Good evening: birdwatching swallows in the mouth of Tama River II

 

This year, actually, city swallows chose a field of reeds near JR Kawasaki Station 川崎駅. Oh yes, that terminal station for industrial Kawasaki City 川崎市. The reeds are on Tokyo-side of the bank of Tama River, 多摩川 but watching birds from Tokyo side is blocked by the other vegetation like trees and plume grasses that love drier soil. Kawasaki-side is wide open and provides easier view for birdwatching in the reeds field spreading along the waterfront. That evening, we met at the north exit of Minatomachi Station 港町駅, the next stop from Kawasaki Station for Keikyu Daishi Line 京急大師線. The area was recently undergone a large “gentrification” development. Posh tower apartments are dominating the exit area of the station. Childcare facilities and indoor golf training gym are claiming their value with stylistic billboards. Very apt for city-slicker swallows waiting for an international flight, I thought.

Minatomachi Station

The tower apartments

Already in front of the station we could feel a wind of (relatively) cool evening air from Tama River and Tokyo Bay. We walk a couple of minutes along a boulevard between the modern skyscraper apartments, and the south bank of the River was just before us. Joggers and strollers enjoyed the evening after boiling heatwave of Tokyo. We took few steps up to the bank. The people of Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ) are waiting for us with powerful monoculars focusing on the reed field on the Tokyo-side. At 18:15, the sun as not yet set, but the sky was definitely heading for night. The downstream of Tama River pours into the Bay at the right next to the Haneda Airport 羽田空港. It was busy evening and lots of airplanes coming and going over there. Huge bright lights of airplanes competing with the setting sun. The machine looked so near our position. I felt a wonder wild swallows make this scenery their home.

Boulevard. Could you see Tokyo-side over there?

People from WBSJ were waiting for us.

Lots of egrets were also there. This is Medium Egrets.

And airplanes.

We waited for several minutes. Somebody among us found tiny dots flying around above an apartment roof on Tokyo-side. “Swallows!” Murmur in a hashed voice spread among us. Just like us humans, evening swallows were heading home from their daily activities. The way they came home was also like us; individually. The birds were not a flock, but flied solo and looked like saying good evening as they encountered their neighbor in their bed town. In general, they flied around for a while before descending on the leaves to sleep. Many glided very near to the surface of the River where they could hunt bags for an evening meal. It’s like we dropping in supermarket for prep of evening meals. Several of them looked playing around with another swallows. Is it like enjoying happy hour in Izakaya?

Swallows made this area for their beds.

The first sighting was around here.
I couldn’t take a photo of them!

I thought I photographed the moment
a swallow flying over the water surface …

One by one they went “reed” home and made themselves comfortable to sleep. Some were staying “Tama River Izakaya” until the last (oh, yeah, literally) minutes before sunset. But in the end, they were in “bed” at the tip of reed leaves. It seemed to me they did not mind their neighbor swallow were there VERY near to their bed. … Like school dormitory, or, similar to us in apartment blocks with the neighbor’s door just next to us …?

In this photo, there are so many swallows.
Almost all the blackish dots at the end of reed are swallows ready to sleep.

At the sunset the event was over. WBSJ lent us very powerful binoculars to enjoy the birdwatching. They also explained us the lifecycle of swallows and shared their accumulated experience to watch swallows “Bedtime” event. They also gave us tips to take nice photos. I understood why this event was SO popular, with uber-competitive entries. Every year they start lottery entry for nation-wide events early July (; their HP is here). If you’re interested in nature watching, please try. It’s really worth experiencing it. Besides, having birdwatching on a cooler bank of Tama River after sweltering business day in Tokyo is really GOOD.

The binocular I borrowed.

People from WBSJ explains.

Wild Bird Society of Japan

https://www.wbsj.org/

Schooling days: birdwatching swallows before they leave Japan

 

Swallows are birds living near us. They build their nest under the eaves of our home, the walls under the roof, things like that. In late spring they come to Japan, decide where to raise their chix, mate, hatch the eggs, feed their kids, … then? If lucky, the chix should grow big enough to leave such a small estate of their nest (; my post on July 5, 2019). Come to think of it, we see their childcare days, but not afterward. What will they do? Returning straight to southern places, like Taiwan, ASEAN countries …? Can the teenager swallows take such a long-distance flight without learning how to feed themselves and gaining enough strength for a long haul? Unlikely. What then do they do before they leave Japan?

