On July 9, a new family of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks appeared in the upper river area.
This was an important observation because the ducklings were still very young, only about three days old, and the family was already moving through a difficult urban river environment. The mother duck led eight ducklings through several challenging places, including a concrete block zone, a weir, and a water gate, before reaching a downstream nursery area used by other duck families.
This family was recorded as Of8-3 in my observation notes: Mother Of, eight ducklings, approximately three days old. The filming record code for this day is 0709F.
I am not a professional ornithologist. This article is written from the perspective of a long-term field observer who records wild duck families almost every day. Because I publish daily filming records with minimal editing, each video also functions as a form of time-stamped evidence. By comparing events across different dates, I try to understand movements, family relationships, survival patterns, and repeated behavior in the same urban river system.
More detailed explanations of my date codes and duck family identification codes are available here:
https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-wild-duck-diaries.html
A New Family Found in Mid-Summer
At the beginning of the observation, I was searching the upper area for known duck families such as Ef6 and Xf5. For a while, no duck family could be found, which felt strange because several families were expected to be somewhere in the area.
Then, at around 05:51 in the video, a duck family finally appeared.
At first, I thought it might be a known family. However, the number and size of the ducklings did not match my expectations. It was a completely new group.
At 08:26, I recorded this family as Of8-3. This became the 31st duck family observed in the 2025 season, and notably, a July-born family.
For urban Spot-billed Ducks, a July-born brood is especially interesting. Many families that hatched earlier in the season had already grown larger by this time. Seeing very small ducklings among older juveniles made the difference in growth stages very clear.
Ducklings Approaching Another Duck
At around 09:18, the Of ducklings suddenly moved toward another duck.
In the past, I often interpreted this kind of behavior as ducklings mistaking another adult for their mother. However, after repeated observations, I have begun to wonder whether some ducklings are not simply confused, but actively approaching or even challenging unfamiliar ducks.
This is only a personal observation and not a scientific conclusion. Still, young ducklings sometimes show surprisingly bold behavior, especially when they are moving in a group. At 09:29, even after the Of mother caught up, the ducklings again moved toward the other duck.
This scene may show how difficult it is to interpret duckling behavior from a single moment. It could be confusion, curiosity, stress during movement, or early social aggression. Continued observation over many dates may help clarify these patterns.
Other Duck Families in the Same Area
At around 13:59, I noticed Ef6 and Xf downstream. This was reassuring because I had not found them earlier.
The river was crowded with multiple families at different growth stages. Later in the video, Of8 passed near Xf5-29, Ef6 climbed the weir, and Af3-21 was also visible downstream.
This kind of overlap is one reason why individual identification is important. In this river, many duck families use the same nursery areas, resting places, shallow feeding zones, and concrete structures. Without long-term identification, it would be very easy to confuse one family with another.
The First Major Obstacle: The Weir
At around 16:39, the Of family approached a weir while Ef6 was also nearby below it.
The Of mother did not fly down immediately. Instead, she climbed and moved around the structure, while the ducklings struggled to follow. The ducklings did not descend easily at first, and the family spent time trying to negotiate the obstacle.
At 26:13, the Of family finally attempted the descent again. This time, the movement looked more decisive. From that point, the family began moving downstream at a fast pace.
This behavior strongly suggested a relocation movement rather than casual feeding or resting.
A Fast Downstream Move
Once the Of family began moving, their pace was surprisingly fast.
They passed Af3 and continued downstream. I expected possible encounters with other families such as Xf6 and Uf1, but the movement was too quick to follow everything closely. In observations like this, it is impossible to film every interaction, especially when several families are spread across the river.
At 28:14, the Of family passed near bathing Carrion Crows. The duck family did not appear to stop for long and continued moving along the river.
The Dangerous Concrete Block Zone
At 30:49, the Of family passed through what I call the dangerous block zone.
This area is one of the difficult places for small ducklings. Concrete blocks, slopes, uneven surfaces, and flowing water can create many risks. In previous observations, duck families often move through this area quickly or use nearby vegetation to rest.
This time, however, the family spent some time in a way that felt slightly unusual. The first slope appeared gentler than expected from my filming angle, although I cannot say whether the impression was caused by the camera position or by the actual terrain.
Because daily video records are preserved, this kind of small impression can be checked again later. Even uncertain observations may become useful when compared with footage from other dates.
The Water Gate Descent
After the block zone, the family reached the area before the water gate.
Normally, when a duck family passes from the block zone toward the water gate, the movement can be relatively direct unless they stop in vegetation. This time, the Of family stayed for a long time near the wall.
At 37:25, the mother duck swam in circles. My interpretation is that she may have been searching for a place to climb or deciding whether to continue downstream. This is only a field impression, but the repeated movement along the wall made it seem as if she was assessing the route.
Finally, at 42:15, the family descended through the water gate area. All eight ducklings made it down safely.
After this, the family reached a nursery area and moved into a resting place used in previous years or by other families, including families such as Af, Cf, and Tf. This kind of shared resting location is important in long-term urban wildlife observation because it suggests that certain microhabitats are repeatedly useful for duck families.
A Resting Area, Then More Movement
At 43:33, the relocation seemed to be complete. The ducklings were wet, and the family moved toward vegetation.
However, later in the day, the Of family was already seen farther downstream near the tetrapod area. At 52:31, I was surprised to find that they had moved again.
This second movement was unexpected. I thought they might rest under a bridge, meet other families such as Tf8, or continue toward another feeding area. Instead, they remained near a wall for a long time.
From 1:06:55 onward, the Of family stayed in one place, occasionally moving along the wall or circling, but not making major progress. This was unusual for such a young family immediately after relocation.
Tiny Ducklings Beside a Wagtail
One memorable comparison occurred around 1:12:24, when the Of ducklings appeared near a White Wagtail.
Ducklings can look larger or smaller depending on camera distance, water depth, and surrounding objects. When seen beside a wagtail, their tiny size became easier to understand. These were still very young ducklings, vulnerable and small in a large concrete river environment.
At 1:14:49, some ducklings attempted to dive in shallow water. They did not dive well, which made the behavior look almost playful, but it may also have been early foraging practice.
Because the day was hot, the family’s behavior in shallow water may also have been related to resting, cooling, or feeding. Again, this is only a field-based interpretation.
Other Wildlife Recorded During the Day
This observation day included several other species and behaviors.
Kingfishers were calling near the beginning of the video. A pair seemed to be present, and the male caught prey several times near the weir, although my camera timing was not ideal.
Carrion Crows were bathing when the Of family passed nearby.
White Wagtails appeared near the duck family, including a parent-child scene, and one wagtail was observed hovering to catch a spider near a railing. The railing had many spiders, likely orb-weavers, making it a useful feeding point for small birds.
Sparrows were also seen fighting and bathing.
These surrounding records matter because a duck family does not live in isolation. The same urban river is used by many birds, insects, fish, reptiles, and mammals. Each observation day becomes a record not only of one family, but of a small urban ecosystem.
Why This Observation Matters
This day was significant because it documented the first major movement of a July-born Spot-billed Duck family through a difficult urban river route.
The Of family successfully passed:
- a weir
- a concrete block zone
- a water gate
- areas used by other duck families
- places where crows and other birds were present
- downstream nursery and resting zones
For very young ducklings, this journey was risky. The first days after hatching are often especially dangerous, and duckling numbers can decrease quickly. Seeing all eight ducklings reach the nursery area safely was encouraging.
At the same time, this is only the beginning. Because this family hatched in July, their growth period will continue into the hot part of the summer. I hope to follow them over the next two months and compare their progress with earlier families from the same season.
Species Observed
- カルガモ / Eastern Spot-billed Duck / Anas zonorhyncha
The main species in this observation. A July-born mother duck led eight very young ducklings through an urban river route.
- カワセミ / Common Kingfisher / Alcedo atthis
Heard and observed near the beginning of the video. A pair appeared to be present, and hunting behavior was seen near the weir.
- ハシボソガラス / Carrion Crow / Corvus corone
Seen bathing near the river as the duck family passed nearby. Crows can be part of the same urban river ecosystem and may also be potential threats to small birds.
- ハクセキレイ / White Wagtail / Motacilla alba
Observed near the duck family. Its size helped show how small the young ducklings still were.
- スズメ / Eurasian Tree Sparrow / Passer montanus
Recorded fighting and bathing. A common urban bird, but useful as part of the broader daily wildlife record.
- ズグロオニグモ / Orb-weaver spider species / likely Araneus ventricosus or related species
Spiders were present around the railing, where a wagtail was seen hunting. Identification is tentative from field observation.
Closing Note
This article is based on a daily filming record, not a controlled scientific study. Some interpretations may change as more footage is compared across dates.
However, by recording the same river almost every day, individual events become part of a larger timeline. A single duck family’s movement, a repeated resting place, or a surprising interaction with another bird may later become useful evidence when seen together with records from previous and future days.
The full identification system for date codes and duck family codes is explained here:
https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-wild-duck-diaries.html
Timestamp Notes (For Personal Use)
00:00 Highlights
Today, I started at the pond. The killing of ducklings among ducks has been increasing, so I’m worried. I wonder if they’ll manage to relocate.
03:01 Kingfishers calling to each other
I kept recording the female, as she was with her partner. The male was feeding by the weir several times. I thought something was off and switched the camera to record him, but there was no movement, which was a bit unfortunate.
I walked through the upstream area looking for Ef6 and Xf5, but couldn’t find any duck families at all. They must be somewhere, so I kept searching…
05:51 Finally found a duck family! Is it Ef? The number of ducklings is... wait!
It was an unexpected new family!!
08:26 New family Of8-3, born in July, 31st family of the year! I’ll call them the Of family.
Of ducklings charge toward another duck – Did they make a mistake? Or are they just feisty ducklings?!
I used to think they were mistaken, but now I think the ducklings might be more aggressive.
09:29 Of Mother catches up, but the ducklings charge again!
Ef6 and Xf5 found downstream!
While I was focused on Of, I couldn’t film them, but I was surprised to see Ef6 downstream. I had been searching for familiar families but ended up finding a new one. It was a bit of a surprise, but it reassured me.
15:09 Of Ducklings dive into the water!
16:07 Of8 passes by Xf5-29.
16:39 Of8 reaches the weir... Ef6 is coming down!
Ef6 seems to want to climb the weir, but it’s hesitant because of the unfamiliar Of family. It’s unclear whether Of will go down or if Ef6 will climb.
17:49 Of Mother tries to climb the weir instead of flying. She attempts it multiple times, but the ducklings can’t go down.
24:21 Ef6 climbs the weir!
24:48 Af3-21 appears downstream. It’s hard to see, but I’ll record it.
25:15 Ef6-49 positions itself between Of8 and Xf5 (which is napping).
26:13 Of8 tries again to descend the weir! It’s moving fast like it’s migrating!
The movement is incredibly fast! I tried to stay ahead, but they caught up too quickly, so I couldn’t film much. I thought Xf6 and Uf1 would be there, but I couldn’t find them.
28:14 Of8 encounters a Crow family bathing. They pass by from the side.
29:34 The migration is really fast! It’s descending quickly.
30:49 They pass through the "forbidden block area"!
The first descent was slow, which was a new pattern for me. I wondered why it felt unusual – maybe it’s the angle of filming?
33:43 Of8 stayed in the area just before the water gate for a long time.
Normally, they descend quickly from the "forbidden block area" to the water gate, unless they rest in the bushes, so I rushed to pre-empt them. But after they followed the wall, they didn’t move quickly.
37:25 For some reason, Of Mother swims in circles. It’s like a lake scene!
I think Of Mother was considering climbing the wall and searching for a place to climb. I tried to run ahead multiple times, but I ended up waiting by the water gate after getting tired.
42:15 Finally, they descend at the water gate! Everyone made it down safely!
43:33 The migration is finished! Time for a nap. The ducklings are wet, and they head into the bushes.
This area was often used by families like Af, Cf, and Tf, so it was quite nostalgic. I wanted to keep watching, but they went into the bushes, and I decided to return to look for Uf1 and Ef6.
48:28 Af3 climbs the weir!
I didn’t find Uf1 or Ef6 in the end… I didn’t see them anywhere in the breeding area or the "forbidden block area" either, but I think they should be around.
49:32 Af3 and Ef6
50:21 Xf5 is napping in the shade.
In the end, I didn’t find the larger families like Df5, Ef6, Ff6, and Gf7. I think they were probably just napping in the shade, but it was a bit frustrating. I checked all the usual spots, but it felt like they were missing in action. Afterward, I decided to go back downstream and look for the families that interact with Of and the ducklings.
51:12 Ducks are resting in the bushes, but I couldn’t identify if they were families.
52:17 If4-37 – briefly appeared in the distance.
52:31 What?! Of8 has already reached the bottom of the weir!
55:03 A White Wagtail family and a Mallard family together 
57:39 Of2 and Tf8 look like they had a scuffle.
58:40 Of2-38 – Climbing the weir, settling in the popular area.
59:04 Tf8-33 – Settled in this area recently.
1:00:16 Cf3 and Df Abandoned Ducklings 4 – Looks like them, but not entirely sure 
1:02:07 Hybrid mallard families make things complicated Of2 and Cf3 both have mallard-like features.
1:03:39 Lf4-40 – Safe, but the ducklings didn’t follow their mother.
1:05:01 Sparrow fight & bathing.
1:05:24 Tf8 probably headed to its resting spot.
I thought Of8 would come by, but it never did!
1:06:55 Of8 didn’t move from the wall at all (it passed by multiple times but stayed still, which is rare).
1:08:12 Watching the adorable movements of Of Ducklings.
1:10:48 Wagtail catches a spider while hovering.
There are lots of Zugro Oni-spiders on this handrail.
1:12:24 Of Ducklings smaller than the Wagtail.
Sometimes I find it hard to judge their size, but when they’re with the wagtails, I can clearly see how tiny they are.
1:12:45 Of Mother bathing – looks like she’s ready to rest, but the ducklings never stop moving.
1:14:49 Ducklings diving in the shallow waters – so cute but can’t dive!
1:16:13 Taking a break in the shallows – it’s hot, a rare sight.
1:18:32 What? Of8 left, but still moves slowly along the wall.
1:21:29 The ducklings were undecided about whether to nap or not.
It seemed like only the mother duck was hungry.
1:23:03 Cf3 and Of2
I thought Cf3 was easy to identify, but now it’s become confusing.
1:24:39 Of8 – The situation hasn’t changed for a while, so I took my time filming it.
Duck Families Identification System
Since there are too many families, I identify the mother ducks by their wing markings (three flight feathers) and symbols.
Duck Families List:
https://okasinaikimono.blogspot.com/2025/07/0709f.html
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