Autumn 2025

August 20th, We just came back to Fukuoka, after a break from the heat in the cooler mountains up north. The atmosphere has changed. The days are still hot and muggy, but mornings are a bit cooler and the occasional thunder and rain shower in the afternoon make life in the city more bearable. Autumn has come. A short ride through the fields in the west produced a few migrants. 

Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ. Just one bird in the field.

2 Wood Sandpipers, タカブシギ appeared after a few minutes

At another field some Terek Sandpipers, ソリハシシギ and one more Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギwere feeding together. At ease, but a bit skitterish.

huddling together - sensing danger?

A little down the road some Greensanks, アオアシシギ. 

Then there were about 10 Pacific Golden Plovers, ムナグロ in a dry field, that matches their plumage so well, they can easily be overlooked.

After the summer we can see you big eyes again. So pretty. 

Fluffy Gold

You look much better with a green background!

Great Purple Emperor, オオムラサキ

On the same day as last year, I went to check on the big Purple Emperors in the forest. People had told me that there were none, but I went anyway. It took a while and eventually I found some in one of the high sap producing Oak trees. 

There were many other butterflies, mostly Japanese Siren, ゴマダラチョウ, and some Labyrinths, キマダラヒカゲ. I could not find last year's Pseudo Labyrinth. But Freyer's Purple Emperor, コムラサキ was there as well

The purple color comes out under a certain angle, which is rather difficult to see when the butterflies are high up between leaves and branches. Sometimes one came down.

Another butterfly nearby:  Lilacine Bushbrown, コジャノメ

And an interesting beetle again, at the same location, but a different spec. from last year

Daikoku Kogane beetle, ダイコクコガネ

Last year's Horned Dung beetle ツノコガネ

Further down the road: Japanese Cockchafer, コフキコガネ

Mountain stuff, but no birds

The heat is getting worse. A temperature of over 40C was recorded not far from me. The mountains are a little cooler, but not much. I walk every day, but some days I see nothing. When the wind brings some fresh air I look for butterflies

The Dryad, ジャノメチョウ

Labyrinth, キマダラヒカゲ

 Asian Comma, キタテハ

Pea Blue, ウラナミシジミ

 Eurasian White Admiral , イチモンジチョウ

Ko-oniyamma dragonfly, コオニヤンマ

Jumbo Dragonfly オニヤンマ · 

Gomadara Kamikiri Longhorn beetle, ゴマダラカミキリ

Ballerina Orchid Platanthera mandarinorum?

Nogilan, ノギラン

Miyama Akane dragonfly, ミヤマアカネ 

Ooyotsusuji Hanakamikiri Longhorn beetle, オオヨツスジハナカミキリ

Long-tailed Tit, エナガ

Gunbai Dragonfly, グンバイトンボ

 When I heard about these dragonflies, I went to check them out right away. They are an endangered species and noted in the red data list. Who knows when and where I get the chance to see them again. The white "flags" on their legs make it easy to follow them when they fly. They look so funny!

Gunbai Dragonfly, グンバイトンボ

A pairing couple

Other dragonflies included the Crimson Marsh Glider, ベニトンボ 

White-legged Dragonfly spec. Monosashitombo, モノサシトンボ

And　Miyamakawatombo, ミヤマカワトンボ whose appearance can change drastically within a second

After a frogless spring I was happy to meet

Japanese Tree Frog, ニホンアマガエル in green...

...and grey

Other things worth mentioning: Sawtooth Longhorn Beetle, ノコギリカミキリ

Orange-flowered Surprise Lily, キツネノカミソリ

It was a surprising day!