Monday, March 17, 2008

Before the Spring Migration

On the JIC trips Dr. RD teases me, "MTC, where are the birds?"

I should reply, "At the manmade marshes and beaches of Kasai Rinkai Kōen, my good doctor."

At this time of year, at least.

Suzugamo - Aythia marila

Not even trying very hard at Kasai Rinkai Kōen on March 16, 2008 from 15:45 to 17:45

The Ducks
Suzugamo – Aythia marila
Hoshihajiro - Aythia ferina
Kinkurohajiro - Aythia fulicula
Onagagamo - Anas acuta
Karugamo - Anas poecilorhyncha
Hoshibirogamo – Anas clypetea
Kogamo – Anas crecca
Okayoshigamo – Anas streptera
Hidorigamo – Anas penelope

Hoshibirogamo – Anas clypetea
Kogamo – Anas crecca and
Kaitsuburi – Tachibaptus ruficollis


The Grebes
Kaitsuburi – Tachibaptus ruficollis
Hajirokaitsuburi – Podiceps nigricollis
Kanmurikaitsuburi – Podiceps cristatus
Mimikaitsuburi – Podiceps auritus

The Gulls
Kamome – Larus canus
Yurikamome – Larus rufibundus

The Herons
Aosagi – Ardea cinerea

The Raptors
Chōhi Chūhi- Circus spilonotus

The Thrushes
Tsugumi – Turdus naumanni

The Cormorants
Kawau – Phallocrocorax carbo

The Wagtails
Hakusekirei – Motacilla alba

The most surprising time to visit the park is in late summer, when armies of toads and crabs turn the bitumen paths into their playground. Above them, the bats gang up on the moths and beetles drawn to the light of the tree-trunk-shaped streetlamps (the lampposts are made of concrete).

It makes you realize that in Tokugawa times the city was home to a million souls...yet still teemed with creeping, crawling, scurrying and whirlygigging creatures.

Not so much, now.

Ferris wheel at Kasai Rinkai Kōen
Edogawa Ward, Tokyo Metropolitan District
March 16, 2008

Images courtesy: MTC

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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:06 AM

    Actually there are still plenty of Suzugamo in Tokyo bay especially off the coast of Haneda airport(around 50000).

    Try Tokyo Bay Bird Sanctuary in Oota ward or Gyoutoku Wild bird observatory next time.Better place than Rinkai Kouen for birding.Or perhaps you've already been there done that.

    And It's Chufi,not Chofi,for Eastern marsh harrier.

    Aceface

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  2. MTC1:37 PM

    Aceface -

    Thank you for the correction and the information. I have never been to either birding spot. Most of my trips take me outside the TMD.

    ReplyDelete