Busy holding eggs

According to the people for Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ), swallows love to rear their chix in human settlement because of security reasons. Having their eggs near us could prevent onslaught by predators like snakes, mammals, etc., as we positively expel their approach. When the chix become big enough to leave their nest, young swallows fly around to learn feeding themselves first. Schooling days will last for about 3 to 4 months. When they think they have eaten sufficiently to maintain their stamina for returning to southern countries, they individually decide their departure. i.e. They do not build a flock like swans for migration. However, during their preparation days, they behave like a member of a group. Moreover, they do so only from dusk to dawn. They sleep in a particular place en masse. At sunrise and sunset, lots of lots of swallows congregate in a special place. In Japanese, such behavior is called “Bedtime for swallows つばめのねぐら入り.”

In any case, their tales are cute.

During the prep days for a long trip, swallows commute between such bedroom and their hunting sites daily. At dawn they leave home, hunt and eat during day time, then return to bed at dusk. Their bed is the top tips of reed leaves. The birds are so light that they can stabilize their body on such a delicate structure. Also, they do not use a pond with a handful of reeds. They sleep in a group to achieve a certain level of security by the power of numbers. So, they need a large field of reeds for Bedtime. i.e., If we plan birdwatching for Bedtime for swallows, we must go to a riverside with a sufficient colony of reeds.

It’s a scenery of Sagami River 相模川
where its downstream begins more or less.
Sure it has a bit of reeds on its bank,
but we don’t think it is “substantial.”
So do swallows. No hostels for them here.

WBSJ is yearly updating an introductory map for us to witness “Bedtime.” Some sites, like Watarase Yusuichi 渡良瀬遊水地 listed in the Ramsar list, the field of reed is large. For Watarase, they have 33 km2 of reeds and can accommodate constantly 30000-60000 swallows to sleep. Er, well, having said that, we do not have to plan a holiday travel for swallows, if we do not require the size of numbers for swallows. There are several spots in metropolitan Tokyo area where swallows sleep during summer. For example, Flood-ControlPark for Sakai River of Kanagawa Prefecture 神奈川県立境川遊水地公園 (; my post on January 28, 2022) has a size of field of reeds capable for being beds of 300-500 swallows. We can watch them come to sleep from late July to early August. A bit larger swallow hostel with good access (for humans) is near Haneda Airport. Yup. That International airport for Tokyo. It is in the estuary of Tama River 多摩川.

A beautiful sunset in Tama River, Tokyo

Every year, WBSJ holds a couple of “Bedtime” watching events near the airport. It’s a uber popular dusk and difficult to secure the seat, allocated through lottery. But, ta-da! This year, Naomi hit a Jack-pot, and had a chance to join the occasion! This week and the next, I tell you my adventure with swallows near Haneda, on the bank of Tama River. Due to hydrological reasons the fields of reeds normally appear on the Tokyo side of the bank, but it is easier observable from Kanagawa. So, in this adventure, I keep my foot in our home prefecture. 😉 The size of the field is definitely larger than that for Sakai River. The reeds along Tama River can host 3000-5000 swallows regularly. Oh, one caveat. Swallows and reeds do not stay in the same spot every year. People for WBSJ told us for 2024 they moved a bit upstream, away from Tokyo Bay. So, my report for this year may not exactly apply for the next year. Next week, I tell you where I’ve been. It was in 5 minutes’ walk from several stylish tower blocks. Lots of residents did their evening jog along the river. 😊

I think it’s a good place to sleep,
not only for swallows but also for humans.

Wild Bird Society of Japan

https://www.wbsj.org/

The Wall: Fluvial terrace and Sagamihara Dohogawa Park 道保川公園 II

 

Coming down to the riverside, first we meet with a well-maintained trekking road running north-south. The design of strolling paths for Dohogawa Park is roughly excursion style along the river (stream?). You can choose from one direction and return to the same point in the end. The northern part of the route from here runs in the mountain side, a bit higher than the river. Today, let’s take this route first. I guess it is the original commuter road for locals of yesteryears. It is still well- maintained and the trees surrounding the route are carefully taken care of. Dohogawa Park itself is along a popular 21st century commuter road where cars are buzzing. We inevitably hear the mechanical noise even on this mountain-side road. Still, the atmosphere of serenity prevails. The light from the canopy comes down to our foot not that menacingly even in midsummer. The murmur from water stream somewhere calms down the sweltering heat and feeling. It’s a good strolling path.

