Swallows' roosting

Now that it's nearly mid-September, at last temperatures dropped to less than 35C

and the mornings and evenings are much cooler.

Scorching, sizzling, and sweltering summer is my country's usual, but it has gotten

more and more overwhelmingly powerful.

While white towering cumulus clouds and blue skies are refreshing symbol of summer,

big, dark, unnerving clumulonimbus clouds were seen almost every day

and poured warning level rain.

About two weeks ago, I was at the north-west of the Nara Palace Site Historical Park

 to see swallows' roosting.

Swallows land in the reeds beyond the summer grasses and flowers in the photo below.

While the western sky was covered with thunder clouds, the north-west sky was

still bright in the glow of the setting sun.

Some birds appeared like a prelude from the east, the direction of the Daigokuden Hall.

It took a while until swarms of swallows appeared above my head.

Roosting can be observed about 20 minutes around the sunset.

Their swirling is quite a spectacle.

I was marvelled at how swallows could fly, dive, and veer at such high speed 

without crashing into each other.

They nosedived to barely above the reeds only to turn sharply upward

 before gradual landing in to the reeds.

They are too swift to capture especially in that low light.

When the spectacle is over, darkness is already fallen.

Swallows are in reed-beds.

(Image source; here by the Wild Bird Society of Japan.)

Funny but somehow the sight reminded me of the huge wave of pedestrians flooding into

the Shibuya Scramble Crossing for a minute, the world's busiest pedestrian crossing.

The ancient Palace Site of Nara is one of the largest resting sites for swallows in Japan.

Up to 60,000 of swarrows can be seen during the peak period in August through September.

Swallows make their nests in the eaves of houses and grow their chicks in spring.

In summer, after finishing raising their children, they pass the night together 

in reed fields until at last they depart for south.

Memories of summer; glamping, concerts, cooking, arts and crafts, fireworks, etc.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Footsteps of Spring

 

梅一輪 一輪ほどの あたたかさ

A single ume flower

single flower's 

worth of warmth

(Ransetsu Hattori, 1654-1707)

One Ume blossom (Prunus mume) in the chilly wind gives us warmth even if faintly.

It was too beautiful to stay indoors yesterday.

I went to Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden to walk leisurely and to see 

and take pictures of snowdrops.

Dainty Snowdrops shimmer pearly white.

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear in the new year 

together with daffodils.

Ducks, herons and pigeons were enjoying themselves in the mid-April-like warmth. 

The duck duo (above) was always together like lovebirds or best friends

as long as I looked at them.

The below is a threesome.

Here's a Valentine's Day message from nature.

Valentine's Day custom of Japan would be unique.

It's only women who present, customarily chocolates or other sweets, to loved ones.

One month later March 14, men offer in return gifts to women.

We love chocolate, but the loveliest present to my husband was 

the hand-made animal cookies from our granddaughter M and her mother.

"Winter General", a very strong cold front from Siberia, is attacking us in a few days.

It's not easy to adjust myself to the frequent big temperature difference,

but ready to face the frigid cold again, wishing another snowfall.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Nice things during the rainy season, 2017

Since the start of the rainy season ("tsuyu" in Japanese meaning "apricot rains) in early June,

it has rained little unusually here in Kansai region.
However torrential rains could cause flooding and landslide along the Sea of Japan
and a typhoon is approaching.

Rain is so important for the cultivation of rice which is staple food of Japan.  

From the car window

I like to see the paddies filled with water right after the planting of rice seedlings.

Asuka Village

Sometimes rain can be gentle enough to nourish your soul as well as plants
and sometimes so violent to shutter the roots.

Wild flowers

Chicks of Swallow

During the rainy season, moss becomes lush and beautiful more and more
with other vegetation.

The stone children would be singing in the rain.

The Garden of Sanzen-in Temple

In the lull of the rains, sunshine feels dazzling.

I am reminded of the blueness of the sky.

Birds enjoy puddles.

When no rains, it’s this little boy who makes my garden wet.

He likes to blow soap bubbles.   

Roses gave way to hydrangeas in mid-June in my garden.

All the hydrangeas have gone withered by now.

A hydrangea on blooming

I like the refreshing feel of a rainy day
including the smell of the wet garden, the sound of rain,

and jewels-like raindrops.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Our World Tuesday

Ume blossoms viewing at Osaka Castle Park, 2017

Temperature has fallen and then risen quickly and frequently like yoyo.  

"Springtime" is still in name only when fluffy snowflakes flutter in the piercing cold,

and then again
"springtime" is come when you see sprouts and a little brightened up landscape.

During the very short warm spell, I went to Ume Grove at Osaka Castle Park.

Ume, or Japanese apricot, is a floral harbinger of spring
and symbol of perseverance and hope.

You remember Ume Grove is in the middle of a big city 
when the surrounding skyscrapers are visible.

Different species of Ume come in different colors.

Honkobai (本黄梅) is unique yellow one with too long stamens 
which could make you miss to see the tiny petals.

本黄梅/Honkobai

When I heard pleasant chirping above and looked up, 

Japanese White-eyes were calling and foraging for nectar together. 

The olive green plumage goes well with the colors of the blossoms. 

My camera was busy clicking on spotting out quick-moving birds.

Their playful, acrobatic poses are so cute.

White-eyes are rarely found on the ground not like this Dusky thrush.

Gnarled branches, one of charms of Ume, look like dragons freely swimming among the flowers.

The Next day temperature dropped ten degrees,
but spring was at the Ume grove for sure when I was there.

Past post, Ume Blossoms Viewing at Osaka Castle Park, 2013, here.

Can't believe four years have passed. Time is fleeting.

Linked up to Our World Tuesday