Kyoto (Day 2)
Our second day -- really, the only full day -- in Kyoto was spent in rain and wind, which was a pity. Arashiyama (嵐山) was our major stop of the day.
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
The cherry-lined Oi River was still somewhat of a pretty sight, despite the dreary weather.
In the Oi River, I spotted a few stunning birds at close range: a small group of Eurasian Wigeons, which was a rarity in North America (and which I had seen), but here, they were just "another duck".
Another is a Common Teal, very similar to Green-winged Teal in North America, but considered a different species, hence a new bird for me.
We stopped at the Bomboo Forest, or Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. The gloomy weather actually added a ghostly atmosphere to the somber forest.
Tenryu-ji (天龍寺) was our next stop.
Tenryu-ji has a beautiful garden, many kinds of flowers were blooming there.
Taking advantage of the flowery scene, a couple of Japanese (?) ladies in Kimono dresses posing in front of blooming sakuras.
By now a familiar bird to me, the Brown-eared Bulbul, which will forever be associated with cherry blossom in Japan for me.
And a couple of other by-now-familiar-to-me birds in the garden.
But I also got a new bird, the Black-faced Bunting, in the same place!
Back to the river, I spotted another common bird in Japan, but a "mega bird" (extremely rare) in North America -- a Tufted Duck.
A couple common birds which I nearly missed (dismissed): first, a sparrow caught my eye. I at first thought it was a House Sparrow, but which turned out to be an Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Good thing that I did not completely dismiss it and took a few pictures, so now I have a new bird on record.
Finally, what I took to be a domestic Mallard Duck and haphazardly took a few pictures of turned out to be an Eastern Spot-billed Duck. This would be my 25th and last new bird of the trip.
After Arashiyama, we spent more time exploring Nishiki Market (錦市場).
Some trinkets on display in stores near our hotel.
Arashiyama
Arashiyama
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
Common Teal
Bamboo Forrest
Bamboo Forrest
Tenryu-ji (天龍寺)
Tenryu-ji (天龍寺)
Flower
Flower
Ladies in Kimono
Brown-eared Bulbul
Varied Tit
Japanese White-eye
Black-faced Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Tufted Duck
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market
A vendor frying rice balls stuffed with vegetables and seafood tidbits
Rimpa Store
Buddhist Figurines
Japanese Figurine
Kimono Figurines
