Rainy Days

The weather has been changeable, one day extremely warm, the next day cold and wet. I chose (well, no choice, rather) 2 miserable spring days to pop in at Ecology Park & Aoba no Mori Park.

Everyone looked very WET!

2 male Gadwalls (Okayoshigamoオカヨシガモ)

a young Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ) looking grumpy

A parent Little Grebe (Kaitsuburiカイツブリ) had no time to waste as she/he was busy carrying materials to their nest, holding at least 3 eggs.

from the screen in the hide

Mandarin Ducks (Oshidoriオシドリ) were on the pond at Ecology Park on that day.

I'd never observed Mandarin Ducks so closely before so I was so chuffed to have this opportunity to see them right in front of me all day.
I noticed they seemed to prefer flying even for a short distance unlike other ducks which are more likely to paddle. The females occasionally did something like a courtship dance, bending their necks backwords. At one time, a female preened her partner's feathers on his neck. (but she pulled them very hard and his face became like 'ow!' lol)

Hope they will stay a bit longer to brighten up the pond which is more or less duck-less.


These guys must have been happy in the rain:)