Ranger’s blog day before yesterday (Nov. 26th )

“Forest Watching – A story of forest and bird –”　

An event focusing forest and bird was taken place today.

The event commenced in lecture room in Nature Center with a talk by a ranger about forest ecosystem and the relation between forests and birds. 

When the participants went out Nature Center for a guide walk by rangers a Goshawk was on a tree in the forest on opposite bank of East Freshwater Pond, and shortly after a Common Buzzard came out at an opportune time from the forest.  

They showed participants that bird of prey take advantage of forest as their resting spot or watching post for hunting.

Meanwhile, a boy caught a mantis and showed it to all.

 The alongside of the trail to Observation Hut 1 & 2 is now covered with a thick forest after 28 years of the park construction.  A certain number of trees was carried in by birds through their digestive tracts (“endozoochory”: seed dispersal via ingestion).

The participants carefully searched fruits of “Iigiri” tree Idesia polycarpa with marks of beak on its surface after a noisy flock of Brown-eared Bulbuls flew away, and find out a few fruits.  Those were fruits slipped off bulbul’s beak and were fulfilled with plenty of seeds.  The seeds were also found out in droppings on the trail.

“Iigiri” is an example of trees which exploits birds for their seed dispersal.

At Observation Hut 2 the ranger showed an old photograph of the hut which was newly constructed.  The surroundings of the hut in 28 years ago were so scarce.  The participant might consider great force of nature comparing very thick forest at present. 

 

Finally the rangers took the participants to the thick forest behind East Observation Blind.  The forest is currently carefully preserved avoiding tree trimming, cutting and other artificial maneuvering.  The forest have tall tree layer and well developed shrub layer as a consequence of succession.  In spring the forest hosted a Japanese Robin on the way of seasonal migration.  The rangers talked about bird species which prefer such a thick forest. 

It was very pleasant time even for the rangers to talk and discuss about bird, plant and birdwatching with the participants.  The rangers deeply appreciated to the participants for joining the event.

We will hold an event for birdwatching beginners on 17th December.  The detail of the event will be posted on this web site soon.  If you would like to join the event please apply through below email address.

yachokouen@wbsj.org

November 26thThe following is the list of species that park rangers observed today.Gadwall、Eurasian Wigeon、Northern Shoveler、Northern Pintail、Teal、Common Pochard、Tufted Duck、Greater Scaup、Little Grebe、Great Crested Grebe、Great Cormorant、Grey Heron、Great Egret、Little Egret、Eurasian Coot、Common Sandpiper、Black-headed Gull 、Herring Gull、Black Kite、Eurasian Sparrowhawk、Northern Goshawk、Common Buzzard、Peregrine Falcon、Oriental Turtle Dove、Bull-headed Shrike、Azure-winged Magpie、Large-billed Crow、Japanese Tit、Brown-eared Bulbul、Japanese Bush Warbler、Japanese White-eye、White-cheeked Starling、Daurian Redstart、Eurasian Tree Sparrow、White Wagtail、Oriental Greenfinch、Black-faced Bunting
　(37species)Ranger's ActivitiesResearch : Daily Surveys and updating recordsHabitat management : PatrolEducation : Providing visiter services at the Ranger Station、Environmental education programOther : Nothing to Report


Ranger’s blog yesterday (Nov. 25th )

It was fine again today.  The park received remarkable number of visitors.

Today a ranger on duty for guiding in Nature Center was asked by a visitor about a black bird on a pile in “Shio-iri” Pond.  The bird was a Great Cormorant.  The ranger talked about the Great Cormorant to the visitor for a while. 

The visitor asked him again.  “Then, what kind of bird is that white bird next to the cormorant?” The ranger couldn’t find out any white bird near by the cormorant.   What the visitor asked to the Ranger was again a cormorant but in breeding plumage with white head.

A great variation of plumage in a species sometime gives strong impression to a birdwatching beginner to consider one species to be two or more.
Thanks to the visitor.  The ranger could remember his initial enthusiasm and learn important lesson for developing his manner to visitors.

November 25th
The following is the list of species that park rangers observed today.

Gadwall、Falcated Duck、Eurasian Wigeon、Mallard、Spot-billed Duck、Northern Shoveler、Northern Pintail、Teal、Common Pochard、Tufted Duck、Greater Scaup、Little Grebe、Great Crested Grebe、Great Cormorant、Grey Heron、Great Egret、Little Egret、Eurasian Coot、Common Sandpiper、Western Osprey、Black  Kite、Eurasian Sparrowhawk、Northern Goshawk、Common Buzzard、Oriental Turtle Dove、Bull-headed Shrike、Azure-winged Magpie、Large-billed Crow、Japanese Tit、Brown-eared Bulbul、Japanese Bush Warbler、Japanese White-eye、White-cheeked Starling、Daurian Redstart、Eurasian Tree Sparrow、White Wagtail、Black-faced Bunting
　(37species)

Ranger's Activities
Research : Daily Surveys  and  updating records
Habitat management : Patrol
Education : Providing visiter services at the Ranger Station
Other : Nothing to Report

Ranger’s blog yesterday (Nov. 24th )

West Freshwater Pond is located in the western part of the park.   In this winter season a considerable number of Mallards appear to reside in the pond. 
Currently remarkable behaviors of courtship displays are rampant among males.

