Bird of the Month Febrary 2026

 Sashiba

The Japanese name (Sashiba) sounds better than Grey-faced Buzzard.

Photo taken at 7:58 AM in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Pentax K1  F/9  1/2500  420 MM

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Animation: Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Known as Suzume (スズメ) in Japan

Hot enough to keep sane persons indoors, I've been taking walks before sunrise lately.

Once that sun rises above the hillsides, everyone stays close to the air conditioners.

The backpack, camera and large lenses for moon photography are still in the house.

When things cool off, after sundown, I'll be taking everything back to the office.

Birds, munching on a roll the wife staked out on some rebar, gave me an idea.

With 420 MM of lens on the Pentax, I could pick off a subject easily and make a GIF.

The little sparrow had no idea I was shooting through the open kitchen door.

The woman of the house thinks these birds are endangered.

People catch them and keep them in cages as pets or sell them in stores.

But, I think she's mistaken. I run across these birds everywhere.

So, I did some research to check on their conservation status. They aren't endangered.

There is a tale in Japan about these birds, a kind old man and, a wicked woman.

Read about the Sparrow with the Cut-Tongue if, you like fairytales.

It makes me glad, my wife isn't greedy and, winds up rolling down off the mountain!

Birds of the World - Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Flower Festival at IeShima Okinawa, Japan: A Million Lilies

Time for a Lily Festival

This post was originally created after visiting the 2011 Yuri Matsuri (Lily Festival) on Ie Island.

A quick visit to the Ie Village website, gave me this poster, advertising the 2017 event.

Visit the English version of Ie Island website for more details.

At the heading, you can switch to Japanese, French, Chinese or, Korean.

More than likely, Ryukyu Mike, won't appear during the matsuri, this year.

It is probably the biggest and busiest event held on that island.

So, for local families, wishing to attend, I would recommend going on weekdays. 

Make sure all reservations (especially ferry) are made in advance and, don't be late.

2011 Visit to the Lily Festival

There wasn't time to count them all but, I estimate there had to be a good 750,000 Easter Lilies at the IeShima Lily Festival in Okinawa, Japan.  The island advertises a count of over one million flowers. 

It's easier to just take their word for it, I think.

The main attraction is the hundreds and thousands of white Easter Lilies, in all stages of budding and blooming, dancing in the wind on the slopes facing the ocean.

This is where the annual festival takes place and visitors from all over Japan will be taking the ferry to visit during the next week.

There are plenty more white lilies waiting for me to get them developed.  I decided to give a few of the other lilies their 15 minutes of fame.

One of these days, I may have to start collecting books, or make friends with a local florist, so I can give you the proper names of these flowers. 

There just aren't enough hours in the day or days in the week for me to research them.  Do you suppose florists like beer?

It'd be a lot easier for me if I could just stop by a flower shop and take the photos.  If a florist told me the names of the things they'd get a free photo and could sit down once in awhile and drink beer with me.

The trip to the Flower Festival on IeShima this weekend was a real adventure.  It all started with me getting a black eye before I even got on the boat.  Wow.  It's a good thing it wasn't my shootin' eye.

People on the boat, get out of your way real quick when you walk towards them with a black eye and blood running down your face.  So, it wasn't all bad.  It was kind of like being a VIP. 

Or, they thought I was some sort of crazy, violent person.  Hah, I was just going to shoot Easter Lilies!

There are plenty of other interesting things to do on the island of IeShima in Japan besides taking photos of flowers so, I did them, too.  It may take me some time to get caught up, then you'll get the rest of the story.

Safe and sound, back on the main island of Okinawa, Japan is where I'm at now.  A million lilies were fun to look at and take pictures of but, there are critters and caves I want to go back and see. I'll show you some examples as soon as the development is done.

The next time I visit that island, I might just stay for a week.  That'll be sometime after my face stops lookin' like I'm some kind of criminal and the weather is a little warmer.  Maybe, in the summer.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LILY FESTIVAL VISIT THE JAPAN UPDATE

Visit Map It Okinawa for travel details

See My Top Five Attractions on Iejima

Travel Photo: Prayer on the Mountain

This photo was taken during a ritual known as Shinigu in Okinawa, Japan.