Coming down from the plateau

The path running north from our start.
It’s amazing for such atmosphere of “deep” forest
from the Park which is actually thin strip
of greenery along a car road.

When we go north, in less than 10 minutes, the route meets with the dead end with fence. Roughly 1 ha of the Park is currently off-limit for visitors. From there, there are steps which bring us to the path going south along the stream. Riverside road is far wider, capable for wheelchairs. Dohogawa Park is famous for dances of fireflies from the end of May to early June. Such a roomy promenade must be popular among locals coming to admire bugs’ show. Eventually we meet with a crossing, to the left, the right, or straight ahead. To the right, we walk along the car road. Going straight, we cross a small bridge to move to the west bank of the river. All the routes to the south end with the south gate of the Park where the admin office and toilets reside. Turn to the left, we return to the point we came down. But before returning to the starting point, there will be another diversion that brings us a wide dead end of a valley.

The first dead end.
Coud you see the road is u-turning over there?

We can descend to the river side with these steps.

The path along the stream is wide.

Actually, the path brings us small bridges many times.

The direction to “Wasabi field.”
Could you see the dead end there?

The dead end is one of the water sources of Dohogawa River 道保川. I guess this was the place once Wasabi field was held. Water seeps out from the bottom of the cliff to create a water stream little by little. I don’t know if the amount of water was more before the upper place has rows of houses. Certainly, the current volume of water in this basement is not enough for Wasabi cultivation, even for my amateur eyes. Even though, the light coming from above and the atmosphere in this small valley are like Wasabi places of Izu Peninsula 伊豆半島. I was impressed by the height of the ledge. Actually the cliff is effectively showing the inside of the Sagamihara Plateau. Come to think of it, Dohogawa River flows a bit higher place than Sagami River 相模川. When we calculate the difference of altitude between Sagami River and the Plateau, the difference of elevation must be much more. The river has eroded that much of land, and created the waterless Plateau … Impressive. The amount of water declining for Dohogawa River could be a process of creating waterless Plateau. Wow.

This part of the Park has the route of wooden walkway.
The slope over the stream next to the path is
the beginning of Sagamihara Plateau.

The steep slope is covered by broad-leaved trees.
We can see the ridge way,
but over there is an expansion of suburbia.

Now returning to the main excursion route from Wasabi place, we first meet with a small clump of reeds in the river. Soon, there is a pond where turtles sunbathe on the shore. A nice bridge of traditional design connects the east and west banks of the pond. When you Google Dohogawa Park, the photo you find is normally taken somewhere around the traditional bridge. This is a small lake beloved by locals to stroll on weekends. The vegetation along the bank is more for a horticultural Japanese garden, and well taken care of. The water is known for migratory birds congregating during winter. When weather is gentler, like in spring or autumn, it will be a good place for your grandma holding weekend picnic. The very end of the pond is an admin office and toilet for the Park. Parking is also near to the pond. If we visit the place by car, access to the Park from the pond would be more standard.

Reeds. Fireflies make such a place their home.

The path to the pond is wide and gentle.

It becomes more “garden” like.

The pond

Admin Office and toilets

Dohogawa Park is a quiet and relaxing place. Moreover, we could experience gigantic work of water and land producing a plateau. It’s so interesting we can see how the planet earth handles its daily business just around the corner of Tokyo’s suburbs. Maybe, it’s the thrill to be in suburbia. 😉

If you find environmental issues in Sagamihara’s City Parks, please make a contact with

Management Office of Dohogawa Park
道保川公園管理事務所

1359 Kamimizo, Chuo-ku, City of Sagamihara 252-0243
〒252-0243　神奈川県相模原市中央区上溝1359
Phone & FAX: 042-776-6484

You can email an enquiry to 

info-dohogawa-slcg@yokohamaryokuchi.com

Upstairs, Downstairs: Fluvial terrace and Sagamihara Dohogawa Park 道保川公園

 

In yesteryears, Sagamihara plateau was a place difficult to have thriving agricultural communities, due to the scarcity of water. But the plateau is sandwiched between Sagami 相模川 and Sakai 境川 Rivers. There were old villages along the rivers for centuries. Villagers there could use water from the river. They could cultivate rice. In the 21st century, the difference for the access of water is not much between the two areas. But the forests are different. Today, I tell you my adventure in a forest near Sagami River of Sagamihara City. It’s Dohogawa Park 道保川公園 of 7.7ha.

