Rainy Season seems pretty dry this year, and local rivers are running low. On Monday, June 23, 2014, I rode down along Yasugawa, looking for egrets and other wildlife along the way. Only a few large birds were on the river, mostly a little downstream of Shiga Route 2.
I spent nearly an hour watching a black kite (tombi) on a small tree stump over the river. The kite called continually but quietly. Finally another kite appeared and swooped down, very briefly hovering near the caller. They both flew downstream and circled overhead near each other. After a few minutes one flew to a nearby tree and the other returned to the same location on the tree stump. When I left 20-25 minutes later, the kite was still there, quietly calling.
As I was watching the kite, a kingfisher (kawasemi) emerged from nearby bushes, hovered over the river, dived in, caught a little fish, and returned to the bushes where I could not see it. I did not have time to photograph it, but what a beautiful sight and pleasant surprise! These days I don’t see many birds along the river, but patience can bring great rewards.