Ecology Park

Funada-ike (pond) in Ecology Park is a good place to go in winter and you can see ducks and some other winter visitors from the warm hide:)

There were more than 10 Mallard (Magamoマガモ), 4 Teal (Kogamoコガモ), 3 Little Grebe (Kaitsuburiカイツブリ), a Cormorant (Kawauカワウ), a Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ) and 2 Moorhen (Banバン) in the water, and a Kingfisher (Kawasemiカワセミ) flew in and caught a little fish later on.

A Moorhen was running along the water edge towards the reedbeds.

One of the Little Grebes caught rather a large fish and tried very hard to swallow it for a while.

He finally spat it out and left it floating there...


On the way back, a Japanese Bush Warbler (Uguisuウグイス) was busy moving around in the tree.

mmm... difficult to get a clear shot of them..

On the other hand, this Black-faced Bunting (Aojiアオジ) was easy to get a close shot of, when she was foraging right by the path. (She eventually came out onto the path later.)

Sonnoh-no-Mori Koen

I have been back to Sonnoh-no-Mori Koen to see if there would be more wintering birds in the woods.

a family of Azure-winged Magpie (Onagaオナガ) were having a feast on wild-rose berries

Why aren't you joining your friends?

Two Little Egret (Kosagiコサギ) were keeping a distance from each other

A female Bull-headed Shrike (Mozuモズ) just chased away a Dusky Thrush (Tsugumiツグミ)

Two Kingfisher (Kawasemiカワセミ) were chasing each other persistently and neither seemed to give up. (thankfully, for the observers, there were a lot of opportunities to see them back and forth along the stream)

It was so windy it was quite difficult to spot small birds in the woods, but this Varied Tit (Yamagaraヤマガラ) made a loud call. Gotcha!!

He popped out from the bush by the footpath when I was about to leave.
Japanese Bush Warbler (Uguisuウグイス) are one of the commonest birds in Chiba, yet one of the hardest to see!

Birds in Junsaichi Koen

 A pair of Eastern Great Tits (Shijukaraシジュウカラ)

a very swift moving Japanese Bush Warbler (Uguisuウグイス)

a Grey Starling (Mukudoriムクドリ)

a Little Egret (Kosagiコサギ)

a Great Egret (Daisagiダイサギ)

Little & Great Egrets together

a male Kingfisher (Kawasemiカワセミ)

Tree Sparrows (Suzumeスズメ）

a White Wagtail (Hakusekireiハクセキレイ)

an Oriental Turtle Dove (Kijibatoキジバト)

a Kingfisher perching under the bridge

To get to Junsaichi Koen from the north exit of JR Ichikawa Station:
Take a 市81 or 市82 bus towards Kokubun-shoshajo or Kita-kokubun Statkon and
get off at the stop called Junsaichi Koen, which is right in front of the entrance of the park.