The women of Gushiken, on Motobu Peninsula conduct this ceremony annually.

It is a form of prayer which consists of song and dance.

The lifestyle and religious beliefs of these people may be the secret to longevity.

See the article Shinigu  Ensures Long Life, Prosperity

The Dancing Ladies of Gushiken Okinawa, Japan (Photo)

It's a rare occasion that a day goes by without me posting something here.

Yesterday happened to be one of those days.

Up in the northern Okinawa, Japan is a village on the Motobu Peninsula called Gushiken.

That's pretty much where I've been hanging out for the past few days.

An event I'm trying to document takes place there, once a year.

It is called a Shinigu.

The ladies in the photo above are rehearsing a dance they will perform tomorrow.

Several dances and songs are done to thank the gods for bountiful harvests and good fortune.

The Shinigu could be considered a form of prayer, or worship.

The dancers are asking the gods of the seas, forests, sky, and field for continued success.

Only women are allowed to perform Shinigu.

It was my good fortune to be allowed to photograph their preparations.

For the next few evenings, I will be out of town trying to get the whole story for you.

SEE: PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR FOREIGN FESTIVALS

Typhoon Bolaven Coming to Okinawa, Japan

Plans for this weekend will be something like: Stay indoors.  Groan.

Usually, I like to joke about these tropical storms but this one could be a doozie.

There's plenty of work that needs to be done in my office.

Heck, I moved in here a few months ago and haven't unpacked, yet.

So, I'll try and get caught up and, if I see anything cool blowing around outside maybe,

I'll grab a camera and shoot it for you.

Typhoons make the wind and rain blow every which way you could imagine.

Scientists ought to figure out how to get typhoons over forest fires, where they are needed.

They landed a man on the moon.  Didn't they ?

FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON TYPHOON BOLAVEN VISIT:

PACIFIC STORM TRACKER

OR
  
 CLICK ON THAT GAL FROM WUNDERGROUND

Click for weather forecast

A Day Trip to the Capital City of Naha in Okinawa, Japan

Here's something you don't see me do very often.  

Today, Doc Graff and I went to the big city, just in case it decided to rain.

Right off the International Avenue (Kokusaidori) they have a covered shopping mall.

The shops run air-conditioning and it feels great, after you've been out in the August humidity.

 We went through the meat market and took a few photos.

 Then, hit the fish market to shoot some of those colorful fish on ice.

Looking at all that food makes a person hungry so, we grabbed a quick lunch.

After eating, Doc knows we better get moving or, I'll fall asleep so, we left the city.

Naha wasn't very far behind us when I remembered I had some more business to do.

Probably, twenty years has gone by since I last stepped into this place.

They have the awesomeyummiest ice cream in the world.

I know.  That ain't a word.  But, it should be.

And, I really didn't need a scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream.

So, I had two.

Back up in the neck of the woods I call home, we had to break for coffee.

Richamocha Cafe was my temporary office for a few months so, I had to stop by and say "Hi".

The gals working in there know how to make a mean cup of coffee.

All my photos from the big city are developed and, I never even took my afternoon nap.

Maybe, on the way home I better stop off somewhere and have a beer !

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

Note: Richamocha Cafe recently was reviewed by me on TripAdvisor.

Stop on by sometime and see all the reviews done by RyukyuMike.

Travel Photo: Where the Heck is RyukyuRu ?

We were up half the night, last night watching the Japanese Wrestling gals

WHOOP EVERYBODY !

And, maybe having a few beers.

Then RyukyuRu came and picked me up this morning to do some traveling.

When ever you go out with the Map It Okinawa Dude, it's going to be a long day.

It's way past 9PM right now and I have a few hundred photos that won't get developed, today.

It's not good to be staring at computer monitors, this late, when you're tired.

So, I best head on over to a bar and watch more Olympics on a wide screen TV.

