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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The Full Moon Finally Showed Its Face

 Last Night's Lunacy

Capturing my first Full Moon images for the year 2022 was a bit of a challenge.

Knowing the moon would be at 100% on Friday night, I prepared early.

Standing on the roof of my house, the tripod and camera were ready an hour before moonrise.

It was cloudy and windy. Black clouds moved quickly across the sky.

Here's a Favorite Image

Close to 100 times the shutter button was pushed and held for 3 shot series.

Normally, I would use the camera timer but, tonight there wouldn't be any use.

Clouds would blow across the moon's surface and block the light.

Half of the images taken were thrown away, I only saved some of the cloudy ones for you.

Google Photos Helped Create This Animation

There are three days each month, where full moon photography may be worthwhile.

So far, this year the weather and my physical condition, haven't been cooperative.

Last night was a blessing and, I'll leave moon-chasing to someone else for tonight.

Let's hope this end-of-winter-moon brings us a warm spring.

And an improved world situation, as well!

A November Worth Forgetting

 Good Riddance NOV 2021

One of those months I missed out on half of and don't want to remember the other half.

One of the best parts was the change in weather.  The heat and humidity of summer departed.

It got so chilly outdoors I actually wore socks on a few of my morning walks.

Partial Lunar Eclipse

This event with the moon was advertised as something last seen hundreds of years ago.

So moon gazers were alerted and told when and where to be positioned in Japan for viewing.

About a week prior, a wicked chest cold snuck up on me.  I'd have to fix myself.

Not that I don't trust Japan's doctors.  I just hate going to hospitals and clinics.

Especially, since that Coronavirus thing came along, I don't wanna be around sick people.

To avoid getting a PCR test (where they shove a stick up your nose) I stayed at home.

Chest colds usually go away in about a week. So, I drank lots of water and rested.

This cold didn't seem to be going away but, I wasn't interested in seeing any doctors.

So, I went and talked to the lady in the drug store.  She recommended some cold medicine.

By this time it was the 19th of the month. The partial lunar eclipse would be tonight.

Google Translate would tell me all about this Japanese medicine.

It told me what the dosage was and mentioned it may cause drowsiness.

Don't operate any machinery.  Uh-Oh my camera is like machinery. 

With the big lens, tripod, and gimbal holding the camera, the contraption weighs about 15 KG.

So the first dose of medicine, I just took a little sip.  Maybe, half of a normal dose.

Instead of walking to some faraway location, I climbed up on the roof of my house.

Probably an hour and a half before moonrise I was on the roof waiting.

Once the camera is set up, I usually do some stretching and exercises.  But not tonight.

When you're coughing up globs of stuff the size of softballs, it's best to take it easy.

When out on a moon shoot I never sit down.  Tonight I sat down on the stairway, waiting.

It was cold and windy on that rooftop.  It even looked like it might start raining.

A golden-colored sliver of moonshine appeared. Fast-moving clouds sometimes blocked the view.

At 6:39 PM this photo was taken.  A few more shots were captured and, it was time to go home.

Almost an hour passed and the tripod was folded, when this scene appeared.

Quickly, I got set up again and captured the full moon, partially covered by clouds.

The following morning at 5:37 my clearest photo of the NOV 2021 Full Moon was taken.

Note: As the moon sets the rabbit turns upside down.

Back to Cold Medicine

That stuff really works.  The reason you shouldn't operate machinery:

IT KNOCKS YOU OUT!

Depending on which translation service you use, you will get different interpretations.

Like, "It contains herbal ingredients" or "codeine" or "other prescription drugs."

Some of the Japanese OTC Cold Medicines (when abused) cause serious problems.

Taking those three bottles (sips) over a period of two weeks cured me.

But, some folks who use drugs for thrills, end up differently.

Now We Have Omicron

Another thing that came along during this miserable month was Omicron.

The world hasn't quite yet decided IF WE SHOULD PANIC.

