A tiny bird even smaller than a sparrow, with round, charming eyes—the subspecies of long-tailed tit known as the shiraneaga (shimaenaga). Found only in Hokkaido, this wild bird is beloved by birdwatchers and nicknamed the "snow fairy." In winter it grows a fluffy, pure-white plumage and looks just like a snowball! It mainly lives in forests and woodlands; with leaves gone in winter it becomes easier to spot, and it is often seen along the Lake Utonai lakeside. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Taken from Osaka Castle Park. I snapped the shutter as a crow flew through vivid ginkgo leaves, its black silhouette contrasting beautifully.

Recently, part of Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai) froze over. A swan standing on the ice flaps its wings✨🦢 Roadside Station Utonai Lake, which posts many stunning photos on social media, is open in winter from 9:00 to 17:00. It offers plenty of delicious local food and goods, so please stop by for a break during winter road trips. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Lake Utonai in mid-October. Swans, geese and other autumn migratory birds are gathering here one after another. In particular, the communal dawn flight to nearby feeding grounds, known as the "negradachi" roost flight, is a must-see. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

When you come to Kushiro Prince Hotel, why don't you feel the charm of Kushiro Wetland, the largest wetland in Japan, by canoe? Canoeing is one of the pleasures of paddling, but you can also spend a quiet and leisurely time! There is also a chance to see wild birds and wildlife.

By the shores of Lake Utonai. A red songbird, the benimasiko, and a narcissus flycatcher with a striking black-and-yellow contrast. They look like vividly colored wild birds straight out of a fairy tale. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

The black, white, and red color coordination looks stylish! This is a woodpecker species, the great spotted woodpecker (akagera).✨ (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Will Tomakomai continue into spring...? On March 17th the city recorded about 25 cm of snowfall. Since it was wet March snow, it is expected to melt soon. At Utonai Lake, the snowy landscape made a great backdrop for a graceful great egret in flight.✨ (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Winter Activity 2025 MOMBETSU Lake Komuke & Native Flower Garden Snow Trekking Stroll through Lake Komuke and the Komuke Native Flower Garden on snowshoes with an expert guide. Why don't you feel the scenery and charm that is different from the green season? For details, go to the official website "Monbetsu Tourist Information Center"

Is it the moment it lands on the branch? This shot perfectly captures the majestic presence of a white-tailed eagle ✨ (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

A tilting long-tailed tit at Utonai Lake ✨ (shimaenaga) (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

A great egret standing still in the cold wind. It looks as if it is shrugging its shoulders. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake Wildlife Protection Center)

At Izumi no Mori, one of Yamato City's one of the best Nature Parks, which can be walked from Yamato Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line and Sotetsu Main Line, many flora and fauna in the large park show their appearance in all four seasons. Even in winter, wild birds spend their time searching for food and cleansing their bodies while reflecting their beautiful and relaxed scenes on the surface of the water. There are many Spot where you can observe wild birds in the Izumi Forest, and you can enjoy the various expressions of the birds depending on the location and season.

A scene at Utonai Lake on one day. I thought it was a gathering of swans…? January is a time when most of the lake freezes over, so there are few waterfowl, but due to various circumstances you can still see a few swans wintering at Utonai Lake. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Snow Fairy Did you know that there is a snow fairy in Hokkaido? Its name is "Shimaenaga" Originally, this wild bird called Enaga resembled a long-handled ladle in appearance. The chief of the handle (e) → named Enaga In fact, there are long-tailed moths in Honshu, but this pure white subspecies of long-tailed moth only lives in Hokkaido That's why Hokkaido is called Shima. The long-tailed moth, which lives only in Shima→ was named Shimaenaga It is only called the snow fairy, and you will see it from the time when the leaves fall and the snow begins to fall For that reason, it is also called a bird that signals snow

【 Towns where you can meet red-crowned cranes, Taiki Town 】 In Taiki Town, there are many red-crowned cranes, a special natural monument of the country. The most common season is autumn, just around this time. You can often see them looking for food in the fields after the crops have been harvested. The location gives the impression that it is more common on the sea side than on the mountain side. Please look for it! By the way, the small bird in the middle of the first photo is not a red-crowned crane, but a crowned crane. It is also attractive that various kinds of creatures can be seen together in Taiki Town ✨

The sprout-eating blue pigeon came to the trees in Iwamotoyama Park in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture in mid-March! I hope that we will be able to maintain an environment where wild creatures can easily rest their wings in the future!

This is Sakujiro taken at Antaiji Temple, Nishio City. Kawazu cherry blossoms were beautiful ^^

Hokkaido also has zero snowfall. Fukujukusou is blooming At the end of the month the cherry blossoms will also bloom. Spent the winter in Miyagi and Iwate Migratory birds rest their feathers in Hokkaido Heading further north, one after another I'm going to leave.

I was looking around to see where I could hear the cry from, and I was able to take a picture!

*Please click to see the photos. It just so happened that a bird flew in and it was a perfect match with the Sky Tree, which is also a symbol of Japan.

During springtime, it's a joy to watch birds get excited amidst cherry blossom- happy to capture pink sakura framed bird moment. Its a spring fest for birds. This photo was taken in Oizumi central park in Nerima.

Kawazu cherry blossoms and mejiro In Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, there was a whitetail in the cherry blossoms at the Kawazu cherry blossoms festival, so I pulled it out with a telephoto lens and took a picture.

Spring in Japan is all about cherry blossoms. Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom earlier than Someiyoshino, signaling that spring is near. The wild bird "Mejiro", which had never been seen before, is coming in search of nectar from Kawazu cherry blossoms. Kawazu cherry blossoms shine in the bright blue sky, and if there is a komejiro, it is "the first in spring". In a world where war is spreading, while looking at the Kawazu cherry blossoms on a calm day, I feel that I am happy to have been born in such a wonderful country.

Photographed in Oshima, Kushimoto Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Seagulls and dragonflies that come to feed the fish farm for spillage, and they are full without much effort.

Even in the rain, it is a mejiro that comes to our house every day. It's a photo taken through a gap in the curtain, but it's very vigilant, and I take a bite and look around.

It was a plum warbler, not a warbler.

It is a migratory bird photographed in a park with a pond. The beautiful pond water in the background highlights the beauty of the snow-white bird. I posted it because I hope that this harmony between nature and humans will continue forever.

'Eagle Watching Premium Tour' I joined a winter-only tour held at the Tokachi Nature Center! In light snow we traveled along the quiet Tokachi River while a guide from the Wild Bird Society explained what we were seeing. Besides Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed eagles, we spotted many other birds such as long-tailed tits, swans, and goosanders! Using binoculars and a spotting scope, we could clearly make out their features, which was truly moving ✨ Other participants brought cool, bazooka-like lenses for their cameras 😎 It was a highly satisfying 45 minutes. The tour runs only on Saturdays and Sundays through January 7. For details, please contact the Tokachi Nature Center. Contact 0155-32-6116 Tokachi Nature Center