Nanayama swamp area April 28th

This jewel in the mountains always has something special in store. This day in April was our first visit of the year and the migrating season was full on. My head was full of birds and I had to work hard to find that switch.

Sawa oguruma,  サワオグルマ

Uguisu kagura, ウグイスカグラ

Hana ikada, ハナイカダ 

Bogbean, (Mitsugashiwa) ミツガシワ    A bit late

Sweet flag, (Shoobu) ショウブカ. The purple flowers bloom later

Akebia or Chocolate vine, (Mitsuba akebi) ミツバアケビ

 Nyoisumire, ニョイスミレ A tiny viola

Golden orchid, (Kinlan) キンラン This was all we got to see of the orchid. It was still too early

Noble orchid, (Shunlan) シュンラン

East Asian thrixspermum, (Kayalan) カヤラン

The edible Asian royal fern, (Zenmai) ゼンマイ

 Look how the leaves unfold from this boll shaped knot.

Oike and Choojabaru 1

We like to go there early, when there are not so many leaves yet and the birds are easier to see. Sometimes we get lucky, but this day birding was very slow. Ah well, there are always flowers...


Part 1: Flowers of Oike

Japanese fairy bells,  (Houchakusou) ホウチャクソウ

Yukizasa,  ユキザサ

Five-leaf akebia or Chocolate vine (Akebi) アケビ

Yamashakuyaku, ヤマシャクヤク

Ground-ivy (Kakidooshi) カキドオシ

Chigoyuri, チゴユリ

Ginriousou, ギンリョウソウ

Kurumamugura, クルマムグラ

Ichirinsou, イチリンソウ

Tsukushi tanigikyou, ツクシタニギキョウ

Yamarurisou, ヤマルリソウ

Part 2: around Choojabaru 

Nyoisumire, ニョイスミレ

Silky wisteria, (Yamafuji) ヤマフジ

Harurindou, ハルリンドウ

Matsu seedlingマツ

Mitsuba tsuchiguri,ミツバツチグリ

Marsh Marigold, (Ryuukinka) リュウキンカ

Japanese primrose (kurasou)サクラソウ

Sawaoguruma, サワオグルマ

Ginriousou, ギンリョウソウ

Rhododendron, Tsutsuji ツツジ  (ミツバツツジ?)

Asian royal fern, (Zenmai) ゼンマイ

The shadow spots are made by the legs of a Pond skater, (Amenbo) アメンボ

Tiniest hopper I've ever seen