Ecology Park

A Japanese Sparrowhawk (Tsumiツミ) was making a racket in the tree at the park.

I saw two of them chasing in the air later on so he probably didn't like the other one in his territory. I wonder if the J sparrowhawk breed in the park.

Hawfinches (Shimeシメ) were everywhere, fuelling up for their migration.

It was rather gory but that's nature for you.

The Bullfrog was trying not to be swallowed by the Grey Heron (Aosagiアオサギ) by pumping itself up but it was no use against Heron's powerful spear-like beak after all... 

Amami Oshima Night Tour

We went on a nature-watching night tour, on which we (or rather I) was expecting to see the endemic Amami Black Rabbit (Amami-no-kuro-usagiアマミノクロウサギ).

We were able to see half a dozen or so of them within an hour. Some sat and froze, some ran for life, some just kept nibbling grass... different characters from each other:)

They were separated from their continental cousins a long time ago and have stayed in quite a primitive form - short hind legs, short ears, small eyes and bulky body.

The rabbits are under threat from mongoose, which were released deliberately by humans to control the venomous snakes, and also from feral dogs and cats. The conservationists and local council have been trying to keep the numbers of those predetors down and the rabbits are doing better than they used to.

Other creatures we saw on the night tour:
Amami Thrush (Ootoratsugumiオオトラツグミ) - endemic to the Amami archipelago

 sorry to disturb you...

Amami Ishikawa's Frog (Amami-Ishikawa-gaeruアマミイシカワガエル)

Ryukyu Tip-nosed Frog (Hanasaki-gaeruハナサキガエル)

Okinawa Pitviper（Himehabuヒメハブ)

We saw several Amami Woodcocks (Amamiyamashigiアマミヤマシギ) being flushed by our car but could not see them so well but one, which stood on the fence by the road. No picture of it, unfortunately, though. We also heard Elegant Scops-owls (Ryukyu-konohazukuリュウキュウコノハズク) calling.

It was a very interesting tour and we were well informed and feel well educated:)

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:)