Karugamo Ducks
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Sunlit Karugamo Ducks and Shimmering Falls ・カルガモと一緒に、粟又の滝を満喫
Location: Otaki Town, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 12:59・2024/07/10
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
105 mm ISO 100 for 1/800 sec. at ƒ/9
During my visit to Awamata Falls on the Yoro River, I was delighted to see several families with young children and toddlers playing in the cool, shallow waters. This heartwarming sight brought back memories of my own childhood, spent exploring the soothing creeks and streams that meandered through narrow valleys in the mountains.
Alongside these families, some waterfowl rested peacefully on the river's shoreline, unfazed by the humans enjoying the water. Among them was a pair of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks (Anas zonorhyncha), basking in the warm summer sun on small stone islands in the middle of the river.
Eastern Spot-billed Ducks are a common sight throughout most of Japan. They thrive in diverse habitats such as lakes, marshes, wetlands, rice fields, tidal flats, and rivers. These ducks are year-round residents in the southern half of Japan’s main island, Honshu.
Given that their breeding season spans from mid-June to early August, I suspect this pair is a male and female. I would love to return in late August to see if there are any ducklings along the shores of the Yoro River waiting to be photographed!
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