Thrush species amongst blossoming Plum trees

Good evening, good night, good morning and hello...

A busy week saw the workload come and go like the tide, up one minute, down the next. It was an enjoyable week at work, I learnt a lot and feel more sure of myself. OOOhhhhhhh!!!! I witnessed my first crime in Japan also...a chicken chaser snatch and grab (for those of who don't know, a chicken chaser is a moped), no less than 30 seconds from the gaff!!! The poor women had been carrying her handbag over her shoulder exposed to the road-side, at about 11pm on Friday night. The guy just drove up and grabbed, took off before I knew what was going on!! Quite alarming really...but what can one do in that situation, I don't have the speed in the old legs to keep up with a scooter. Still though, not a nice thing to see, the poor woman was devastated. Lesson to be learned today...never carry a bag on the side exposed to the road, keep it safe to the inner side of the footpath. Common sense really but then again, it's Japan. The safest country in the world according to reports...

A new bio team member will be starting on Monday, a fresh arrival from Oz, PJ has just finished a Masters and is a good sort. I took himself and PC (new Irish girl) to Umeda for a spot of sight seeing, shopping, food and beers (I finally fell off the wagon after a month off the grog). However, before that excursion happened, I arose at 6.30am and headed to Osaka-jo to see if there were any migs aboot. It was a cloudy, misty morning, but I headed out anyway. I like this time of morning, it's quiet, peaceful and can be somewhat surreal. The birds were present, the usual White-eyes, Black-faced Buntings, Pale Thursh, Dusky Thursh...and then, while walking around a copsy area (not corpsy, I've had enough of that), I flushed a Brown Thursh. A new lifer and Japan tick!! While enjoying this smart male, a female popped out of the undergrowth, calling alarmingly and flew into a tree. While observing her, some Dusky thurshes appeared and then, much to my surprise, between 8-10 Eye-browed Thursh flew up into the trees, another lifer and Japanese tick!!! What a score!! I didn't think I would see any new species today but lo and behold, I nail two!! No photos for proof but my word should be enough. Happy with my lot I headed to the plum garden and I was blown away by the colours, fragrance and the amount of photographers (all over 60) swarming around the garden taking photos of the flowers. I felt like I had to join in so I spent a good hour amongst them all, some even bringing me to some nice collection of flowers!

At about 9am, I headed away, to 'bucks for a short soy latte (I'm posh, me) and then home, where I did some grocery shopping and finally finished the Hokkaido bird photos before heading into Umeda with PJ and PC. I had a great day with the two of them, a bite to eat and some beers. It was strange but somewhat good having a beer. I miss it but don't...you know what I mean?? Now at home and ready for bed. Meeting ND at 8.30am in search of birds, not corpses this time!!

I hope this finds you well. Leurve machine, checked out camera prices for you so will email you tomorrow.

Carmo's Diet: this week, I have mostly been eating Balance Power Bars

Carmo's Birds: EYE-BROWED THRUSH, BROWN THUSH, Black-faced Bunting, Japanese White-eye, Japanse Pygmy Woodpecker, and Vega gull. 208 species for Japan now..wicked.

Carmo's Birds for Byrdy: Watched Brotherhood of the Wolf again...Monica Bellucci is a goddess...