Mt Raizan

I climbed Mt. Raizan. To the very top. It took some hours, but I'm glad I could still do it. Jaap was with me, and a friend as well. We took our time, stopped at many places to take photos and visited the Buddhist temple at the end of the day. It was a good day.

A lot of wild Hydrangea's along the way. アマチャ - アジサイ

Still at the parking lot, an Unmon Suzume Hawk  Moth,  ウンモンスズメ sat on the concrete, rested on the grass and flew away into the darkness of the forest

Japanese Ginseng, オタネニンジン

A kind of wild ginger: Kanaoi, カンアオイ The finger is pointing to the flower

On the top were many butterflies. I like this Silver-washed Fritillary, ミドリヒョウモン

A cousin of the common butterfly below: Indian Fritillary, ツマグロヒョウモン

female

male

Another less common one: High Brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン

Mayfly, カゲロウ

Just started to flower: Urinoki, ウリノキ

Rai Shrine Jogu

Tsuchi Asebi, ツチアセビ, kind of orchid

At Raizansennyoji Taihioin Buddhist temple

Rai Shrine

Us at the top

Mt. Kuju, Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ etc

Last part of our 2 days at Mt. Kuju. The weather was what could be expected during the raining season: Alternating rain and sunshine, the showers not too heavy, but clouds hanging in the valleys all day long. The woods were dark. Birds could be heard more than seen, but a few came down. While Jaap hiked to the top to see the last of Miyama Kirishima, I wandered the trails of a lower altitude, catching up with him on his way down. I wanted to see the flowers, but I have only 2 legs...

Eurasian Nuthatch, ゴジュウカラ looking for insects on the ground in order to feed the kids

Got "something"

Juvenile, following mum and dad, waiting to be fed

Japanese Grosbeak, イカル on a similar mission up high

1 of 2 Chinese Hwamei, ガビチョ scurrying on the trail. A bit too far for a good shot

It's Snowbell time. Flowering trees are widespread around the Chojabaru area.

Japanese Snowbell, エゴノキ 

A pretty background for the Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker family, コゲラ

Fallen down from the yummy green leaves up high, a caterpillar of Great Purple Emperor, オオムラサキ??    I nearly stepped on it 💦

Continue your search for food and stay safe!

Mt. Kuju, Chestnut-eared Bunting、ホオアカ

 When we go to this field at the foot of the mountain, we will definitely see the buntings. They have a well-defined pattern and look rather pretty. Especially when perched on flowers. But mid-June there aren't any flowers tall enough yet. Hence, they choose wooden poles, signs and boardwalk edges, from where they can watch the field, look for insects and guard their nest.

Chestnut-eared Bunting、ホオアカ

I'm so used to seeing them around grass and weeds, this bird in a tree looks odd.

Nesting

Calling all morning from the top of a tall tree overlooking the fields, Common Cuckoo, カッコウ

Shiraitosou, シライトソウ  (Chionographis japonica)

High brown Fritillary, ウラギンヒョウモン 

I thought the first 2 images were a female, the last a male. However, I cannot be 100% sure.

Mt. Kuju, Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

I had missed out on the Narcissus Flycatcher in April, when they visited the parks in Fukuoka city. Thus, I decided to track them down in the mountains. It was hard at first, when the birds hardly came down, but mid-June things changed. The rainy season had started, maybe more food was found down below.

Narcissus Flycatcher, キビタキ

A group of birds that appeared to be juveniles flew over my head at the end of the day. I didn't get a better look than this. It is kind of yellow... Is it a young Kibi?

Under the tall trees, where it's dark and humid, are some pretty flowers.

False Helleborine, バイケイソウ   and    Silver Dragons, ギンリョウソウ

These last ones have lost their petals, (if that's what you can call them) but I thought the bell-shaped heart containing the seed looked interesting

Lethe sicelis、ヒカゲチョウ

Diana Treebrown, クロヒカゲ, Lethe diana

Carpet moth Marumon Shiro Namishaku, マルモンシロナミシャク

To be continued