Japanese Rat Snake

The aodaisho is mainland Japan's largest snake. It is quite comfortable in urban environments.

Aodaisho - Elaphe climacophora

Aodaisho - Elaphe climacophora

White-spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Orgyia thyellina - White-spotted tussock moth -  ヒメシロモンドクガ

Orgyia thyellina - White-spotted tussock moth -  ヒメシロモンドクガ

The Deep, Mossy Interior of the Island

Fencepost of the Week #114

Fire-bellied Newts Breathing

I got some slightly fuzzy photos of Japanese fire-bellied newts - アカハライモリ - coming up to breathe in a breeding pool just outside of Kyoto.

Cynops pyrrhogaster - Japanese fire-bellied newt

Cynops pyrrhogaster - Japanese fire-bellied newt

Cynops pyrrhogaster - Japanese fire-bellied newt

Cynops pyrrhogaster - Japanese fire-bellied newt

Cynops pyrrhogaster - Japanese fire-bellied newt

Common Bluebottle

Common bluebottle - Graphium sarpedon

Slimy Pholiota

Monday Mushroom #104

Numerisugitake - Pholiota adiposa - sprouting on a fallen tree trunk in the woods east of Kyoto. This is a showy, colourful mushroom that can appear any time from spring through to autumn. This photo was taken in late spring.

Numerisugitake - Pholiota adiposa

Numerisugitake - Pholiota adiposa

Numerisugitake - Pholiota adiposa

Cladonia Copse

Fencepost of the Week #113

Having a tough time finding fenceposts in Kyoto, here's another one from Argyll, though.