Author: vc-dev

I always think this is an adorable bird, with its round body and shoe-button eyes.
It is one species that enchants me every time I see it.
And I find its song, which sounds something like “chururi, chururi” and “chi, chi, chi,” to be positively delightful.
Aegithalos caudatus males that could not find a mate and pairs that failed to reproduce are known to help others of their species care for their young. Thus, they are not just cute; they are also “kind.”
Photos: Aegithalos caudatus Jan. 23

In the photo, an animal has dug a hole (or more specifically, scraped away snow) to capture a mouse or other prey in the snow.
When I measured it, I found that it was about one meter deep.
All around were piles of scraped out snow.
From the tracks remaining in the area, I deduced that this was the work of Vulpes vulpes schrencki.
Vulpes vulpes schrencki have an extremely keen sense of smell. With it, they can even find small animals hidden under deep snow.
And when they are done digging, they spray the area with urine as a way of stating that “I dug this hole.”
However, foxes also appear to have an excellent memory. It is said that they do not depend solely on their sense of smell, as they can remember where they buried prey with remarkable accuracy.
It is also thought that they use their urine as a kind of marking. By marking a place with urine, they tell themselves that there is no need to dig in the same place again.
Photo: A fox’s search for food Jan. 19

Last time, I had little success in photographing the Carduelis flammea, so I decided to try again.
Today I found a small group of about 30 of them. Mixing with their group were some Carduelis spinus.
I waited very quietly for an hour until they came nearer. They were concentrating on feeding and seemed to have let their guard down somewhat.
Finally I succeeded in photographing them at close range.
The Carduelis flammea is similar in size to the sparrow and has a cute song that sounds something like “chu-een.”
Photos: Carduelis flammea females at Sounkyo Jan. 19

Perfectly round “snowcaps” that form when snow piles up on stones in the river are something that can only be seen in winter.
The snowcaps in the photo clearly illustrate the process by which they are made.
As can be seen, they are formed by layers of accumulating snow.
Soon, the Ishikari River will be filled with these snowcaps, and a unique winter landscape will be completed.
Photo: Snowcaps Jan. 19

An immense Hokkaido snowfield stretching out as far as the eye can see…
In today’s fine weather, it is possible to see where the tracks of various animals lead.
Although simply seeing animal tracks brings a variety of images to the imagination, it is even more fun to view them while walking through the snowfield on snowshoes.
Why don’t you venture outside to do animal watching this winter?
Photos: Lepus timidus ainu tracks seen at Daisetsu Kogen Asahigaoka Jan. 19