウソウ

Rhododendron, Tsutsuji ツツジ  (ミツバツツジ?)

Asian royal fern, (Zenmai) ゼンマイ

The shadow spots are made by the legs of a Pond skater, (Amenbo) アメンボ

Tiniest hopper I've ever seen

Nanayama swamp area in April

This jewel in the mountains always has something special in store. This day in April was our first visit of the year and the migrating season was full on. My head was full of birds and I had to work hard to find that switch.

Sawa oguruma,  サワオグルマ

Uguisu kagura, ウグイスカグラ

Hana ikada, ハナイカダ 

Bogbean, (Mitsugashiwa) ミツガシワ    A bit late

Sweet flag, (Shoobu) ショウブカ. The purple flowers bloom later

Akebia or Chocolate vine, (Mitsuba akebi) ミツバアケビ

 Nyoisumire, ニョイスミレ A tiny viola

Golden orchid, (Kinlan) キンラン This was all we got to see of the orchid. It was still too early

Noble orchid, (Shunlan) シュンラン

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The edible Asian royal fern, (Zenmai) ゼンマイ

 Look how the leaves unfold from this boll shaped knot.