Raptor migration and other autumn shots

F

fujita yuji

Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
1,397
Hello from Japan again.
We at last having autumn-like autumn, that the wildlife is making their move
to meet the coming and going seasons.
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus) is a migrating bird of prey. Breeds in Japan
and winters in Philippine or Indonesia, stepping on Okinawa islands and Taiwan.
It is said that they travel about 300miles a day, with av. speed of 25miles/hour.
As they are birds of prey, they keep flying by catching successive thermals (updraft air currents).
2010.10.06.R0022061.JPG

Sorry not very impressive shot :( , this is a flock of grey-faced buzzard, gaining
height in a thermal.
It is sometimes tricky to see their migration as they tend to take the shortest path
by flying over the sea, yet they avoid taking risk of losing direction that they never
take flight of crossing the sea on foggy day if they cannot see the land over the sea,
even if the sun is shining and they have lots of thermals.
The birds in the picture are from Chiba pref., came flying over my house by crossing
Tokyo bay.
The birds in the shot may reach Philippine next weekend.

Here's some other autumn shots
2010.09.29.R0022011.JPG

Wild walnuts seen in the backyard mountain. The nuts are already taken by squirrels.
Blade placed for size comprehension has a blade length of about 3.5 inches.
2010.09.29.R0022021.JPG

Tiny mushrooms. No idea edible or not.
2010.09.29.R0022023.JPG

And mycetozoa, somewhat mysterious creature, known for building clever "network"
among multiple food sites.

Thanks for looking.
P.S. I'm doing fairly well these days, found some jobs.
 
Great stuff! I always enjoy your photos, and its nice to see your knife is getting use.
 
Great photos Fujita. The tiny Mushrooms are really cool, I like that shot a lot. I like the watch the Turkey Buzzards ride the up drafts in the river gorge here. I thought those were Walnuts. They look a lot more like what is sold here as "English" Walnuts than our Black Walnuts. I wonder how many different types of walnuts there are and where all they grow, they are one of my favorite Autumn foods.

Good to hear you're getting some work :thumbup:
 
I also enjoy reading your posts from Japan. Though I'll probably never get to Japan, I enjoy learning about nature over there through your posts.
 
Thanks, guys. I was particularly encouraged by your posts in my previous thread.
This is really a great place for survival, giving me great morale !

I began to watch migrating birds (mainly raptors) after reading some stories about
migrating raptors of America, where there are several famous places many raptors
gather for migration (Cape May of NJ and other places)
I've also seen migrating falcons, goshawks and lots of swifts. All of them fly very fast and quickly
that I've got no pics.

I'm very happy you enjoyed my posts. And yes, I'm using my knife every day.
 
fujita yuji said:
Thanks, guys. I was particularly encouraged by your posts in my previous thread.
This is really a great place for survival, giving me great morale !
Click to expand...
EVERY thread! Each time you post photographs, it's one of the more popular threads here. Please keep posting.

Hey, is it me, or could Fujita Yuji post pictures of crumpled pieces of paper on the floor and they'd be really fascinating?

Also, remember that morale is one survival tool no one can live without!
 
fujita yuji said:
Thanks, guys. I was particularly encouraged by your posts in my previous thread.
This is really a great place for survival, giving me great morale !

I began to watch migrating birds (mainly raptors) after reading some stories about
migrating raptors of America, where there are several famous places many raptors
gather for migration (Cape May of NJ and other places)
I've also seen migrating falcons, goshawks and lots of swifts. All of them fly very fast and quickly
that I've got no pics.

I'm very happy you enjoyed my posts. And yes, I'm using my knife every day.
Click to expand...

Your posts and your photos are always very enjoyable Fujita, I always look forward to them.

Love that knife of yours. It's the first "bushcraft" knife like that I have ever seen, and your interpretation is awesome.
 
Thanks for the great pictures,as always. I would like to visit Japan someday,just to see if you really have giant robots and women in french maid outfits fighting crime. ;)
 
braillediver said:
Always nice to view your posts. Did I miss the knife review?
Click to expand...

I don't think he has done an in-depth review per say...but it is one of the knives he made himself and has been in several of his posts. If you search his threads (you're a gold member and can do that) you'll see several pics and even some in progress pics of it.
 
In 2002 I went to Japan for the first time (for a short holiday).

I went up to Mt Fuji for Christmas and I saw loads of birds of prey circling over a valley in the mountains.

We went to Fuji Yama (I think that's what it was called?) theme park and I looked up to see a bird of prey gliding only 30ft above me. I was very excited and pointed it out but no one else was bothered!
 
Thanks again for favorable responses.

braillediver said:
Always nice to view your posts. Did I miss the knife review?
Click to expand...

Thank you for having interest in my blade, braillediver. Never done a real review as such.
OAL 220mm/Blade 95mm, Steel 3mm thick M2 HSS with SUS304 fittings.
M2 HTed to 64.5 HRc keeps the edge exceptionally but not an easy steel to sharpen, which will be the biggest thing to be mentioned about my knife.
Otherwise it is no more than a simple fixed blade.

Here are some work in progress shots if you like.
2009.03.29.R0018077.JPG

2009.03.29.R0018079.JPG

2009.03.29.R0018081.JPG
 
I did everything but for heat-treatment.
Heat treatment with salt pot was done by professional guys of Osaka city.
 
Well,I'm impressed,I don't see a sander in the photos so you did all the shaping by hand? With M2 at 64 RC you must use diamond or ceramic to sharpen it,and at that hardness it's definitely not a chopper. Do you ever supplement it with an axe or machete?
 
Rc 64+ is not that special edge and can be sharpened by usual waterstone.
I usually carry just this small blade. Depending on purpose or field, I carry a saw or other tools.
 
That's very kind of you, mistwalker. :)
So far this is the only usable fixed blade I have, I cannot go for it.
When I've done another one I'll do pass-around, if I've got demands.
 
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