Visitor Center Report

Although Sounkyo has had little snow so far this year, the last two days have brought a total of almost 60 cm.
Even so, there still isn’t enough snow to use snowshoes. The snowshoes get snagged on bamboo grass and make it difficult to walk smoothly.
It looks like the snow will let up. Although too much snow would be a bother, it would be nice to get just a little more.
Photo: Cervus nippon yesoensis is also covered with snow. Dec. 14

The Asian rosy finch (Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha) is a wild bird that is difficult to observe and rarely seen.
Although difficult to see in the photo, which is unclear because it was taken in poor weather, this bird (which belongs to the family Fringillidae of the order Passeriformes) is slightly smaller than a sparrow.
Its song sounds something like “bee, bee, chi, chi.” However, because it moves about in groups, it can be hard to distinguish by its song alone.
Although it is a winter bird, it has been observed in the Daisetsuzan mountains during summer, and may even breed there.
It feeds on plants, and mostly eats seeds on the ground.
On this day, some 30 of them were flying around in a small flock despite the bad weather.
Photo: Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha at Sounkyo Dec. 8

Today a giant mass of a cloud appeared above the Sounkyo Gorge.
What kind of cloud was it?
Was it a “lenticular cloud” portending bad weather to come? Or was it a cumulonimbus cloud (thundercloud)?
Looking up today, a variety of clouds could be seen.
Cirrus clouds, cirrocumulus clouds, nimbostratus clouds, stratus clouds…
Days with such amazing changes in the sky are quite rare.
When climbing or doing other activities, it is sometimes possible to predict what the weather will do by looking at the type of clouds above.
I recommend that everyone develop an interest in the clouds; it could prove very useful.
Photo: A lenticular cloud? At Sounkyo Dec. 5

This bird is known for living in the high mountains, but during the winter it also comes down to level ground.
Today I heard a birdsong that I don’t encounter often, a sound like “pyuru, pyuru.” Even though the source was far away, I decided to take a photo anyway. When I blew up my picture, I found that there were four female pine grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator) in the frame.
I had ventured out early this morning to take photos of Pteromys volans orii, but even though it’s December, it rained the whole time.
I had given up and was heading back when I encountered the birds.
Even so, it’s raining in December. Looks like the weather is not going to be cooperative even in this season…
Photo: A female Pinicola enucleator Dec. 5

It was cold again this morning…
The low temperature outside the center was -10°C.
On mornings when it gets this cold, “frost flowers” appear as a common winter sight.
Also called “ice flowers,” they form when moisture in the air attaches to the surfaces of ice, rocks, or other objects and freezes. The frozen moisture then grows in a shape resembling flower pedals.
They appeared as a mysterious phenomenon this morning.
Photo: Frost flowers in Momijidani Valley, Sounkyo Dec. 4