Full Moon AUG 2017 Over Okinawa Japan

Some Tricky Weather

Depending on which source you use the full moon this month could be anywhere from the 6-8th.

It's best to get out and shoot it, any time it peeks through the clouds.

A passing typhoon has left the skies cloudy and hazy and, no moon was visible last night.

Earlier, I shot a few images around 8PM but, they were cloudy.

When the moon got higher in the sky, much sharper images were possible.

Camera: Pentax K1

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

Exposure: f/16  1/60   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town Okinawa Japan

Date and Time: AUG 7 1017  8:37PM

Wildlife Photo: Pair of Fish Hawks in Flight

These birds were hunting for a meal over the Kin Dam.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500 at 360mm

Exposure:  f/11   1/640   ISO 100

More on the Osprey at All About Birds the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Grey Heron and Its Shadow in Flight (GIF)

Fish Jumping Out of the River Too

 

 

It was a beautiful Autumn day and, I couldn't resist a walk to the Kin Dam.

The plan was, to take advantage of the blue skies and sunshine.

It would have been nice, to come home with some eagle and hawk photos.

That didn't happen but, there were plenty of heron and egret shots taken.

This Grey Heron put on a good show.

Look closely and, you can see fish, jumping in the lower left of the frame.

The series of photos was captured at 4:15PM.

A few minutes later, the sun would be going down behind the mountains.

Once that happened, it was time to put on a jacket and, start walking home.

Location: Okukubi River directly below Kin Dam

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500 at 500mm

Exposure: f/9   1/640   ISO 100

Learn more about this bird, the Ardea cinera at ARKive

Wildlife Shot on the Way to the Moon

An Angry Buzzard Eagle

 

 

It sure would be nice if, they would bury all phone lines and electric wires, underground.

Normally, I don't waste my time, taking photos of birds on wires.

While walking to do a night-before-the-full moon shoot, I saw this scene.

The Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle was on the wires first.

Then, a crow came along and, thought it would roost there.

Hopefully, I won't get a pile of hate mail from the crow lovers but, I don't like those varmints.

This eagle was smaller than a crow and, I have seen crows gang-up on them.

This time, the eagle, scared the crow away. YAY !

Off they went, in separate directions.

And, I continued my journey, to shoot the moon.

Photos above taken with a Pentax K3 and Sigma 50-500 at 500mm

Exposure:  f/6.7   1/1000   ISO 100

Editor's Pick for the Month of September 2014 (Photo)

Supermoon SEP 2014

This photo was taken at 7:04PM on September 9, 2014 in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500 at 500mm

Exposure: f/16  1sec   ISO 100

Wildlife Photo: A Kingfisher Motion GIF

Captured with a Pentax K3 and Sigma 50-500

 

The lens was stretched all the way out to 500mm and, I was too far away to hear the bird.

Maybe, I should have taken better care of my ears when I was younger.

It would be nice to know if that bird was doing some sort of mating ritual.

Or, do you suppose, he was just singing for his supper ?

Preliminary Full Moon Photo May 14, 2014

Almost Forgotten Full Moon This Month

 

 

With windy and rainy weather the moon may not appear tomorrow over Okinawa.

So, I ran outside when it peeked through the clouds and took a hundred or so, shots.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500mm

Exposure: f/11  1/10sec   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Time: 7:18PM

Going to see if it shows up again but, won't hold my breath.

Checkout the Ladybug Sumo (相撲) Wrestlers !

Sometimes You Get the Best Photos Close to Home

 

 

This took place right behind my office, this morning.

During rainy season, I don't walk around with my big Sigma 50-500mm lens.

 I spotted these ladybugs when the rain took a break and ran for the camera.

Using a tripod and the lens, stretched out to 360mm, I fired away in burst mode.

Did they put on a good show or, what ?

MORE ABOUT LADYBUGS

Full Moon March 16, 2014 Over Kin Town Okinawa Japan

The moon did look fuller tonight than, last night.

This photo was taken at 6:48PM Japan Standard Time.

Camera:  Pentax K3

Lens:  Sigma 50-500mm at 500mm

Exposure:  f/11  1/25   ISO 100

Pycnonotus sinensis: Reminds Me of the Wife

That bird is a Chinese Bulbul, also known as a Light-vented Bulbul.

In Japan, it's called a Shirogashira ( シロガシラ).

The photo was taken using a Pentax K5 and Sigma 50-500 lens at 500mm.

Learn more about these noisy birds at:

Avibase

or

The Internet Bird Collection where you can  watch videos and listen to them.

Every time I hear one of those birds squawking, it reminds me of the missus yelling...

..."Don't Forget The Trash" !

Photos: Two Peeks at the August 2013 Full Moon

The Wind Can't Stop a Full Moon Shoot

 

 

A few typhoons are stirring things-up out there but, it's Obon in Okinawa, Japan.

Drum beats and Eisa dancing are going on out in the streets.

So, when I saw the moon peak through some fast-moving clouds I went and shot it.

The big Sigma 50-500 was only at 230mm for this shot.

When the wind is gusting, you have to do all you can, to steady the lens.

The longer, you stretch it out, the more it will shake.

For this shot, lens at 500mm, I flipped the camera on burst mode.

Then, fired away like I was some kind of lunatic !

