Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina)

Japan doesn't have many really colourful birds, but this is one of them. I think this is a passage bird where I am - even though the maps say it is a summer visitor throughout Japan, I have only seen it before at much higher elevations in the summer, as opposed to the transit season. I saw it a couple of weeks ago, and thought it had left, but I heard a beautiful song today - maybe it's planning to stay for the summer. Hope it finds a mate, in this case, because I didn't see one around.

And I also like the fact that it's a flycatcher, and not ashamed of the fact. None of this hiding in dull greys and browns - on with the glad rags!

The photos I have taken of this bird in previous years have been where it is skulking in a thicket, but this time I have some shots which seem near-perfect by my standards, so I am really pleased.

I hope some of you enjoy them as much as I do.