Lake Yogo, Shiga Prefecture 4-26-2012
About 12:00 noon, Mostly sunny, About 20 degrees C
Seen together with one other experienced birdwatcher
At the south end of the lake (in front of the hotel there), coots, various ducks, Grey Herons, Little Egrets (perhaps staying rather near the hotel to get food from people... but I'm not sure that's the reason).
Above the lake, solitary Black Kites flying low over the lake east-to-west every 10 minutes or so, with one seen dipping unsuccessfully into lake (trying to get a fish (?)), and one seen successfully carrying prey back to the cedar trees on the west side of the lake.
Near the middle of the lake, a small flotilla of Gadwall (1 mature female in front, 1 mature male always right behind her, and another mature female a few centimeters or tens of centimeters behind the male), all steadily facing and slowly proceeding north. Very surprised to see 2 mature females with 1 mature male in this breeding season. What kind of social group was this? A family (2 parents and 1 mature daughter)? That seems unlikely.... Or, one male and his little harem? Yes, I think that seems more likely, but surprising, as it is usually lone males who troll along behind a mated pair... interesting.... Any ideas out there about what kind of social group this was?
No comments:
Post a Comment