Hopefully, we won't go through extended periods of coronavirus restrictions.

Not sure about you but, I think this November was one worth forgetting!

Supermoon APR 2021 Over Okinawa

 Some Call It a Pink Moon

It wasn't exactly pink but, we're glad it made an appearance.

To catch the moon rising over the ocean, we spent a few hours on the east coast of the island.

Heavy clouds interfered with that plan but gave the rising moon some decorative colors.

It was 7:22 PM when this scene was captured.

More dense weather rolled in and the decision was made to leave the wind and beach behind.

Back Home the Moon Made Another Appearance

On the roof of my house, this scene was composed at 8:54 PM.

Too tired to process the day's photos, this old man went to bed.

The plan was to wake up early and hike to somewhere the moon could be seen setting.

The Morning After

By the time I reached the destination where the moon could be captured setting I groaned.

A thick wall of clouds, off to the west, made it impossible to see the setting moon.

All of a sudden I looked towards the Kin powerplant and there it was.

No longer a Full Moon but, a smokestack covered the part that was missing!

End of story.

Sunday Camera Walk in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

 Springtime Can't Come Soon Enough

Lately, I've been skipping the long walk to a secluded beach for catching the sunrise.

It's better to drink lots of coffee in the warmth of the kitchen before packing up to hike.

It's 7 AM and a few minutes before the sun appears rising over the ocean.

At 8:02 this Light-vented Bulbul made an appearance.

It would be 9:02 before this Grey-faced Buzzard posed for me before the Kin Powerplant.

It was 9:53 when a Zitting Cisticola let me take a rushed shot with the camera.

Finally, 20 minutes from home (and breakfast) a Brown-eared Bulbul showed its face.

The time was 10:41 and I wanted to be home before noon!

After all, Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. Eh?

Photos of JUL 2020 Full Moon Over Okinawa

Just Two Quick Snaps

July 5, 2020, 7:57 PM

July 5, 2020, 7:58 PM

Wordless Wednesday: Word from Google

Scenes from a Lighted Candle Festival Okinawa

Ogimi Candle Night

A few years ago this event was started in the Shirahama district of Ogimi.

It was a practical way to recycle candles left over from wedding ceremonies.

Before sunset Eisa dancing is performed by talented youngsters at the community center.

Shirahama is a small community so, a group of 5 kicks off the entertainment.

Before long some bystanders decide to jump in and dance with the Eisa group.

There aren't tents set up selling refreshments. People bring their own booze and food.

Barbecues are set up by families and you can smell burning charcoal drifting through the air.

Get close enough to those in attendance and you may smell alcoholic spirits, too.

The annual Candle Night became so popular, all of Ogimi participates these days.

Along the west coast of Okinawa,  Shioa Bay becomes encircled with burning candles.

Five or six thousand candles are lighted in time for sundown. It's 7:02 in this photo.

As the sun was setting behind us the orange glow of candles started appearing on the bay.

The PET bottles contain about a pint of water in them to keep the wind from tipping things.

Darkness Rules

When the sun dips below the horizon, the candles put on quite a show.

The road across the bay became my subject for reflection photography. It wasn't easy.

Using slow shutter speeds and the camera's timer proved challenging.

My friends heard me cuss (softly) every time a car's headlights ruined my compositions.

Facing west the moon was visible above the bridge and reflections in the water.

A few times clouds looked threatening but, miraculously rain never fell.

Sometimes, I swear the old Okinawan priestesses control the weather. Good gals!

Moving around the bay some interesting reflections would appear around bridges.

If only, the spiritual leaders could control automobile headlights and traffic.

For sure, I'd buy them some drinks.

Some very creative individuals added their artwork to the PET bottle windshields.

The plastic encased candles were placed in decorated wax paper cartons.

Shortly after 9 PM, this photo was taken. It was time to start heading home.

At every festival on this island, friends are made and, I can hardly wait to return.

