Ishikawa’s Frog had evaded me since my arrival in Okinawa just over four years ago. IVe constantly had this critter in my mind, hoping, waiting for the day I would get to photograph it. But it’s not just Ishikawa’s Frog but more so the blue morph of this ridiculously scarce amphibian.
Photographing Frogs as a Macro Photographer I learned a long time ago any thoughts of this being a glamorous shoot should be stowed and discarded, like, forever!
Andersons Crocodile Newt is pretty much a dinosaur. To be found during specific times of the year and in a few pockets of dense jungles in the Northern areas of Okinawa main island, it is sadly in decline due to habitat loss and illegal pet trade poachers.
I was hoping to get a glimpse of predation by Himei Habu Pit Vipers on the otherwise occupied mating Green Tree Frogs which seemed to be teeming all over the place on the night of my initial visitation.
And then I saw it. About 80cm in length what looked to be a ‘Habu’, a venomous Pit Viper, but of the three main species that inhabit Okinawa and all of which I’d encountered on numerous times, the marking on this snake were all wrong. It was a lot lighter in color for starters.