城北中央公園での早朝散歩の帰り道、近くの屋敷林を通ったらこの古木に珍しいものを見かけました。
On our way home from our morning walk in the Johoku Central Park, we passed through a woodland where we saw a rare sight.
対して、今朝のタイガと私は２メートルほど離れた小路を通ったのですが、鳥たちは飛んで逃げることはせずに、地上１メートルほどのところにいたのが足を使って木を登っていきました。しかも頻繁に幹を突きながら移動したので、特に警戒している様子ではありませんでした。木の横を通り過ぎてから今朝はスマホを持っていたことを思い出して撮影。こんなに近くで見られて、何だか得した気分になりました。
These birds are Picus awokera (Japanese Green Woodpecker). They are rare birds and are most sort after by birdwatchers who come to the Johoku Central Park in autumn and winter. Those bird watchers are retired men with money to spend on expensive Sony cameras. They gather in the field near the woods, looking like professional photographers with their heavy equipment. So as not to startle birds, they keep their distance from the woods and rely on their huge lenses.
In contrast, Taiga and I passed a footpath that was only 2 meters away from this tree where the birds were. Initially, I saw the birds about 1 meter above the ground on the tree trunk. As we walked past, they did not fly away. Instead, they crawled up the tree, frequently stopping to peck at the trunk. They did not seem to be scared of us. Only after passing by the tree, I remembered that I had the camera with me and started to follow their movement. Having seen these birds at such close distance, I felt blessed.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
今日の練馬区の最高気温は28℃だったそうです。この暑さで２階バルコニーに置いてあるタヒチライムの花が咲き進んでいます。
Today's maximum temperature in our Nerima Ward reached 28℃. Thanks to this warm weather, more flowers are opening on the Tahiti Lime tree on the upstairs balcony.
棒苗スタートで今年が４年目ですが、花着きがこれまでになく密で爽やかな香りがあたりに漂います。オレンジの花の香りは濃厚なのに対し、タヒチライムのは透明感のある甘い香りです。
It started as a new plant with no branches, and this is the 4th year of growing. I have never seen so many flowers in dense clusters. The scent is delicate compared to the heavy sweet scent of orange flowers.
最近になって、この特徴的な黒紫色の蕾が出てきました。
リスボンレモンも以前は２階に置いていましたが、根詰まりを起こしたので根っこの整理と地上部のダウンサイジングのために１階へ下しました。そのまま冬も外で過ごしたので、蕾が出るのはタヒチライムに遅れていました。
This Lisbon Lemon also used to be kept on the upstairs balcony. Last spring, I brough it down since it had become rootbound. After reducing the excessive roots, I also downsized the tree to make it more compact. The plant has been in the garden since, and spending the winter outside has resulted in flower buds coming out late.
The recent warm weather has brought the flower buds out. The dark flower buds are typical of Lisbon Lemon.
タイガは暑くて座布団は拒否。
It was too warm outside for Taiga to sit on the cushion.