For what seems like a never-ending rainy season, this festival stayed dry.

After dropping my photo gear off at the office, I walked to the drinking part of town.

The skies opened up and rain poured down on me. It felt terrific.

But, one beer is the limit according to my doctor. So, that's what I did.

Before midnight I was snoring, at home.

Sashiba (サシバ) the Grey-faced Buzzard Shot Today

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Sigma 50-500 with 1.4 converter - Focal Length 700 MM

Exposure:  f/9.5  1/125   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: November 6, 2018, 9:01 AM

More about the Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)

Images from 3 Nights of October 2018 Full Moon

Before Sunrise on October 23 2018

The Chinese calendar sometimes places the full moon differently than a Roman calendar.

That was the case this month. I won't argue with the Chinese or Romans either.

For this month's full moon photography, the plan was, to catch the moon setting in the West.

Waking up at 2:30 in the morning, I would walk to the beach with the dog and a camera.

By the time I wandered home, the sun would be rising.

Scene at 5:22 AM October 24 2018

Its cool enough in the mornings to wear a light jacket and, the mosquitoes aren't awake, yet.

The moon shines and fades as clouds blow by. 

My preference would be for clear shots of the moon but, some folks like to see the weather.

It didn't rain and wasn't too windy. Clouds kept drifting in and out of my scenes.

October 25 2018 at 4:52 AM

Clouds and moisture in the air can change the colors captured in the moon.

There are ways to change the color after taking photos but, I leave them natural.

So, what you are seeing is, exactly what I saw, except for cropping and enlarging the scenery.

Shortly after 6 AM, this was my parting shot.

Standing on a seawall at Kin Port, I caught the moon reflecting over the bay.

A few minutes later, it would be setting behind the clouds.

12 Fireworks Photos from the Kyuzo Toyama Matsuri in Kin Town

Away from Festival Grounds

Kyuzo Toyama is considered the father of Okinawan emigration.

Kin Town is celebrating the 150th year of his birth during this annual festival.

Grounded by doctor's orders and heavily medicated, I didn't attend the matsuri.

Having been to this festival dozens of times, I came up with a plan. Stay home.

Under orders, to not leave the house, I simply went up on the roof.

Normally, the bursts of fire would appear off to the west of my position.

This year the wind decided to carry the show off towards the north.

Having the camera and zoom lens mounted on a sturdy tripod made things simple.

It was easy to swing the contraptions around and capture a few good shots.

The camera was taken off Auto Focus and, I focus to infinity.

That way the lens won't be continually searching in the dark for fireworks.

Starting things off, I use an exposure of f/11 1/60 ISO 100.

Hanabi can be tricky and you learn to adjust the shutter speed, quickly.

Some photos were exposed 0.3 seconds, others to 1.6 seconds. I go with the flow.

There are advantages to being up on a roof shooting festival fireworks.

Number One: Nobody can walk in front of the camera and ruin your shot!

My method of shooting is, use continuous firing mode or rapid fire.

That means, I hold the shutter button down and fire bursts of 3 or 4 images at a time.

Everyone has their own preferences for fireworks photography. That's mine.

If, you Google "Fireworks Photography" there are probably a dozen other ways of doing it.

A tripod makes things a lot easier and eliminates camera shake somewhat.

But, I have also steadied the camera resting on a fence, wall, or rock and, done just as well.

An advantage I discovered this time around, to being farther away pleased me.

The wind seemed to clear the smoke surrounding the fireworks, more quickly.

Smoke can ruin some great shots when it clouds-up images.

Hanabi, translated to English, would mean, flower fire. What flower is this?

Maybe a dandelion or one of those weeds growing on your lawn?

Grand Finale

The Mad Moment, when all Hell breaks loose gave me flashbacks.

They must say, "Times up" and load everything they've got in their mortar tubes.

Not very pretty but, this photo shows some buildings silhouetted in the foreground.