Maybe, have a few beers, too.

Guaranteed, when I get there everybody will be asking me,  "Where's RyukyuRu" ?

I'll just tell them to look at my travel photo.  He's in there, somewhere !

   

 Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

  

Dragonfly Photo: Orthetrum Triangulare or Glaucum

This dragonfly has me stumped.

It was photographed today at Kanna Dam in Okinawa, Japan.

It's going on 9PM and I decided it's time to go home.

Looking all over the internet for the proper ID can drive you buggy.

So, I figure I'll let you decide.

Is it a Orthetrum Triangulare, or a Orthetrum Glaucum ? 

It beats the devil outta me !


THIS JUST IN: THIS DRAGONFLY IS NEITHER OF THE ABOVE

HAVE A PEEK AT MY FACEBOOK PAGE

THERE WILL BE AN UPDATED DRAGONFLY ID, SHORTLY.

Photos: Editor's Picks for the Month of June 2012

FOR WORLD PEACE

ITOMAN OKINAWA: DRAGONBOAT

 PARTLY CLOUDY PARTLY SUNNY



The Peace Statue of Mabuni Okinawa, Japan was featured today at YAHOO VOICES 


 

In the Spotlight: Omine Seibin at The Hall of Beauty and Peace

Here's a photo of artwork done by Omine Seibin.

This is one of the masterpeices that stops me in my tracks, everytime I see it.

There have been many occasions where I've visited the Stone Lion of Tomori.

There was an Essay for Apogee Photo Magazine.

And, the photos taken for the Then and Now Series.

Omine Seibin's art takes you back to the times when life on Okinawa was different.

My photography doesn't do the artist justice.

You have to see it in person in Okinawa's Hall of Beauty and Peace. 

Find directions to see the original Stone Lion Statue HERE.

A Bug Called Kuwayamaea sapporensis (Photos)

Here is another one of those critters that I'm taking off the back burner.

One day back in October, last year, I was up in Motobu with MAP IT OKINAWA.

Sometimes, when he's doing all that off-the-beaten-path stuff, I hang around in the shade.

As easily bored as I can get, I can also be easily entertained.

Along came this bug. So, I entertained myself.

He really didn't want to stand still and pose for me.  And, I don't think he liked my camera.

 After he got done pickin' his nose, or whatever he was doing, the little rascal looked up at me.

And, he jumped, almost knocking me over on my rear end.

SEE MORE AT SAKURA.NE.JP


Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

 

In the Spotlight: Issei Karashima at The Hall of Beauty and Peace

Today, I visited Peace Memorial Park in Okinawa, Japan.

The assignment I was on had nothing to do with horses, or paintings.

But, this masterpiece by Issei Karashima caught my attention.

So, I asked permission to take a photo of it.

Not so good at remembering names, I shot this, too so I could give the master his due credit.

There are plenty of talented artists on these islands and, I think, the world should see their work.

So, every now and then, I'll be doing a spotlight post on one of them, right here.

Researching online, to find out more about Issei Karashima, I found a few links.

More of his artwork may be seen here.

And, he's listed with all the names of Painters at the Hall of Beauty and Peace. 


Directions to Peace Memorial Park may be found here.

Wildlife Photos: Japanese Tiger Beetle (Cicidela japonica)

This Japanese Tiger Beetle was spotted along the bank of a stream in Okinawa, Japan.

This bug has been sitting in my "things to do" pile since last November.

We're getting caught-up around here, today.

There are two links I want to show you, concerning this beetle.

First, THE FLYING KIWI because Richard Seamen just takes some super macro photos and

gives excellent descriptions of the bugs he finds.

Then, have a look at some more awesome photos and get all the information you could ever

 imagine about, any bug over at GOODHEART'S EXTREME SCIENCE. 


There's no bug, in the world, that can outrun a tiger beetle and they have proof !




Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Tuesday Travel Photo: Okinawa Partly Cloudy Partly Sunny

This photo was taken a few months ago but, depicts today's weather just fine.

Last night, I hung around the office until midnight, with cameras at the ready.

