Tokyo is in the middle of bird migratory season. We say farewell to some species and welcome others. Some are just passing through and stay a few days in order to rest and gain strength for further travel. I have been hoping to capture some of the travelers. Especially, I have been waiting for the arrival of narcissus flycatchers and the blue-and-white flycatchers. I have already observed the latter one, unfortunately very high on trees.
It is also nesting season for some species that stay here all year around. Today, I was able to find some newly fledged chicks of long-tailed tits. After leaving the nest they line-up on a tree branch and wait till their parents bring them some food. Today, there were 8 chicks in line with their mouths opening every time a parent would come close with a mouthful of insects. They kept their parents busy! In addition to the eight there were two more that must have hatched later. As they could not yet fly properly, they were separated from their siblings. The assumably youngest one fell from a tree a few times but managed to somehow climb up again. I saw it dosing off, having her mother to bring it some food, and them dosing off again. It was the cutest thing! I am hoping it will also learn to fly soon as there was a stray cat wandering around nearby.
渡りの季節になってきました。冬鳥がいなくなったり、夏鳥が入ったりします。一部の鳥は渡りの途中で少しだけ休んでから、また長い旅に出たりします。最近そんな鳥を探していくつかの公園を回っていました。念願のオオルリを高い所で確認しました。キビタキも鳴き声だけが聞こえましたが、姿をまだ見せてくれませんでした。
今日は鳥運がとても良くて、初めてエナガ団子を見ました。８羽のちっこい者がならんでいまして、親からの餌を待っていました。親は忙しくてくたびれた様子でした。団子に加えて、一番最後に孵った二羽が低い所に残っていました。末っ子はまだ飛べなくて、何回か木から落ちたが、頑張ってまた上に登りました。親から餌を貰ったり、昼寝をしたりしました。とても可愛かったです！早く飛べるようになると願っています！
