Bird Photo: Black-crowned Night-Heron Adult

Yesterday's post was of a juvenile Night Heron.

Today, I got closer to an adult and will attempt to get farther downstream as weather permits.

It seems Okinawa's late-starting rainy season will hit tonight or, tomorrow morning.

Good news -- Bad News, I guess depends on how you look at things.

To reach this bird, I have been slashing my way through some rough jungle.

Rain, will make things much cooler and, dampen some of the noise, I have been making.

Once I eliminate a few hundred yards, between us, I'll get a much more detailed photo.

Camera:  Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500 at 500mm

Exposure:  f/11  1/60   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

GPS Coordinates embedded as EXIF Data

Bird Photo: Black-crowned Night-Heron Juvenile

Latin Name: Nycticorax nycticorax

 

 

 

 

 

In Japan, this bird is known as Goisagi (ゴイサギ) and, they are found worldwide.

According to ARKive, they breed on all continents, except Antarctica and Australasia. 

They search for most of their food during evenings, using their excellent night vision.

During mating season, competition for food, may cause them to hunt during daylight.

This bird had just been chased off by another juvenile prior to being photographed.

The territorial dispute seemed to be over a location where, fish were jumping out of the water.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax DA F4 300mm

Exposure: f/7.1  1/80   ISO 100

Date and Time:  May 16, 2015  4:37PM

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan N 26 25.533  E 127 56.104 

Additional Resources for the Night Heron:

A Guide to the Wild Birds of Okinawa P.30 ISBN4-916224-11-6

All About Birds The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Avibase

Images from a Sunday Afternoon in the North of Okinawa

 Photos Can Do the Talking

 

 

 

 

 

In a period of about four hours, a person can cover lots of terrain on this island.

Getting a late start, Map It Okinawa Dude, arrived at the office sometime after noon.

The first photo of the day was taken around 1:30PM.

The flowers are Hydrangea (ajisai in Japanese) and they are blooming everywhere.

 Yohena's Ajisai Garden is one of my favorite places to visit in the month of May.

For the GPS crowd: N 26 27.007  E 127 55.879, should get you there.

Not as crazy about flowers as most people, I go to visit this woman.

Mrs. Yohena is the person who started planting these flowers, all over the hillsides.

She's 98 years of age and, more energetic than most 40 year old women, I know.

She always remembers me and insists on posing for a photo.

She is a sweetheart.

An hour after the first photo was taken we stopped here.

Tora, the Ryukyu Inu, doesn't really like posing for cameramen.

After I let him chew on my hands a little bit, he settles down and poses.

This guy is at the place where you buy tickets to see flowers of the Hydrangea Cafe.

The hills surrounding this location have very few blossoms see.

It might be best to visit in a week or, two.

The cafe is always a nice secluded spot to take a break for some refreshments.

This is Sueyoshi Ajisai Garden N 26 37.825  E 128 02.700 on GPS.

Cruising back down the east coast of the island, we stopped here.

This is a nifty place, where you can barbecue your own dinner.

Shelled seafood doesn't agree with me.

But, I can gobble down all kinds of meat products so, that's what I did.

This photo was taken around 5PM at Lequio Terrace in Ginoza.

GPS: N 26 28.424  E 127 57.430

Related Posts:

An Afternoon on Motobu Peninsula with Three Sisters

This Sweetheart of the Month Could Be Lady of the Year

Hydrangea Flowers and a Tiger Dog All in One Day

How to Create a Motion GIF with Google+ Auto Awesome

Chinese Softshell Turtle

Listed as Vulnerable

 

 

Natives of Asia, these turtles are a threatened species sometimes, sold as pets.

This one was found at an irrigation ditch in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan.

GPS Coordinates: N 26 26.621  E 127 56.098

Equipped with a 300mm lens a few quick, close-up shots were taken.

This amphibian was shy and didn't want to stay when it heard the camera clicking.

Confirmation on the identification came from Shawn Miller, a good nature dude, I know.

The scientific name for this subject is Pelodiscus sinensis.

In Japan,  Suppon ( スッポン ) would be the name.

Learn more about this turtle at:

ARKive

Invasive Species of Japan

Reptile Database

The IUCN Redlist

Travel Photo (GIF) Paragliding in Nanjo City Okinawa

Clear Blue Skies and Summertime Weather

 

 

They were having a blast out on the peninsula today and, I was tempted to join them.

It was warm enough to seek some shade, while shooting these photos.

Now, I know the exact spot, the para-glide crews use to launch these rigs.

Next time, I'll have to ask if, cameras are allowed to go on the trip.

If that's the case, we'll get some aerial photography done while flying above the island.

Back in the Office

 

 

While the camera was downloading, I finished some tests, I had started this morning.

It's been awhile since the last time I visited the Travel Agent Academy.

A course from United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) grabbed my attention.

So, I signed up and studied for the three tests they required.

While waiting for the images above, to be processed into an animated GIF, I tested online.

Now, I am a USTOA Specialist !



You May Also Like -- Travel Photos: Paragliding in Okinawa