Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Wordless Wednesday: Best Count Birds Before They Hatch

birds, humor, sparrows, flowers, Okinawa, Wordless-Wednesday

Return of the Pacific Golden Plover to Okinawa, Japan

Early This Year



These birds are usually winter visitors to the island. Like November through April.

The year 2020 has pulled a few surprises so, maybe this is just another one.


birds, migratory, Okinawa, Pluvialis fulva, Munaguro



The scientific name for these birds is Pluvialis fulva.

In Japan, they're called Munaguro (ムナグロ).

More about these birds in this previous post.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Bird Photo: Common Greenshank: Tringa nebularia

birds, Cornell, Japan, Marsh Sandpiper, Okinawa

Aoashishigi (アオアシシギ) in Japan



Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500 at 500MM

Exposure: f/11  1/250   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: AUG 19 2020 7:59 AM





Saturday, August 15, 2020

Smiling Moon, Scarecrow and Surprises in Kin Town

It Started Around 5 AM Today


Going out the door for my morning stroll I noticed the moon in clear skies.


astronomy, moon, Okinawa, smile


It was interesting enough for me to set up the tripod before sunrise and my usual destination.

The image (during editing) was tilted a few degrees, to straighten the smile a bit.



scarecrow, fields, Kin, Japan, Okinawa


A few hours later and miles from home, I noticed this scarecrow in a field.

The rascal was doing a fairly good job. There were no birds in sight.



About 8 AM I Was Hot and Thirsty




Knowing there's a shaded area and vending machines at Nature Mirai, that's where I went.

Normally, I stop at a 100 Yen drink machine closer to the residential area.

A few bottles of cold water and a can of coffee, get tossed into the backpack.

The darn machine wouldn't operate for some reason so, I traveled without water.



ice cream, machines, Kin, Nature Mirai, Okinawa, vending


Water was found in another vending machine and, while drinking I noticed this.

Just to the left of a coffee vending machine is this Seventeen Ice Cream machine!

Half a bottle of water was enough for me. The dog got to drink the rest.




Green tea, ice cream, Kin, Okinawa, vending



Green tea ice cream in a cone seemed appropriate for breakfast. It's healthy I think.


The stuff ain't cheap. It's 160 Yen for one skinny little ice cream cone. That's over a dollar!


Hey, it's miles away from civilization. A place where people camp and go kayaking.



Blueberry Cheesecake, ice cream, Kin Town, Okinawa, Nature Mirai


My Japanese language skills aren't near perfect but, I figured something out.

The language on the machine (Japanese) told me this was Blueberry Cheesecake.

Who's gonna complain after I spent two or three bucks on ice cream for breakfast?

After munching the ice cream cones down, I stockpiled my backpack with bottled water.

It would be after 11 AM by the time I got home.

A bit of research led me to the website of the makers of this scrumptious ice cream.

Before everyone on the island starts asking for directions to Nature Mirai, look here.



Last Surprise



That ice cream got me thinking the 18,000 steps I took wouldn't be enough exercise for today.



count, steps, iPhone

So, the dog and went for another few thousand steps tonight to burn some extra calories.