Two Herons and a Turtle in the Nest

There are big turtles (with shells about the size of a large dinner plate) in Shingu Ike Lake. They often sun themselves on logs or branches at the edge of the lake. Today in the Grey Heron's nest built just above the lake's surface, there was one such turtle and two of the "chicks" (now close to adult size). One of the chicks stood atop the turtle much of the time -- I think it was not a good spot for sunning by the turtle.

Immature Grey Herons Hanging Around In Their Nest

Today at noon, just before it started to rain, 2 of the Grey Herons, no longer chicks, really, now clearly "immature herons" were preening ( one heron) and sleeping ( the other heron) in their low- built nest at Singu Ike Lake in Hattori Ryokuchi Koen.

Heron Chicks Stretching Their Wings

There were 2 Grey Heron Chicks ( very big now -- close to adult size) stretching their wings, and pecking at their nest and at the lake) in the low-built nest at Shingu Ike Lake today. I wonder if they can fly, but I didn't see them try to.... Lots of wing flapping, though.

There Are Still Chicks In Three Nests In The Heronry At Hattori Ryokuchi Koen

There were still big chicks (at least half of adult-size) in the 3 Grey Heron nests I checked today surrounding Shingu Ike lake at Hattori Ryokuchi Koen.

In the nest built just above water level, 2 chicks were lazing and preening today, and one of their parents was standing on a tree branch about a meter away.

There were big chicks lazing, and parents standing guard in, 2 other Grey Heron nests higher up in trees around the lake.

The lake looks rather lonely with all its winter ducks gone north now. The herons, Little Grebes, and a few Great Cormorants and Common Kingfishers have that big lake pretty much to themselves now.

Really? Grey-Headed Lapwings In The Flooded Rice Fields This Morning

What a surprise! A couple of Grey-headed Lapwings are feeding in the flooded rice fields here this morning after heavy rain yesterday.... I thought the Lapwings would have migrated north by now....

One Heron Chick Home Alone

In the Grey Heron nest built just above water level at Shingu Ike Lake in Hattori Ryokuchi Koen, just the smallest of the 3 heron chicks was snoozing and preening at around 4 PM today. I couldn't see the other 2 chicks, or either parent.... I wonder where they were.

Three Grey Heron Chicks "Home Alone"

When I stopped by to check on the Grey Heron nest located just above the waterline at Shingu Ike Lake in Hattori Ryokuchi Koen at noon today, the 3 heron chicks were alone (no parent with them) in their nest. During the 20 minutes I was there, 2 of the chicks spent most of their time standing, looking around, preening, and stretching their legs & wings. The third chick, which was only about half as tall as the other 2, spent most of the time dozing, but got up and stretched and preened briefly a few times. Today is the first time I've seen the chicks "home alone" without a parent in the nest.