Ecology Park in Aoba no Mori Koen

We decided to pop in the Ecology Park this morning again before the weather gets bad (heavy rain and gales are expected later on). The park was a bit quieter than the other day, possibly because the birds sensed the storm was on its way and decided to stay low?

Anyway, we managed to see some birds.

A Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ) was being patient by the lake.

A Cormorant (Kawauカワウ) was drying her feathers, but the thing she was standing on was actually a buoy holding a water temperature gauge so it wasn't stable:)

She couldn't keep her balance on the slippery and wobbly buoy and seemed to give up drying her feathers...

A Spot-billed Duck (Karugamoカルガモ) was resting on a wall by Aoba-ga-ike lake.

A lone Carrion Crow (Hashiboso-karasuハシボソカラス) was also resting on a low branch, watching over joggers and walkers.

A little noisy Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker (Kogeraコゲラ)
They are easily spotted as they often make an unmistakable 'gheeeee' call.

A Pale Thrush (Shiroharaシロハラ) and a couple of Grey Starlings (Mukudoriムクドリ) were foraging under a cherry tree.

We could see his white belly and understood why they are called Shirohara in Japanese: Shiro(=white) hara(=belly), easy!

He was listening and pecking vigorously on the ground:) something delicious?

A bird of prey was circling high above our heads. I saw a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by three aggressive White Wagtails yesterday afternoon at the same place. Would this be the same one?


******WARNING if you don't like snakes don't go further!（ヘビ嫌いは見ないで～)******

When we got to the park, a man told us that a snake, Japanese Rat Snake (Aodaisho-アオダイショウ), was basking on a branch of a tree near Aoba-ga-Ike Lake. He also told us that all the snakes in the park have come out from hibernation, including the venomous Pit Vipers (Mamushiマムシ)...

He was rather long but beautiful!!!