Yesterday I was amazed to see male and female Red-breasted Mergansers swimming in a pond in the north part of Expo 70 Commemorative Park. They were in their own cluster at a short distance from a group of about 20 European Wigeons there. The shape and the plumage of the Red- breasted Mergansers were so showy and distinctive, but I wasn't carrying a field guide, so I had to wait until I got home to consult one and identify the birds. I hadn't ever noticed them in a field guide before, and also they are generally found on coasts or in bays, I read, so I'm surprised they were in this park yesterday....
I also saw many Dusky Thrushes here and there running across the lawns at the park, and a small flock of Oriental Greenfinches.
Many crows were people- watching in the park, too.
I checked whether any plum trees were blooming yet. There were many buds, but I only saw a single blossom....
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Unexpected Drama Among the Grey- headed Lapwings
Three Grey- headed Lapwings are back in the nearby rice fields this chilly (about 3 degrees C), sunny morning, but they are squabbling!
There is some kind of squabble between 2 of the Lapwings: one of them tries to stick with or nearby the other 2, but one of these 2 keeps scolding and chasing this third bird away. This bird doesn't go far away, though, and keeps trying to rejoin the other two.
What is going on? I can't see the birds well enough to determine the sexes, and all the birds are about the same size.... Is this a parent trying to chase a grown chick away? Or is the third bird a mating rival?
These two birds are so busy fighting they aren't getting any eating done this morning.
There is some kind of squabble between 2 of the Lapwings: one of them tries to stick with or nearby the other 2, but one of these 2 keeps scolding and chasing this third bird away. This bird doesn't go far away, though, and keeps trying to rejoin the other two.
What is going on? I can't see the birds well enough to determine the sexes, and all the birds are about the same size.... Is this a parent trying to chase a grown chick away? Or is the third bird a mating rival?
These two birds are so busy fighting they aren't getting any eating done this morning.
Friday, February 2, 2018
A Weasel In Hattori Ryokuchi Koen Park
I have been hearing talk among birdwatchers for the past several months that a weasel has been seen running around in the daytime in Hattori Ryokuchi Koen near the "Kotori No Mori" ( " Small-birds Woods"), also called "Chikurin No Mori".
Yesterday at around noon, I was in Kotori No Mori, watching sparrows, thrushes, and tits, and suddenly saw a bright orange cat- sized creature running slinkingly through the woods where all those birds were, right out in the open in front of a number of people.... I asked if that was a weasel, and those people said "yes".
Yuck. I guess it is eating little birds. Well, I guess it will kill off the birds that aren't alert.... Predators should be a part of an ecosystem. But, yuck.
Yesterday at around noon, I was in Kotori No Mori, watching sparrows, thrushes, and tits, and suddenly saw a bright orange cat- sized creature running slinkingly through the woods where all those birds were, right out in the open in front of a number of people.... I asked if that was a weasel, and those people said "yes".
Yuck. I guess it is eating little birds. Well, I guess it will kill off the birds that aren't alert.... Predators should be a part of an ecosystem. But, yuck.
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