Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

 The kawazu-zakura (Kawazu Sakura) planted on the northeast side of Chuo-ohashi Bridge on Shinkawa Park / Sumida River Terrace is blooming.

It is said to be a natural hybrid of Kanhizakura and oshima cherry, the flower color is pink or light red, and is more pink than Yoshino cherry tree.

Instead of blooming and falling like Yoshino cherry tree, it begins to bloom in early February and is in full bloom after about a month.

It is also characterized by enjoying the flowering process and keeping the full bloom for a certain period of time.

However, the flowering time seems to be greatly affected by the weather of the year, and it is said that it blooms early in the beginning of the year, but it is said that it is very difficult to make the flowering forecast because it is delayed after mid-February .

In Kawazu-cho, where the name of this cherry tree originated, the Kawazu Sakura Festival is held for about one month from early February every year (February 5 to March 10 this year), but there are some years when the flowering time is delayed. It seems that there is.

In any case, spring is getting closer steadily.

 Due to the developed low pressure, the Kanto Koshin region became record heavy snowfall on February 8. In Tokyo's 23 wards, a heavy snow warning was issued for the first time in 13 years, and in the city center, it recorded 27 cm of snow for the first time in 45 years.

By the way, the snow cover during heavy snow on January 14 last year was 8 cm.

The lowest temperature is also coldest at -0.8 ° C this season, the maximum temperature is only 4 ° C, and the snow quality on this day is powdered snow. The strong wind blew, and it was a side-beating snow.

Because snow is not everyday, it causes a lot of confusion in transportation every time, but it wraps the hustle and bustle city in white veil and brings a sense of silence for a while.

Tsukuda Park is also a fantastic world of ink painting that is different from usual.

The Japan Meteorological Agency called for caution to refrain from going out as much as possible, but the children are still fine.

On the slope in the open space, there were also people enjoying "snow sledding".

There is also a slight snow on the top of the hull of the floating bus "Hotaluna" sailing on the Sumida River.

 I often hear that Japanese white-eye has become quite common in urban areas in recent years.

Certainly, from late autumn to winter, you can often see camellia sasanqua (Yamacha) and Kantsubaki (Kanbaki) and plums and Japanese camellia flowers in early spring.

At this time, Japanese white-eye frequently passes through the trees of Tachikan Tsubaki (Tatekan Tsubaki) near Bairin in the Hamarikyu Garden.

Japanese white-eye belongs to the Japanese white-eye family of sparrows and is smaller than sparrows and is considered a resident bird or drifting bird.

From the head to the top is yellow-green, from the throat to the top of the chest is yellow, with white eye rings around the eyes.

The side from the chest is light brown.

The beak is black, the base is lead color, and the legs are lead color.

In Japan, except for cold winter regions in winter, it is widely inhabited from lowlands to mountainous areas, and is often found in green spaces in urban areas.

He prefers sweet nectar (it is said that honey entangled with a brush-shaped tongue is carried into his mouth), is relatively gentle, and lives in satoyama and urban areas around flowers such as garden trees and street trees. One of the wild birds that have been popular with people for a long time.

Japanese white-eye's characteristic behavior is that when he stops on the branches and rests, several groups gather together to snuggle up and push each other. I hear that it is the etymology of the parable of "things mixed" and "things there are many things".

It is said to be a horticultural species of camellia sasanqua. (However, there seems to be a dissertation.)

There are hairs on young branches, petioles and backs of leaves, but less than camellia sasanqua. The surface of the leaves is dark green and glossy, with saw teeth on the edges. It blooms lately from December to February. It is a pink and red Yae, the tip is shallow and the edge is wavy.

Generally, a shrub, which is about 3m high, is named Tachikantsubaki (Tatekan Tsubaki).

The lower part of the petals of the Japanese camellia have been greatly damaged as a footprint that Japanese white-eye frequently visited. (upper left photo)

In addition to the Japanese camellia, Japanese camellia is planted near the entrance to Ote-mon gate and Japanese camellia is planted around Koshindo Kamoba.

Like many birds, Japanese white-eye eats insects in spring and summer and nuts in autumn and winter, but also likes the dense flowers.

In recent years, many urban areas have been planted in open spaces such as condominiums and office buildings, as well as in hedges and planting of facades. However, if the number of Japanese white-eye increases in the city, it is believed that one factor is the fact that an environment with flower dense sources is being prepared in winter.

 According to the calendar, the spring is approaching, but the cold weather is severe, but water birds are still bustling on the banks of the Sumida River.

It is said to occupy the majority of the small seagull species that come to Japan as winter birds.

The head of the winter feather is white, the iris is black, white eyering around it, dark spots behind the eyes, and the beak and legs are red.

Black eyes have a clear and lovely face.

You can often see them standing in the pale sunlight of winter and lined up on the balustrade of the river terrace.

It is often the same direction all at once.

In general, if there is a wind, turn your face over the wind.

①In preparation for avoiding a crisis, it may be easier to fly off efficiently.

②By escaping the wind well, the effect may be reduced, and the balance and body temperature may be maintained.

I hear that it is thought to be.

It looks the same, but if you look closely, the features, facial expressions, and gestures of each individual are slightly different, and are interesting to resemble human patterns.