Nagoya
Nagoya was our first stop in Japan; a brief one too -- we arrived late on Monday and left early on Tuesday to go to Kyoto. We managed to make a very brief stop at Nagoya Castle (did not even go into it). But even this brief stop gave us much delight.
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
Just as I exited the subway station, I saw my first new bird of Japan on this trip -- a Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker!
Cherry blossom is at its absolute peak in Nagoya at this moment. The Sakura cherry trees lined up the walls of the castle, cascading down a profusion of flowers.
A couple of close-ups of cherry flowers.
In the cherry trees, I spotted my second new bird of Japan -- Brown-eared Bulbuls. These noisy birds are apparently very fond of the nectar and pollens of the flowers and were darting ecstatically among the branches.
On the ground I saw a few other foraging birds, all were new to me. Thus, in less than an hour, I "bagged" 5 new birds.
There was a Great Cormorant in the watered part of the moat, not a new bird for me, but still a delightful catch.
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle
Cherry Flower
Cherry Flowers
Brown-eared Bulbul
Brown-eared Bulbul
Japanese Tit
Dusky Thrush
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Cormorant