A map of Dohogawa Park, shown on site

To know how the two areas of Sagamihara are different, I recommend you using commuter bus services from JR Sagamihara Station 相模原駅 or Odakyu Sagami-ohno Station 相模大野駅. Otherwise, please walk from JR Kamimizo Station 上溝駅 for 20 minutes. There are lots of bus services from Sagamihara Station South Exit by Kanachu-bus of Sou 相 - 21, 25, 7, 28, and 29 (; checking timetables is from here), or of Oo 大 - 25 from Sagami-ohno Station (North Exit; the timetable is from here). A bus-ride from Sagamihara Station is about 10 minutes, whereas from Sagami-ono is 35 minutes. Whichever you take, please get off the bus at Nishi-hikarigaoka 3-chome Stop 西光が丘三丁目. You’ll see Family Mart Convenience Store near the stop. From the corner of the Fami-ma, there is a residential road going straight to the west. Please dive in, and about 5 minutes from Fami-ma, there is Yokodai 陽光台 Community Centre on your left. Keep on going, and you reach to an open space named “Jo-dan Hiroba 上段広場” of Dohogawa Park. It means “upper-part open space.” Very apt. So far, we walked Sagamihara Plateau, flat with lots of houses and commercial premises but very few greeneries. The open space we’ve just arrived is at the edge of the plateau, with trees!

Bus terminal from the South Exit of Sagamihara Station

The stop for bus services from Sagami-ohno Station,
going near Dohogawa Park

The bus stop Nishi-hikarigaoka 3-chome
you should get off if you come from Sagamihara Station.

Nishi-hikarigaoka 3-chome stop if you come from Sagami-ono.
Oh, if you use these services for going home
with the same service to Sagami-ono,
the stop you’ll take is the above photo.
Or to Sagamihara Station, vice versa.

Family Mart with an ample parking space

Now, to the Park go straight.

Yokodai Community Centre

Keep on going. Could you see trees over there?

We’ve arrived Jo-dan Hiroba of Dohogawa Park.

“Dohogawa” means “Doho River.” It’s a tributary of Sagami River joining the mainstream at about 5km down from the Dohogawa Park. The Park is spreading along the water source of Dohogawa. i.e. It‘s a park of natural water, very different from the plateau forests like Komorebi-no-mori Forest こもれびの森 (; my post for July 14 and 21, 2024), or Sagamihara Park 県立相模原公園 (; my post for January 25, 2019). From the open space we arrived, on our right a steep slope goes down directly to the riverside of Dohogawa. Let‘s go down to the river. It is steep, I tell you. The slope, or the cliff, is covered by both broad leaved and coniferous trees. I was impressed by the geology Sagami River created. It is an experience to feel the fluvial terrace.

Walking in the open space ...

At the beginning of the steps going down,
there is a gate and these notice boards.

Beginning of the steps

We‘ve gone down this much!

The forest of Dohogawa Park is acted as a water source forest for Dohogawa River. The scenery is definitely different from the residential area we went through from the bus stop. Plateau part had rows of homes, with not much garden or greenery. In yesteryears the area was probably grass land or forest consisted of drying-resistant trees. But if we come near the river, broadleaved trees that love moisture, such as maple trees, appear. It is said that previous landlords of the Dohogawa Park engaged in Wasabi cultivation which requires lots of water. With the greenery at the plateau table and the forest spreading over the slope retaining rainwater, once the river had enough H2O for the business. Alas, the residential development dramatically reduced the expansion of water source greenery, and now the river flow is not much, unsuitable for Wasabi. The municipal park was opened in 1990. For opening, the civil engineers were worried if the park could maintain the sufficient amount of water for the river. So, before the inauguration, the City of Sagamihara dug 6 wells. The water from the wells is released to Dohogawa River and keeps the water level. Although the river looks running naturally, it has a huge boost by human hands. Next week, I tell you my adventure more in Dohogawa Park. Please stay tuned! 😊 Oh, by the way, Dohogawa Park has parking spaces along the river. Map of the Park and the parking is here.

Large Japanese Bird Cherry near Dohogawa River.
This tree loves humid environment.

Parking space for Dohogawa Park

If you find environmental issues in Sagamihara’s City Parks, please make a contact with

Management Office of Dohogawa Park
道保川公園管理事務所
1359 Kamimizo, Chuo-ku, City of Sagamihara 252-0243
〒252-0243　神奈川県相模原市中央区上溝1359
Phone & FAX: 042-776-6484

You can email an enquiry to info-dohogawa-slcg@yokohamaryokuchi.com