Birdwatchers at Yakushiike Park

Competing with the mega lens brigade

Cathy Cawood Mar 07, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Is the decoration cool or kitsch?  </p>

<p>Snow protected pines and a wooden bridge make a pretty winter scene</p>

<p>An ingenious teepee of rope protects the pine branches from snow damage</p>

<p>Bamboo lengths are lashed to the trunk</p>

<p>Thatched roof of Nagai Residence with plum orchard in the foreground</p>

<p>These pink blossoms must be an early variety</p>

<p>Most of the plum trees had few or no blossoms</p>

Machida's beautiful Yakushiike Park has a sizeable plum orchard next to a thatch roof house. I visited in late February but was a little disappointed to find the blossoms had barely started blooming. However there were other attractions that made the trip worthwhile. Pine trees around the pond with snow protection were elegantly photo-worthy. Then I saw a solitary blue heron on a small island. I wasn't the only photographer around - a group of birdwatchers equipped with decorated and intimidating super lenses appeared on the edge of the pond. Those lenses were big enough to see dust on the mites on the bird's feathers!

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Find out more about Yakushi-ike Park.

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...