Visitor Center Report

The Anemone debilis (himeichige in Japanese) have bloomed in Kamikawa Park (Kamikawa Town).
They are blooming about a half-month earlier than last year, when they bloomed on May 9.
Although often seen in alpine meadows, they can also be found in the lower mountains.
A member of the Ranunculaceae family, the Anemone debilis is written in kanji as 姫一花(華) (himeichige). The 姫 (hime; lit. princess) expresses a “gentle” or “endearing” sense, while 一花 (ichige; lit. one flower) means, as its name suggests, “bearing just one flower.”
It is the slenderest and most delicate of all the springtime flowers. Very soon, Anemone debilis will form flowering landscapes resembling white carpeting.
Photo: A Anemone debilis in Kamikawa Town Apr. 26

The temperature outside the center right now is 13°C.
This is the warmest it has been this spring.
Right now, even the Corydalis fumariifolia subsp. azurea are blooming in Kamikawa Park (Kamikawa Town).
The already blooming Adonis ramose have grown tall and the number of flowers is increasing noticeably.
It looks like spring is arriving in all of its magnificence.
Have we finally said good-bye to the snow?
Photos: Corydalis fumariifolia subsp. azurea (left) and Adonis ramose (right) in Kamikawa Town Apr. 24

For the first time in a while, it has been warm since daybreak.
I seized the opportunity to take an early-morning walk.
A lot of the snow has melted. In the nearby forest, walking on snowshoes is no longer possible, although walking in regular shoes is still difficult.
Determining that it would be impossible to go far into the forest, I decided to observe the birds nearby. But then I saw a Pteromys volans orii pressed up against the side of a tree. It had become so much a part of the tree’s appearance that at first I did not even notice it.
It looked just like a badge.
I looked all around but unfortunately could not locate its nest.
Finding myself surprised to be reminded of how close the animals are, I looked all around to see if there were any large animal tracks on the ground. It’s becoming that time of year when going out alone in the mornings and evenings is not such a good idea.
Photo: A Pteromys volans orii Apr. 24

Like last year, Sounkyo is being visited by Turdus pallidus.
Although they are regular visitors, they arrive in fairly small numbers, which makes actual sightings of them quite rare.
Their bodies measure about 23 cm in length. On this day, I saw one come down to feed on nuts.
One thing that makes this time of year special is the opportunity to see rare birds.
I wonder what kinds of migratory bird we’ll see this year.
Photo: A Turdus pallidus in Kamikawa Town Apr. 20

The Caltha fistulosa have begun to appear.
Their appearance is a sign that spring is arriving.
Last year they were observed on April 17, which was roughly the same time as this year.
Although there is still a lot of snow remaining deep in the forest, along the stream banks, it is spring.
Photo: Caltha fistulosa at Sounkyo Apr. 19