Birds in Water: Motion GIFs

Black-winged Stilts

 

 

They are called Himantopus himantopus by scientists.

Migratory visitors to the Ryukyu Islands, they sure brighten things up on a rainy day.

A little cloud burst opened, while I was out shooting the cameras.

Rather than, run for cover (like some sane person) I decided to see what the birds would do.

Just in case, you were wondering what they call these birds in French, I got it for you:

Echasse blanche

Learn more about the species at ARKive

Some Cosmos to Look at on Rainy Days and a Dang Cocoon

Will the April Showers Ever End ?

 

Somebody needs to tell the rainmaker, we've had enough.

This photo was taken back in March.

We really don't need any more April showers to bring on the May flowers.

Flowers, bloom year round in Okinawa, Japan.

Sunshine, is what's needed.

Being Cooped Up on Rainy Days Can Make You Go Buggy

 

As a matter of fact, I'm babysitting a bug, right now.

It's some sort of cocoon, I found crawling around so, I captured it.

Instead of me getting all bloody, crawling after it, I put it in a clear cup.

That way, if it ever decides to come out, I can shoot it with my camera.

Experience Has Taught Me

 

Chasing little insects with a DSLR can ruin your day.

In the past, I have shredded my jeans, bloodied my elbows and knees and destroyed my office.

It happened because, I wanted to know what that thing, in a cocoon was.

We bought a special bug cage for it.

And, it died before I could ever figure out what it was.

Now, I wish I wouldn't have threw that stupid bug cage away.

Bug Experts Advised Me

 

Keep the thing alive until it matures.  Then, you'll be able to identify it.

So, that's the plan, this time around.

The little rascal gets around.  It escaped once.  And, I found it crawling on my ladder.

Now, it's in a pudding cup with another pudding cup taped above it.

As long as it isn't allergic to Scotch Tape, we'll be in business.

But, if the sun comes out this week, I'm outta here.

The cocoon and pudding cups, I'd give away for free.

This rainy weather make me crazy !

Related Posts:

Free to a Good Home

Ladybug in My Office

Lessons Learned From a Lizard

Demon Fighting on a Rainy Day in Okinawa (Photos)

Old People: Don't Try This at Home

 

It all started when someone shared this through StumbleUpon.

School girls in Japan are making these awesome photos.

They get these whacky ideas from watching the manga movies Dragon Ball.

Being a photographer, you have to keep-up with the latest.

Not just in buying camera gear.  You have to keep up with new Photography trends to stay competitive.

A rainy day, in Okinawa, is just what was needed to wrestle with this demon.

The demon: Figure out how those kids do Makankousappou"魔貫光殺法" stuff.

It's best , before going to the local high school with a bright idea, to experiment, I figure.

To convince the girls gym teacher, this would be a neat idea to try....

I better act like I know what I'm talking about.

So, I closed all the doors and windows in my office. Didn't want to scare any by-passers.

Then, I practiced fighting demons.

It would probably be a good idea to stretch and warmup before doing this.

Those imaginary demons can do a number on you. But, I ain't scared a nuthin' !

Confront them with all your might.

Take a little breather, if you really need to and, get back in the fight.

Before long, I will have this art mastered.  It just takes practice.

They are all out of here, for now.

But, if those demons return tomorrow, I'll be ready.  

I just hope the wife can find my tube of Bengay.

Where RyukyuMike's Words and/or Photos Have Been Published

Today I'm getting the website and blog reorganized.  It's just one of those things I do on rainy days.

If what I'm about to attempt works, life will be a lot easier, for followers and yours truly.

The Articles Published, on my website homepage, will appear here, on the blog.

That will give me room to do something else over there.

If it doesn't work, this place could go up in smoke !

Where RyukyuMike's Articles and Photos have been published:

Apogee Photo MAR 2009 APR 2009  JUL 2009 NOV 2009 FEB 2010 MAY 2010 OCT 2010
MAR 2014  MAR 2016
Big World Magazine DEC 2009
BootsNall JUN 2009 OCT 2009
Brave New Traveler OCT 2009 
Children's Butterfly Site MAR 2014
CNN GO MAY 2010 JUN 2010 JAN 2011
CNN International Travel   JAN 2013
Go Backpacking JAN 2010 JAN 2010 MAR 2010 JUL 2010
Go Nomad NOV 2009
In the Know Traveler CAMERA TALK 
Japan Travel FEB 2013 DEC 2013 DEC 2015
Lonely Planet MAR 2010
Matador Travel Network
JUL 2009 SEP 2009 APR 2010 MAY 2010 SEP 2009 SEP 2009 JUL 2010 AUG 2010
National Geographic Intelligent Travel Blog JUL 2010
Pocket Cultures MAY 2010 JUN 2010 JUL 2010 AUG 2010 MAR 2011 APR 2011 JUL 2012 MAR 2013 
Romar Travel Magazine DEC 2009 FEB 2010 
Stars & Stripes Okinawa
Stripes Okinawa APR 2015 NOV 2015
The History Press: In Titanic's Shadow by DAVID L. WILLIAMS OCT 2012
The Nihon Sun JUL 2009
The Compass Culture DEC 2009
The Photo Argus APR 2010 MAY 2010
Travelmag UK FEB 2010
Travel Thru History AUG 2009 JAN 2010 APR 2010
Wend Magazine JUL 2009
Yahoo! Voices MAR, APR, JUN, JUL, AUG, OCT 1 and OCT 24, 2012

  There are a few other, online, places my work has appeared but, sometimes links get broken.

I found out the best way to fix that is: Delete, Delete, Delete. So, that's what I do.

Rainy days make me cranky. 



                              

Travel Photo: Hiji Falls in Kunagami Okinawa, Japan

This is the most famous and the largest waterfall on Okinawa.

It's been a few years since I hiked up that trail to get photos.

So, I've been thinking about getting back up to Kunigami Village and shooting some more.

Probably, a rainy day, would be best.

When it rains, nobody else goes on the trail and I get to see more wildlife.

Hah !

We just got done with rainy season and I'm looking forward to the next rainy day.

Here's a YouTube Video of Hiji Falls

If you are planning to visit don't go on a rainy day.  OK ?

 
Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Ten Favorite Photos of Children Reflecting at the Gym

It's one of those rainy days in Okinawa.

And I don't feel like getting wet.

So, I dug up these photos from an Undokai (Sports Day) in Okinawa, Japan.

Being cooped up indoors on a rainy day is torture, to me.

It's probably torture for children, too.

What about parents and teachers ?

Are rainy days torture for them, too ?

It could be like being cooped up in a cage with a whole bunch of wild animals, I bet.

What governments around the globe should do is build more gyms.

Then, children would have places to reflect.

I could get out of my cage on rainy days and shoot them for you.

Photographically speaking, of course !

UPDATE: Look and see what some awesome stuff GOOGLE+ did with these photos !

VISIT MY HOMEPAGE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

When It's Wet in the Forest (Photos)

On a rainy day, when the forest is wet, you can walk quietly.

The wildlife won't be out but, you can hear the waterfalls.

Streams of fast-moving water splash over the rocks.

And they swirl around them, making white patches in dark areas.

When everything is wet, brown colors look dark but, greens look greener.

When it's wet in the forest, you can have the place all to yourself.  Try it sometime.  It's cool.

VISIT MY HOMEPAGE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY