July 26, 2025 brought drama and tenderness in equal measure. In the quiet of the early morning, I found キf3-15 resting under the shade with her three ducklings. The calm was broken not by predators, but by another female duck.
The day began with gentle moments—sleepy ducklings nestled in the cool shadows, the mother stretching her wings. One of the ducklings even tumbled during a stretch, quickly playing it off as if nothing happened. At 08:53, the family finally stirred and set off downstream, confirming the three ducklings were all present.
But peace never lasts long on the river. Around midday, the キf3 family encountered the other female again. Without warning, the キf mother lunged, starting a sudden, fierce fight. The ducklings instinctively hid, waiting silently until the skirmish ended before rejoining their mother. The attacked female retreated to the downstream edge of the thicket—a spot she seemed to favor, perhaps for safety.
Later in the day, the pond-born Uf1-46 family made a rare appearance at the tetrapods, a traditional gathering point for pond ducklings in past years. Small fish darted under the water’s surface, and even a turtle appeared briefly before sliding away.
The day’s other sightings included イf4-54 and Of2-55, both stable regulars, and sparrows bathing happily in the shallows.
This observation captured both sides of duck family life: the tender care and sleepy morning rituals, and the harsh reality of defending a territory. The brave キf3 mother and her cautious ducklings once again showed the delicate balance of survival and growth on the summer river.
2025年7月26日、水辺で繰り広げられたのは穏やかな朝と緊迫の瞬間。茂みの木陰に身を寄せるキf3-15親子3羽を見つけ、静かな寝起きを観察していました。母カモがストレッチを始め、ヒナも羽ばたきを真似する中、コケた仕草をごまかす可愛らしい場面も。08:53、ついに親子そろって出発。3羽の無事を確認できました。
しかし平穏は長く続きません。昼前、別のメスカモと遭遇した瞬間、キf母が静かに突撃。激しい喧嘩が始まり、ヒナたちは茂みに隠れてじっと待ちました。戦いが終わるとそっと母のもとへ戻る姿が印象的でした。襲われたメスは下流側の茂みの端へ逃げ込み、しばらくその場を動きませんでした。
一方、池生まれのUf1-46親子がついにテトラポッドに進出。池組の定番の場所で、小魚やカメも顔を見せ、夏の水辺らしい景色が広がっていました。
他にも、安定して観察できているイf4-54やOf2-55、気持ちよさそうに水浴びするスズメたちなど、賑やかな一日でした。
優しい寝起きと、厳しい縄張り争い。どちらもカルガモ親子の現実。キf3親子のたくましさと、隠れて母を待つヒナの健気さが心に残る観察となりました。
Comments