Here and there

So here's some more photos from Furuichi and Sekinoe on June 4th, the same day that I took photos of the Oriental Reed Warblers in the post below. There were not many birds in the fields. I didn't find any painted-snipe, but instead I came across a pair of shy Ruddy-breasted Crakes in Sekinoe and another juvenile in Furuichi. A nesting pair of Common Kingfisher was seen flying in and out of the nest hole in Furuichi with food for the chicks. It is the first Common Kingfisher's nest I've ever seen. However, they would always fly directly in and out of the hole without stopping to perch on any branch, so it was impossible to get any good shot.

Shy Ruddy-breasted Crake

Stretching its wings

Almost perfect!

Juvenile Ruddy-breasted Crake

Looking cute with its tail cocked up

Probably a Reeve's Pond Turtle (Kusa-game meaning Grass Turtle in Japanese)

Another Reeve's Pond Turtle

Common Map Butterfly

Swallowtail Butterfly

Since there were not many birds, I spent my time taking photos of butterflies and turtles in and around the lotus fields. There were some interesting butterflies like the Common Map and Swallowtail. I didn't expect to see a Common Map in Japan though, since I thought it is only found in the southern hemisphere.

Apart from the stuff in Furuichi and Sekinoe, on the afternoon of May 29th I saw a flock of about 20 White-throated Needletails swifting right over my campus. I hurried back to get my camera but as soon as I arrived back in the campus, they were already super high up in the sky. At least, I could get some record shots to prove the existence of this incredible swift in Beppu.

White-throated Needletail

Flock of White-throated Needletails