Some folks like to see photos of rain blowing sideways so, I figured I'd take a couple.

But, that Typhoon Guchol just didn't put on a very good show.

We'll get some good typhoon shots, and maybe some video, later.  Don't worry.

Today, we have partly cloudy, partly sunny, and even sometimes, partly raining skies.

Okinawa is a big place so, I guess it depends on what part of which island you happen to be.

My advice to travelers would be: Don't try and predict the weather.

Relax and enjoy life.

Oh, remember that cheeseburger I was talking about setting on the kitchen table ?

Somebody ate it.  

I'm getting pretty good at predicting things like that, not the weather.

You don't suppose one of the dogs ate the thing, do you ?

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

Wildlife Photo: Oriental Pratincole: Bird Found in Okinawa, Japan

Here is a bird that may be my excuse to visit Tsuken-jima, again

The Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) is found throughout Asia.

But, has been spotted as far away as Australia and England.

Like, one time in 2004, over two million of them gathered at Eighty Mile Beach and had the 

Australasian Wader Studies Group scratching their heads, wondering.  Why ?

When the Map It Okinawa Dude and I went to Tsuken-jima we weren't planning on shooting birds.

We were looking for some caves so, I left the big lens behind.

Maybe, after this l'il typhoon blows-by, I'll make plans to go back to Tsuken-jima.

Take the Sigma 50-500mm lens and get some better photos of the critter.

Meanwhile, feast your eyes on what I found on another BLOG.

And, my hat goes off to the folks on Bird Forum who helped ID this bird for me.

I'd never seen an Oriental Pratincole before, in my life.

It looks like it's wearing some kinda Grannie Glasses with a string hanging around it's neck ! 

My mind's made up.

Back to that island I'll go and get some better shots for you to see.

Typhoon Guchol Wants to Defy the Weathermen's Predictions

It'd probably be easier to predict how a third marriage will go than guess what this typhoon will do.

Today, Dave Ornauer, the "Typhoon Chaser" with Pacific Stars and Stripes newspaper, reported at 9:45AM (local time) that destructive winds of 58mph are expected within 12 hours.

At 9:47 I looked out the door and saw these protesters marching down the street.

They were going down the highway under blue skies and sunshine.

There's at least 60 people in that crowd and they didn't look scared of Typhoon Guchol, to me. 

This was Super Typhoon Guchol, yesterday, but, was downgraded, overnight.

Chris Wilson posted some great information about typhoons HERE.

There's no way you could get me to be a weatherman, during typhoon season in Okinawa, Japan.

The things are more unpredictable than a third wife.

Just for the heck of it, I'm going to go buy some cheeseburgers.

And set one on the kitchen table to see what the wife does.

Bet she eats it.  Hah ! 

Travel Photo: Sunrise at Hedo Misaki (Cape Hedo) Okinawa

Cape Hedo, or Hedo Misaki, is the northernmost point on the island of Okinawa, Japan.

Photo taken shortly after 6AM with a tripod-mounted Pentax K10D

Pentax 18-250 at 21mm
 
More about Hedo Misaki may be seen at Japan-Guide.com


Visit my website for today's Feature Photo 

Photo of the Week: The Sacred Site at Kijoka Falls in Okinawa

This photo of an Utaki, or sacred site, was taken at Kijoka Waterfalls Ogimi Okinawa, Japan.

Pentax K5 and 18-250 lens at 21mm

f/16   0.8sec   ISO 100

More about Kijoka Falls

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Snap Your Fingers. Soon Okinawa's Rainy Season Will End

This photo was taken June 20, 2009 at a beach in Okinawa, Japan.

It's been raining all week and it looks like we're having a long wet season, this year.

The forecast for the next week is calling for more rain.

Maybe, I need to get my sister-in-law to snap her fingers at that beach, again.

It could be what's needed to make rainy season end.

NOTE TO TRAVELERS:

Today, I just added Marriott International to my list of advertisers.

They are now operating at three different locations in Okinawa, Japan.

If you're planning a visit check them out !

 

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo