Wildlife Photo:Juvenile Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle

This bird was spotted in Kin Village, Okinawa, Japan today.

Learn more about the Buzzard Eagle (Butastur indicus) on this excellent site:

Birding in Taiwan

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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

Daikon (大根) Japanese Radish (Photos)

Many people around the world could eat a few radishes and not get full.

Today, I decided to introduce you to the radishes we have in Okinawa, Japan.

These little guys growing in a field gave me the idea.

The other Ryukyu Dudes were wading through a stream to find a cave.

Not thrilled about catching pneumonia, I told them I'd hang around and shoot birds.

No birds, butterflies or, any wildlife showed-up and I got bored.

So, I shot radishes. They are really called Daikon  (大根) in Japanese.

Paphanus sativus var. longipinnatus is what scientists would call them.

Rather than pull some poor farmer's longipinnatus plant out of the ground, to show you...

.....I went to the farmer's market and took some photos.

To add a sense of perspective, I stuck my paw in this photo.

Now, you have an idea how large these daikons can become.

They are humongous !

So far, I've never seen anyone eat, even half, of one of these radishes in one sitting.

More about Japanese Daikon (大根) and how to use them may be seen at:

What's Cooking America


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Wildlife Photos: Teal (Anas crecca) in Okinawa

These little ducks had me stumped, for awhile, today.

They were spotted in Tomigusuku, the southern part of Okinawa, Japan.

We don't see many red-headed ducks around here.

That led me to spend a few hours trying to identify the birds.

The duck with the red head and green mask is the male. 

They get those bright colors during mating season. 

The plain Jane-looking bird is the female.

Learn more about these teals at ARKive. 

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Blue Butterfly Can Remain a Mystery (Photos)

These photos of little blue butterflies were taken in Okinawa, Japan.

Since mid November I've been trying to get a positive ID.

So far, I have it narrowed down to a Japanese name.

Yamato shijimi sounds cool.

Yamato, is the ancient name for Japan.

But, I'm not sure what we would call this critter in English.

  

Shooting butterflies isn't what's in the plan when I go looking for wildlife.

But, when nothing else shows-up, I use them for target practice.

These little rascals are smaller than a thumbnail and, don't like to sit still.

A Scientific Name Would be Great

 

But, in this case I've decided to let this guy remain a mystery.

See, I figure, what the heck. 

How many people, really consider butterflies, wildlife ?

If you were planning a wild party, would invite butterflies over ?

Me neither !


RESOURCES: Butterflies of Japan and Flickr

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