“Crabs in holes on the beach”

Summer beach in the Chita peninsula. There were many holes in the sand. Numerous balls of sand around the hole. I decided to move away from the hole and see what happened. After a while, a crab showed its face from the hole, looking around. Then it went outside and started making sand balls. But when I moved just a little, it sensed my presence and instantly hid in the hole. It was just a moment. [JULY 2024]

夏に海岸に行くと、浜辺に無数の穴が開いていて、まわりに砂団子が散らばっているのをよく見かけます。スナガニの仲間です。穴の中で暮らし、砂についた栄養分を食べたあと、団子にして捨てます。とても敏感に周囲の気配を察知するので、なかなか姿が見られませんが、近くで静かに待っていると、顔を出します。

“Spawning of puffer fish”

Many puffer fish were gathered under the wave blocks in the fishing port. They spawn on shallow, gravelly beaches before high tide, just before the full moon. Puffer fish left behind the beach also return to the sea at high tide. [JUNE 2024]

Takifugu alboplumbeus

６月下旬、南知多町の漁港でクサフグが産卵していました。この場所ではクサフグは満月の直前、満潮の２～３時間前に一斉に産卵行動をします。メスが産んだ卵にオスが一斉に精子をかけると、海面が真っ白になります。

“Spring cicada”

May. Walking through a wooded area by the highway, I heard the sound of insects from the pine tree tops. There were that of spring cicadas. Their numbers are declining on the peninsula and I have heard them for the first time in the last five years. I kept stopping and listening the sound of the wind through the woods, the bird and them. [MAY 2024]

Yezoterpnosia vacua

ハルゼミは新美南吉も好んだセミで４月下旬から５月に鳴きます。「松蝉」とも呼ばれ、春を代表する昆虫ですが、松林が身近な環境から減ったことで、生息場所を減らしています。松の木の高いところで鳴いているので、なかなか姿は見えません。このときは、羽化したばかりと思われるハルゼミが、林床に落ちていました。

“Dead fern submerged in water”

Winter on the wetland. Some plants remained dead. The landscape is silent. Ferns that are heavily invaded. One leaf, withered and submerged in water, caught my eye.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

“Persian speedwell”

A reservoir where cormorants have established colonies. At the end of the woods beside it, there is a rice field. When I visited on a sunny day, I found Persian speedwell in full bloom. They were glistening blue.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

クワガタソウ属のオオイヌノフグリ。田畑の畦や野道で、春の晴天のもと、青く輝いているのを見かけます。

“White giraffe head”

Giraffe heads are found in bloom even in winter. I parked the car, got out and saw some white giraffe heads at my feet. After a light snow, there were water drops on the flowers.  [JANUARY 2022]

ホトケノザは赤紫色の花を咲かせる野草。野でも街でも、季節を問わず見かけます。白い花のホトケノザは、あまり見かけることがありません。

“Two red berries”

In the woods. A small tree with red berries was growing at the base of a cedar tree. The yabukozhi is a tree of good luck. They lit up the winter woods with bright colours.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

ヤブコウジは十両とも呼ばれる縁起の良い木です。冬場、地面近くで明るい赤色を灯します。

“Frog’s egg”

February. The day after it rained, there were eggs of red frogs in the rice field. The season of life begins with the appearance of the red frog egg.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

アカガエルは２月、雨の夜に水のきれいな田んぼの止水などで産卵します。翌日のたまごは透き通っていますが、すぐに土埃をかぶって土に紛れます。

“Cricket moves quickly”

There was a cricket on fallen leaves. When it noticed me, it quickly ducked under the leaves. Then it hid and didn’t move.  [SEPTEMBER 2021]

Loxoblemmus campestris

ハラオカメコオロギは街でも林の中でもよく見かけるコオロギです。コオロギの仲間は、こちらに気づくと素早く落ち葉の下に隠れます。