Grasshoppers on Minna-Jima Ain't that Big

This Bug Still Pending ID

 

Three quick shots today will show how I nab these critters.

If someone knows the name of this grasshopper it would save me a lot of work.

First, I'll show a screenshot of the photo enlarged while it's being processed.

This is what the scene really looked like when the shot was composed.

The Sigma 50-500mm lens is at 360mm.

Center (spot) focus, is what I use to eliminate the motion of grass, blowing in the wind.

The cross-hairs you see in these screenshots, is not what I see through my viewfinder.

This is the final product, after development.  The photo has been cropped.

The grasshoppers on Minna-Jima ain't really that big.

But, you can make them larger that life-sized, if you really want to scare someone.

I should start making refrigerator magnets.

There must be millions of fat people who could use them to get their diets under control !

Endangered Species: Sword-tailed Newt (Photo)

This photo was taken up in the hills of Okinawa, Japan.

It was one of the few times I've ever seen one of these critters out of the water.

So, I squatted down low, with the Pentax K5 on a tripod and used the big Sigma to zoom-in.

Letting people know about endangered species is important.

The Sword-tailed Newt is on the IUCN Red List as Endangered, I learned on ARKive.

Folks should do something about these animals, before humans become endangered, too !

Related Post: Sunday's Silly Sign April 24, 2011

Butterfly Photos: Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

These little blue butterflies have been waiting in my photo files since November 2012.

They were captured with the Pentax K5 and 50-500mm Sigma lens.

Today, I decided it was time to get things out of last year's pending files.

The Animal Diversity Web of the University of Michigan has all the scientific Data on these bugs.

But, if you're anything like me and just use layman's terms, read about them over at:

Butterflies of Britain and Europe 

They have these butterflies in England and Ireland and we have them in Okinawa, too.

Flower Photo: The Cosmos of Kin Town Okinawa

Last night, on the way to shoot the full moon, I spotted these flowers.

Location: Kin Town, near Nature Mirai.

Camera: Pentax K5

Lens: Sigma 50-500mm

Just two years ago,  I thought a Cosmo was some new auto made by Toyota.

If I keep taking flower photos for this blog, I might become a walking, flower encyclopedia.

There are lots more flowers blooming in the coming months.

Many of them have festivals celebrating the occasions.

Everything depends on the weather and I'll try to keep you posted, in advance.

Some of the springtime flower festivals I've been to may be seen here.

Sometimes, the flowers bloom and festivals are over before I get there !

It's best to keep an eye on Okinawa2Go! on Facebook for current events.

Another great resource for flower festivals and travel events, throughout Japan, is:

Japan National Tourism Organization

Pacific Golden Plovers: Photo Reflections of the Day

In a bit of a rush so, I'm just posting these two bird photos.

The birds are Pacific Golden Plovers and they were photographed today.

Location: Kin Village, Okinawa, Japan

Equipment Used: Pentax K5 and Sigma 50-500mm lens

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

Grey Heron (Ardea cinera) Portrait Mode

The Grey Heron, sometimes sits in one place for hours.

This bird had been fishing, earlier and, was just air drying itself.

It gave me plenty of time to move around and compose a portrait-like shot.

Photo taken Nov 21, 2012 at Tomigusuku wetlands in Okinawa, Japan.

Pentax K5 equipped with a Sigma 50-500 lens at 500mm

Bird Photo: A Sea-hawk in Okinawa, Japan

This Sea-hawk flew over the Tomigusuku wetlands Nov 21, 2012.

That's the same day I was looking for Spoonbills which just arrived on Okinawa, Japan recently.

Photo taken with a Sigma 50-500 at 500mm.

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

Bird Photos: The Cinnamon Bittern

A Cinnamon Bittern is also called Chestnut Bittern.

The scientific name would be Ixobrychus cinnamomeus.

This bird was at the bottom of a dam and I was too far away for a sharp shot.

From the top of the dam, I had the Sigma 50-500 lens stretched all the way to 500mm.

Whenever I see some wildlife I can't identify, I take plenty of shots.

When I get time to do the research, ID the critter and learn its habits.

Cinnamon Bitterns are real skittish birds.

The hang out in fresh water .

For food, they go after small fish, frogs and crustaceans.

If you spook one of them and it doesn't want to fly away, they trick you.

The bird just sticks its beak straight up in the air and pretends to be a reed.

Their colors help them blend-in with the environment.  Camouflage, eh ?

It works.  I never saw the bird's mate in the upper part of this frame.

Now that I know the Cinnamon Bittern's habits, I'm going back to get some better photos.

It just means, quit trying to take satellite photos from the top of the dam.

Get down on the bird's level with that big lens and sneak-up on them.

Like maybe, do some belly and elbow-crawling.

Go back there and get an award-winning, close-up shot.

Even if I have to make little crustacean noises while I'm doing it !

Portrait of a Blue Rock Thrush in Okinawa, Japan

This photo of a Blue Rock Thrush was taken in Bise Village Okinawa, Japan.

Equipment used: Pentax KD10, Manfrotto Tripod, and Sigma 50-500 lens at 230mm.

Learn more about the Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) at

Birdlife International

If you're thinking of getting one of those big lenses for your DSLR camera

Check out Mad Mike Reviews first!