What a lark!

This faithful little fella has started singing

to us again in the evenings.  

The larks disappeared for a couple of years, probably 

forewarned about last year's horrendous typhoons. 

Now they're back, spending a lot of time rock hopping 

and either arguing or bursting into song.

The male, the singer, has a russet chest and dark blue 

back feathers. Isohiodori (beach sound bird) is the local name.

His mate is very much like a British thrush, brown with a 

light speckled chest.

Their renewed presence could be telling us there are no major

typhoons in the offing for the rest of the season.

Or they could be just having a lark with us.

The birth of September

Crabs that fly...

Island life is not all sunsets, snorkeling and skinny dipping (eh?) - 

quite often it's a running battle with irritating bits of nature - mossies, 

locusts, ants, spiders, unidentifiable crawlies, and recently 

with a creature that's never bothered us in the past - hermit crabs.

Suddenly, word has spread in the hermit crab community that our dogs'

bowls are the fashionable new place to dine.

The intrusion of the newcomers was announced a couple of days

ago with a shriek (not from the dogs). There were three of them in

 one bowl, another two trying to clamber up the step and another 

at the screen door scratching for admittance to the party.

Although they're fascinating little creatures, enough's enough.

Most are a bit bigger than a golf ball,  some cricket ball size.

I discovered that they make wonderful projectiles.

With a swing of the bamboo rake, like a lacrosse racket, I am able to 

achieve about 80-100 yards. The first couple flew into the sea, 

me assuming they were amphibious. Then doubts crept in and 

now any intruder finds itself gliding gracefully along the coast

at around 50mph to make a soft landing in deep bamboo grass.

Trouble is, they seem to be enjoying it, 

they keep coming back for more. 

Summer's Scorch

Early days of summer

followed by two months of unrelenting sun 

have singed the lawn crispy dry

Suntan anyone?

Mompa Magic

This wonderful 'umbrella' tree 

is officially called a Mompa.

In 2011 our favourite Mompa looked like this.

After being successively ravaged by 

the super-typhoons of  '12  it ended 

the year looking like an exotic hat 

rack.  

Things got worse. Branches cracked off; 

the remaining leaves fell, and it looked like 

we had a dead tree stump on our hands. 

A chainsaw seemed the only answer.

But nature doesn't give up that easily. 

Spring sprung a surprise - a tiny bud 

popped from a dead-looking bough. 

Then another. And another...

Now,  a bold new Mompa is springing forth. 

Ain't nature wonderful?

Hope the grandkids get to enjoy its shade.

Hot Seat

Coo! You're cute.

This loving couple seem to have cooed 

around here for ever. 

They are wood pigeons nesting somewhere in the garden 

and often keep me company while I work.

Here they are relaxing after a satisfying dust bath.