Birds of the Ai River (March 2021 Update)

Entering March, we have seen more days of rain, but due to the dredging work that was done last summer, the drainage capabilities of the river system have greatly increased.  And so while there may be a higher water level after a significant morning rainfall, by the afternoon the water levels return to almost as low as the days that have no rain.  

March has also brought the beginning of spring.  Temperatures are slowly climbing, and the Sakura has started to bloom.

Overall, the bird species that I have spotted this month are the same as in the past two months.  But it does seem that the number of Spot-billed ducks, Mallards, and Teals have decreased.  The Eurasian Wigeons (Anas Penelope)   still appear to be plentiful, and their numbers dominate in this local area.

Last month, I discovered the carcass of a Eurasian Wigeon that appeared to have been attacked by a stray cat or perhaps a Black Kite (Milvus migrans).  I found another wigeon carcass this month, but its cause of death is a mystery.  Although there appeared to be some blood on the ground next to the body, there were no obvious injuries to the bird and none of the scattered feathers you might expect to see after an attack from a cat or other predator.

The other birds photographed this month were mostly the same as in February.  

Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)

Common Teal (Anas crecca)

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Note the cute yellow feet.  

 

Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia)

Larger than the Little Egret, and the feet are black.

Crow (Corvus sp.)

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) (juvenile)

Dusky Thrush (Tardus naumanni)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula chloropus)

There is a spot upstream where the stream comes to a gentle flow amid some clumps of reeds.

There is a pair of Common Gallinules living there.  They are quite shy and hide in the brush whenever a jogger or stroller comes by.  But if you sit and wait quietly for about 15 minutes, they will pop out again.

They like to hide under the reeds at the water’s edge.

The Gallinules aren't the only ones who like to hide in the underbrush.  Here is a Spot-billed duck.

 

Other birds spotted, but not photographed:

Plover (Charadrius sp.)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)

White-cheeked Starling (Sturnus cineraceus)

Birds of The Ai River (January 2021)

 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Japan, it has proved to be a strong deterrent to visiting zoos or traveling to natural areas.  Having not photographed any animals for almost the entirety of 2020, I decided that in 2021, I would attempt to document the birds that could be seen at my neighborhood urban river.  Since there was very little rain during the months of November and December, the water level was very low. 

The river primarily functions as a flood drainage, so its edges are lined with concrete and there are wide open areas and large earth berms on each side of the river.  The wide open area is designated as a park, and on most days you can see joggers, older people out for a walk, men playing baseball, young families, and the occasional fisherman.

Further upstream, there is a small area of what could be described as a tiny pocket of nature.

The following are birds that I spotted in January:

Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)

Common Teal (Anas crecca)

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas Penelope)

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

White-cheeked Starling (Sturnus cineraceus)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Pipit (Anthus sp.) 

Crow (Corvus sp.)