Today a competitive displays by 5 males to a female has been seen in Observation Hut 3.   Males keenly moved around a female lifting their tail up and splashing water to a female with their bills.

(A female Mallard and five male Mallards)

Ranger’s blog yesterday (Nov. 23rd )
 
As autumn deepens the clarity of the estuarine water in “Shio-iri” Pond become high and more visible.  Visitor will be able to watch schools of fish in shallow water right under Nature Center.
 
Under pouring rain, a Great Egret stayed long in shallow water near by Nature Center taking aim at fishing, then successfully caught a young Flathead Grey Mullet.

(A Great Egret caught a Flathead Grey Mullet)

Unfortunately, a fish was too large to easily swallow.
The bird moved to the island, where the bird would not lose the fish if it slipped off, and eventually swallowed with a labour.

(The bird tried to swallow the fish)

 
(Yes, the bird did it!  The fish still in the gullet.)

November 23th
The following is the list of species that park rangers observed today.

Gadwall、Falcated Duck、Eurasian Wigeon、Mallard、Spot-billed Duck、Northern Shoveler、Northern Pintail、Teal、Common Pochard、Tufted Duck、Little Grebe、Great Crested Grebe、Great Cormorant、Black-crowned Night  Heron、Grey Heron、Great Egret、Little Egret、Common Moorhen、Eurasian Coot、Common Sandpiper、Black  Kite、Northern Goshawk、Common Buzzard、Oriental Turtle Dove、Common Kingfisher、Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker、Bull-headed Shrike、Azure-winged Magpie、Large-billed Crow、Japanese Tit、Brown-eared Bulbul、Japanese White-eye、White-cheeked Starling、Pale Thrush、Dusky Thrush、Daurian Redstart、Eurasian Tree Sparrow、White Wagtail、Oriental Greenfinch、Black-faced Bunting
　(40species)

Ranger's Activities
Research : Daily Surveys  and  updating records
Habitat management : Patrol
Education : Providing visiter services at the Ranger Station、Carrying out the first Tambo Club（ Rice Fields Club）event
Other : Nothing to Report

Ranger’s blog yesterday (Nov. 22nd)
 
It was a bit cloudy today.  The park, however, received rich sunshine through the cloud.

Reflecting those sunlight ducks in the park made shows of bright wing speculums respectively.

(A Mallard displayed blue speculum with white edge)

(Bright green speculum of Northern Shoveler)

November 22th
The following is the list of species that park rangers observed today.

Gadwall、Eurasian Wigeon、Mallard、Spot-billed Duck、Northern Shoveler、Teal、Common Pochard、Tufted Duck、Little Grebe、Great Crested Grebe、Great Cormorant、Grey Heron、Great Egret、Little Egret、Eurasian Coot、Common Sandpiper、Black-headed Gull 、Eurasian Sparrowhawk、Northern Goshawk、Common Buzzard、Oriental Turtle Dove、Common Kingfisher、Bull-headed Shrike、Azure-winged Magpie、Large-billed Crow、Japanese Tit、Brown-eared Bulbul、Japanese Bush Warbler、Japanese White-eye、Pale Thrush、Dusky Thrush、Daurian Redstart、Eurasian Tree Sparrow、White Wagtail、Black-faced Bunting
　(35species)

Ranger's Activities
Research : Daily Surveys  and  updating records
Habitat management : Patrol
Education : Providing visiter services at the Ranger Station
Other : Nothing to Report

November 21th
The following is the list of species that park rangers observed today.

Gadwall、Eurasian Wigeon、Mallard、Spot-billed Duck、Northern Shoveler、Teal、Common Pochard、Tufted Duck、Greater Scaup、Little Grebe、Great Crested Grebe、Great Cormorant、Grey Heron、Great Egret、Little Egret、Common Moorhen、Eurasian Coot、Common Sandpiper、Black  Kite、Northern Goshawk、Common Buzzard、Oriental Turtle Dove、Common Kingfisher、Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker、Bull-headed Shrike、Azure-winged Magpie、Large-billed Crow、Japanese Tit、Brown-eared Bulbul、Japanese Bush Warbler、Japanese White-eye、White-cheeked Starling、Pale Thrush、Dusky Thrush、Daurian Redstart、Eurasian Tree Sparrow、White Wagtail、Oriental Greenfinch、Black-faced Bunting
　(39species)

Ranger's Activities
Research : Daily Surveys  and  updating records、Conducting Weekly surveys for ducks
Habitat management : Patrol
Education : Providing visiter services at the Ranger Station
Other : Nothing to Report

Ranger’s blog yesterday (Nov. 21^st)

 

Zelkova and cherry trees at the openspace in front of Nature Center turned rapidly their leaves to reddish colorcorresponding to the chilly weather for the last few days.

(Cherry trees in front of Nature Center)　

Ducks were scarce in the park todayso that a Great Crested Grebe in “Shio-iri” Pond was slightly conspicuous.

(A Great Crested Grebe in “Shio-iri” Pond)


On the island in the pond a Common Sandpiper foraged quietly along thesho
(A Common Sandpiper foraged along the shoreline of the island)