Three Lapwings Came Today

Almost all of the snow that fell yesterday morning has melted.

Three Lapwings came together to eat in the grassy path between ricefields today. I had been assuming that the 2 Lapwings who came together so often this winter were a mated pair... I wonder who this third one was today.... They all came and landed in the field together, and foraged very close to each other.

First Snow of the Winter Didn't Deter a Visit From the Lapwings Today

It snowed overnight and early this morning. I guess a few centimeters accumulated by dawn. This is the first, and perhaps will be the only, snowfall here this winter. The Grey-headed Lapwings came and dug through the snow down into the dirt in their favorite rice field, though.... By noon, the snow had melted except in a few spots behind buildings that blocked the sunlight....

Two crows were digging the same way in a different rice field near here the other day. They glanced at me as I passed by, to make sure I wouldn't attack them, I suppose. I wonder what delicious, nutritious thing these birds are digging out from the soil....

Camellias and Japanese Grosbeaks in Hattori Ryokuchi Botanical Garden

A visit in January to see the camellias at Hattori Ryokuchi Botanical Garden is always splendidly rewarded, and so it was today. I saw more than 20 varieties of camellia blooming there. And many more species budding, with the promise of blooming in the next couple of months. The variations among camellias are dizzying....

Daffodils were blooming too.

And  the sweet, entreating voices of Japanese Grosbeaks could be heard from high in evergreen trees....

SenriChuo Koen Park Is a Fine Place to Watch Mandarin Ducks in January and February

It was sunny and balmy yesterday, so I walked around a few ponds in the afternoon at SenriChuo Koen Park, especially hoping to watch Mandarin Ducks there.

I saw a group of  about 4 males and 4 females, gliding and diving and preening in a pond, near a few Spot-billed Ducks and a Little Grebe. I've never before seen ducks put so much energy into making a little upward leap before each dive. I wonder why they were doing that: To get down deep enough to pick up sunken acorns from the bottom of the pond?... To impress the opposite sex? To clean some unwanted muck coating their feathers...? Just for fun?...I wonder....

Our Winter Visitors, the Grey-headed Lapwings, Are Back in Our Rice Fields Today

Our winter visitors, a pair of Grey- headed Lapwings, are back feeding in our rain- flooded rice fields this bright, sunny morning. So are a few Jungle Crows. It rained all day yesterday... I guess all these birds are very hungry after not getting much to eat yesterday. I hope they find a feast today.