Swallows Have Returned to Suita and Toyonaka Cities

Swallows have returned and are busy building a nest in the parking garage at Hattori Ryokuchi Koen subway station.

Three Cute Heron Chicks in the Low, Low Nest

I walked within a few meters of the water- level herons's nest at noon today and saw 3 cute, fuzzy chicks standing, then dozing, then tapping their parent's bill, then dozing again, in their nest. The bottom part of their bills was bright yellow colored. The parent stood and preened himself/ herself ( I don't know which), and occasionaly nuzzled the chicks.

How will they fare in the days and weeks to come, I wonder.... But for today, they were awfully cute....

Grey Heron Chick(s) Hatched In Their Low, Low Nest!?

People at Hattori Ryokuchi Koen are saying that Grey Heron chicks have hatched in the nest made in low-hanging tree branches and a tree stump sticking out from the the surface of Shingu Ike lake. I can't see into the nest, but I can see that the parents are no longer sitting on the nest, but rather standing in or beside it....

The Grey Herons Are Still At It

The low-nesting Grey Herons are still incubating their eggs at Shingu Ike lake in Hattori Ryokuchi Koen. Another birdwatcher told me today that 3 eggs had been laid: 1 broke, but 2 are still intact.... Will they hatch, I wonder...?

We Have 3 Pairs of Grey Herons Nesting Now

We have 3 ( perhaps 4) pairs of Grey Herons nesting at Shingu Ike pond in Hattori Ryokuchi Koen now. Including the low, low nesting pair. How will it all turn out, I wonder.

The Low-nesting Herons Are Not Giving Up

So curious.... The low- nesting Grey Herons I wrote about last time have laid egg(s) and are sitting on them this week.

Another curious thing: 2 or 3 additional pairs of Grey Herons are building nests in trees surrounding Shingu Ike lake, although in previous years I've seen only one pair nest at that lake....

Funny Grey Herons Building a Nest on a Lake's Surface

Two pairs of Grey Herons have been painstakingly constructing nests in trees bordering Shingu Ike Lake at Hattori Ryokuchi Koen park this week.

One pair is making their nest high in a treetop. That's typical of Grey Herons. But what is the other pair doing!? They have made their nest on a very low-hanging tree branch, right at the level of the lake's surface. In fact, they're using a spot where Little Grebes build their nest every spring....

What will happen to that low- level nest, I wonder.... I guess that the Grey Herons who built it are an immature pair who have a lot to learn.   :-)