I could email you a digital copy for only 5 bucks! 

Google Maps Directions

Day Trip to Naha: This Was a Hoot

Not Wild About City Life

Far away from the populated areas is where I'm usually most comfortable.

But, it gets so hot and humid here during August, I won't even go to the beach.

Blue skies would have tempted me but, Wednesday it was hot and hazy

It was one of those days, outdoor photography wasn't going to happen.

Indoor Owl Adventure

A week earlier, I had seen this attraction and brought home some literature about it.

Doc and I were trying to decide, where would be a good place to go on a hot summer day.

The Owl Adventure Park in Naha City might have a comfortable environment.

Miniature Zoo in Shopping District

This is really an unlikely spot to find a little jungle/zoo. It required some investigation.

They call it an animal kingdom and, it's stuffed on the second floor of this tiny shop.

It's easy to get lost in the alleyways so, Google Maps is the best guide, to use.

Ticket Information

Not knowing what we'd be getting in to, the Standard Plan seemed reasonable.

The equivalent of $10.00 to $15.00 to enter a second story room or two, wasn't our style.

Who wants to pay that much to enter a room containing wild animals and children?

Wise old dudes, we went with 880 Yen and, promised to act like adults.

At the top of the stairs, we paid for tickets and the manager gave us hand sterilizer.

They don't need someone bringing strange viruses into the bird's environment.

Family Friendly

Staff members assist with the handling of birds and show you how to hold them.

This family was happy to pose for my camera. They had paid full price, to hold the owls.

Taking your own photos is permitted but, no flash may be used.

Notice the gloved hands, where birds perch, grasping with their little yellow feet.

A staff member showed visitors, how gently a bird pecks at your hands and, won't harm you.

She was observed helping customers take smartphone photos, as well.

Viewing Birds on the Cheap Ticket

Nature and wildlife photography are favorites of mine. Captive animals make me groan.

A few times in my life, I've been caged. Nobody really needs to know why. Alright?

To catch the bird's eyes requires some talking, clucking and rapid-fire shooting.

The owls you see may not be native to this country. They're from around the globe.

They seem somewhat domesticated and used to being around humans.

They are well fed and even, get every other day off, away from the public.

The jungle, surrounding them, is mostly plastic-covered chain link fence.

When not tethered to a glove being held by a human, the owls are leashed to stands.

Sometimes, they remain so still, you'd think they were statues.

Try and focus, to take a photo and, they may move their head faster than lightning.

It's probably alright, to hold some species of animals in confinement, to educate the public.

I'd much rather see the birds in a larger enclosure where they could fly.

A more natural setting would give them some fresh air and live vegetation, to live in.

The Owl Lady

This was the golden-haired gal we met, going through the plastic jungle with our cameras.

She caught me tapping an owl on the head, to get its attention. Damn thing was fake.

Well, I had already figured that out. Next, we tried communicating.

Between my broken Japanese and her limited English, we did fine, I guess.

They sell tourist items, souvenirs like clocks, T-shirts, and dolls.

So, winding down the tour, I bought some owl dolls for granddaughters.

Ayame, the Owl Lady posed for me and, I told her we'd be back someday.

Maybe, I'll do a family-type visit with grandchildren one of these days.

Before we departed, she gave us some little owl charms, for free!

The attraction gets a Five Star Review from me, I enjoyed it more than, I had imagined.

What Could Make It Even Better?

Just a suggestion, I'd make and, they don't have to take my advice, to keep that rating.

It would be worth Twenty bucks or, 2000 Yen to go visit the owls enjoying their day off.

If they are in a room or enclosure, where they can fly around that would be awesome.

Supposing a guy could throw some live mice or rats, for the owls to swoop down and devour.

Wouldn't that be the ultimate Owl Adventure?

Stripes Okinawa: Owls Adventure Park

Facts About Owls

They used to feed Christians to the Lions!