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 (February 2021 Update)

Very little rain, and almost no snow has fallen in the Osaka area this year.  As a result, water levels in the Ai River have continued to be low.

As can be seen in the photo below, much of the riverbed is gravel and dirt.  Last summer there was a huge soil removal project to improve the drainage capabilities of the river.

Before the soil removal project, there were large berms of earth in the middle of the river that were covered with grass and brush.

As can be seen in the two comparison photographs below, the environment along the river is quite different from one year ago.

Last Summer

Now

This is an update on the birds that were spotted along the Aigawa in February.  If I have made any mistakes in the identifications, please send me a comment.

 

Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)

Common Teal (Anas crecca)

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas Penelope)

On one of my February walks, I came across the below carcass of a Eurasian wigeon.  Judging by feathers scattered on the river bank near the body, I think the most likely suspect was a stray cat.  Alternatively it may have been a Tobi (Black Kite) (Milvus migrans).  On the morning I spotted this carcass, I witnessed a panicked flock of ducks escaping a Tobi flying overhead.

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)

White Wagtail (Motacella alba)

White-cheeked Starling (Sturnus cineraceus)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Crow (Corvus sp.)

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) (juvenile)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula chloropus)

Plover (Charadrius sp.)

Dusky Thrush (Tardus naumanni)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)?

Other creatures found in the Ai River

Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta)

First brought into Japan in the late 1950’s, these creatures became a popular pet in Japan during the 1960’s.  They are now found throughout Japan, and are officially designated by law as an invasive species.  Although I saw a number of them last summer, I hadn’t seen any during December and January.  I wonder where and how this fellow spent the winter.