Pix from Tommy

Just around noon at M_river. We expected the hatch and rises though...




Just caught my first trout of this year.
Where are you baby?
Thanks for nice pix, Tommy.

Yard Work

It was so warm and calm today.

I dug up the ground and changed the poor soil to rich one for the plant.

Looking forward to seeing their flower soon.

My first fly fishing trip of 2010 was

with Tommy. It was his first one in Japan also, because he got started fly fishing in US.

Because of too high water level, we gave up fishing at KANOGAWA mainstream. And went for some tributary rivers.


Around noon we could see the baetis's hatch though, M-river kept silence.
Likely my river selection was wrong...



This is my first shot of the osprey, MISAGO!





It is often seen around the Yellowstone National Park in US, but not so common one in Japan. It was nice to see it there for me.



Moved to Z-river for something.
Tommy got his first trout in Japan!




We got countless fishes there though, all of them were babies...
Moved to O-river for the evening.
I saw several rises there, and got some strikes, but couldn't set a hook well.

Because of strong wind through a day, the casting itself was difficult. But I could enjoy my new #3 rod so much today.
And also enjoyed the fishing with Tommy after so long interval from our last trip. Let's have another trip soon.

Just a

one of usual days was today.

But maybe one of special days is today.

The color of water

got muddier after all, so we had to give up our Plan A today. And went out just for walking around.

SHIJUUKARA, Great Tit was jumping from the branch to another one with twittering.

One of my favorite birds, JOUBITAKI, Daurian Redstart was close to us today. But it was only pity that the angle was not perfect.

The bevy of sparrows(SUZUME) was on the gutter of the house.

She was busy for sketching them.

Where is your spring, Lance? You are almost ready for it, I guess.

During waiting,

let's change your old fly line to new one, Lance.












Well, done.

And this is

our Plan B today.

Rainy Rainy Rainy

My daughter and I planed to be there for her walking outside and my something with new rod today.

But since it was too rainy, and had to change to Plan B...

As the color of water wasn't too bad, we are waiting till the rain becomes lighter.

Got a license

and checked the nearby river today. Looked nice stream.

But I don't know when is the my opening day...

HERA Debut!

My fishing friend and mentor kawkoi-san moved into the city next to my hometown. And we could see together there today to enjoy HERABUNA, Crucian Carp Fishing.

Yeah, it was definitely my debut of it.

It must be rare shot of two professional fly fishermen.

Only this float should tell me what's going there under the surface. Too tricky.

Yeah, yeah, yeah! What a beginner's luck I had!! Kawkoi-san helped me to land it by the net.

It was so warm day of February today.

A raccoon dog was seen around kawkoi-san's house.

I think I'll be getting mad about this type of fishing soon, maybe...

Last Sunday,

she joined us as newcomer of bird watchers.

A couple of KOGERA, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker!

Maybe the lower one is male?

The stream of Y-river. I might fish AMAGO trout there with KANOGAWA fishing licence.

Need to be identified though, my guess is male HOOJIRO,Siberian Meadow Bunting.

Her favorite bike and binoculars.

My first shot of birds of prey, except TOBI, Black Kite.

NOSURI, Common Buzzard?

So far,

she likely loves birds too. She was learning the bird's twittering by CD

Her most favorite one is KAWASEMI, Common Kingfisher. Let us have a chance to see it.

UME and Birds

We also enjoyed seeing the UME(Japanese apricot) blossom today.

First bird was JOUBITAKI, Daurian Redstart.
Let me have another chance of shot in short distance, please.

MOZU, Bull-headed Shrike's male on the UME tree with no blossom...

Most famous bird which match the blossom in Japan is MEZIRO, Japanese White-eye, I think.

Even we were so close to them, likely they didn't mind it because so busy for sucking nectar.

Their unique olive green and any color of blossom are well-matched. Must be typical color contrast of Japanese spring.

Y river with lots of birds

Since it was so fine today, my daughter and I went out for the bird watching. Our destination was Y_river which was famous for KAWASEMI, Common Kingfisher. Although we couldn't see it today, could see lots of birds instead of it.

Female KASHIRADAKA, Rustic Bunting was our new bird today. Likely it is one of winter birds.

Excuse my bad focusing...

The right top one which had black colored head is male one.

And pair of MOZU, Bull-headed Shrike!

The right one which has darker eye line is male.

I like their beautiful color balance very much.

KISEKIREI, Grey Wagtail on the rock. I think it proved this river's quality.

We must have found good place to go nearby.