KIRIFURI Heights and W-GERA(Woodpecker)

We went to KIRIFURI Heights in NIKKO today.

Before 8AM, we arrived at KIRIFURI FALLS first. Female OOAKAGERA(White-backed Woodpecker) welcomed us. Needless to say, I was so excited to see her at first time!

They were sneaking to the butterfly which she found.

KIRIFURI falls. If we have another chance, would like to go down to the basin of a waterfall.

Move to next view point.

Around KISUGE-DAIRA, it was just cloudy when we reached there. But it changed to the sunny for a while.

We used the ropeway both ways.

After that, we dropped in OOZASA ranch and went back to my wife's parents' house.

When we got there, KOGERA(Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker) welcomed us in their garden. It was also my first seeing it.

Today was got started with Woodpecker, and ended with it also. Very Unusual surprise for us.

My 2nd trip to YUKAWA; HIGENAGA was so hot!

It was almost one year interval to YUKAWA river since last trip .

Got up 4:30 and left my wife's parents' home 20min later. Arrived AKANUMA_CHAYA restaurant just six o'clock, and bought 1day fishing ticket for today.

Starting hole was the same as last trip, YUDAKI.




This tiny brook welcomed me. Just before 7 o'clock.




This is my first catch of HONMASU_trout. Looks like YAMAME trout very much.
Nice to see, so nice one!
After 4 caught there, went down to the stream.



Weather itself was fine, but most of stream were in the shade by hung over trees.


About fly selection itself, small terrestrial and curved shank parachute #14-18 were likely good choice today. Especially black color like ant was so effective today.
But today's my new finding was HIGENAGA! I changed fly to its pattern when I saw several splash rises for it.


Then it gave me a lot of strikes!! I couldn't count exactly though, almost 10 fishes were caught by it.



HONMASU_trout again. Beautiful mark.






He seemed to have a beer belly. This fly pattern was originally as a hopper, but worked as HIGENAGA so well.





Every water pocket, like under fallen tree and bank shouldn't be missed.















KARASU_AGEHA(?) butterfly.



Today's last one was so gorgeous! (That was the reason why I stoppded fishing about 15:30)





He lurked just in front of fallen tree. After I saw his failure attack to my fly, did countless(not overstatement!) casts for him. So It was a kind of dramatic catch for me.



It was so nice fishing trip today. Hopefully see you next year, YUKAWA_river.

HAKONE and ASHIOKO lakeside

Since our daughter had overnight camping activity at her kindergarten yesterday, my wife and I stayed at HAKONE resort house.

It was so fine morning, today.

After breakfast, we took a walk around there. It was just great present from her for us.

Wonderful coffee time.

NATSU_TSUBAKI(SYARA_NOKI); Japanese stuartia. It reminded me of daughter because of its name. I like its noble white.

This was second shot though, I couldn't find its name yet...

NEZI_BANA; Ladies' tresses. What a beautiful name is it!







YAMA_HOTARU_BUKURO; Bell flower. Cute shape isn't it?

This was my first shot of KAKESU(Jay). Next time, let me take a pic of your face please.

It was too hot, today. HOOJIRO(Japanese bunting) enjoyed playing in the water.

Let me join it!

YUKAWA River; Jewel of Creek

NIKKO YUKAWA was not so far from my wife's parents' house here. It took 1.5hours approximately.

As Kawkoi-san's advise, I started to fish at the upper hole first. Even it was before 7:00, there were several fishermen preparing their stuff.




This brookie was my starter today. My ant pattern did work well this time. What a pretty one was it! Now I knew the reason why the brook trout was called 'Jewel of creek'.







This hole should be busy by a sightseer in a day time, but it was quiet in the early morning.





3rd one was by hare's ear nymph. Their spotted pattern was different by each.








Trees, glasses and moss plants, every green relaxed me a lot.




6th one was also caught by ant. He was a good fighter.





I changed my plan to half day fishing today, because was so satisfied and fed up with bunch of people...
But it was definitely good day for me anyway.

We are back from Glacier Trip!

Now we are back from long trip to the Glacier National Park(Total 1634.8miles). One of our dreams(Moose) didn't come true though, it was definitely wonderful trip for us. So let me upload the detail little by little.

This is the one of today's snaps.

She likes to do window washing especially.

This is not cloud but wood fire around council ID. Scary!

Grinell Glacier from Lake; Many Glacier

Our third try to see the Moose was still going on this morning.














We could see awesome sight instead of the Moose.











But we still needed to see the Moose...









The boat Cruise through the Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine made us excited.

This pic is the second ride at the Lake Josephine.












It was first time for us to see sipping bear.









It looked brown but species was likely 'Black Bear'.









After trail hiking, we could see the Grinell Glacier from the Grinell Lake.










On the way to be back, he gave her chance to handle it.









We stayed the Many Glacier Hotel that night.

It was a kind of classical good one.

Move to Many Glacier

We headed for Many Glacier from two medicine today.

It took about two hours by drive, not so far. After we found the camping space, we visited the ranger station to ask the best spot for watching the Moose.

Next we visited the Many Glacier Hotel and bought a boat ticket for tomorrow.

Then we did trail hiking to see the moose. Our first destination, FISHERCAP LAKE, had nothing.

This pic was close to second one,RED ROCK LAKE. It took about 1.5hours(1.3mile/2.1km) one way for us. My daughter walked very hard this time, I think.

At the RED ROCK LAKE, we could not see any Moose also.

We were back to the campground, and took the quick supper. It was Japanese lamian this time. I felt almost full.

We did go to the FISHCAP LAKE again this evening. We saw Deer's family though, no Moose again.

We hoped tomorrow must be...