First migrating birds

Upon our return from our camping trip to Honshu we were welcomed by a heavy downpour, the kind of rain that brings changes. I drove to the fields in the west of Fukuoka, but several roads were flooded and I had to change directions. Around Imazu I met the one and only Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ.

Near the bridge: Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ ...

...and a Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

More at the mudflats

In the many submerged fields was this Greenshank, アオアシシギ

... as well as some Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ. The water looked too deep for smaller birds.

At another field: Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

There were small waders at the far end. Too far for my camera.

Pacific Golden Plover, ムナグロ. 

I continued driving, looking for small waders

The egrets were arguing as usual...

...watched by the resident Spot-billed Ducks, カルガモ

Finally! Long-toed Stints, ヒバリシギ and Red-necked Stints,トウネン

Red-necked Stint,トウネン

Long-toed Stint, ヒバリシギ

Towards Itoshima: 1 more Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ ...

...with very bright red legs

The next day I stopped at the previous fields.

Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ

Long-toed Stints, ヒバリシギ and Red-necked Stints,トウネン

At the big barren field little water was left. Most birds had left as well.

Below a Sandpiper. Is it a Greenshank? アオアシシギ?

It was attacked by a young Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ but managed to escape. All birds flew up and most didn't return

These 2 Green Sandpipers, クサシギ chose a very open field to take a bath. Also surprised by the Falcon?

Fukuoka before Obon

It's August. And that means high temperatures and few jobs. The best thing to do is escape to the mountains. But there I don't have regular access to internet, nor use of the main computer. So images pile up and rest in the "waiting" folder too long. Sorry. This is from the first week of the month:

The Grey-tailed Tattlers, キアシシギ are usually the first migrators to arrive in Fukuoka. 

A Peregrine Falcon, ハヤブサ stopping by the 2 ponds, instantly sends the small birds into hiding.

Side by side, Common Kingfishers, カワセミ.

Short stop at the Kashibaru Shitsugen

On July 29th I drove to the mountains to find some fresh air and somehow ended up at the swamp at Nanayama. To my surprise around 20 White Egret Orchids were blooming. Isn't that a bit early?

White Egret Orchid, サギソウ

Kawara Nadeshiko, カワラナデシコ

Left: Small-leaved Plantain Lily, コバギボウシ    Right: Lobelia sessilifolia, サワギキョウ

Ki itotombo (Yellow Damselfly) キイトトンボ mating

Harabiro tombo, ハラビロトンボ male

Harabiro tombo, ハラビロトンボ female

Beni itotombo  ベニイトトンボ Ceriagrion nipponicum

Scarlet Skimmer, ショウジョウトンボ

I didn't see any of the dwarf tombo's this time. It was too hot to take the time to look for them.

Kofuki Scarab beetle, コフキコガネ

Yellow Crest Moth, キモンガ

Tsumakiri usuki edashaku moth, ツマキリウスキエダシャク

Japanese Striped snake (シマヘビ)

Recent birds

When I stopped by the river, I hoped to see the Striated Herons. At the usual place Grey Herons, Great Egrets, Little Egrets and Cormorants were baking in the heat. At 7am it was already close to 30C. 

When I walked around, I found my target birds, Striated Heron, ササゴイ

There were 2 birds. A pair?

At the fields in the west my first encounter was a Ruddy-breasted Crake, ヒクイナ -  as usual

Some Spot-billed Ducks, カルガモ in the 2 lakes had a visitor: a young Black-tailed Gull, ウミネコ 幼鳥

There were few small birds, a raptor must be around. I expected a falcon, but instead an Osprey, ミサゴ was at that place. A family of obnoxious Magpies, カササギ checked him out.

He dares!

Sun sun sunflowers, looking brightly up to the sky. 

I want to go see you, but Fukuoka's summer is so hotttt