Swans in Sakata

On 23rd November, hubby and I visited Mogami-gawa Swan Park. The swan park is located on the north bank of Mogami River in Sakata city of Yamagata prefecture. This park and its neighborhood are famous for wild swans which fly in from Siberia every October on their way to warmer regions. It has been reported that the migration area on Mogami-gawa is the largest in Japan with around 10000 swans coming every year. Besides the swans, wild ducks and sea gulls also visit this area. The swans and other migratory birds stay in the park during the winter season and return back to Siberia in spring.

Mogami-gawa Swan Park is located about 69 kilometers southwest of our home and it took us 1.5 hours to reach there by our car. We reached the swan park at 6.30 am and the sun had risen. So unfortunately, all the swans had already left the river in search of food. We could see a pair of swans in the river and hubby joked that they were lazy just like us! We realized that we should have started at least an hour earlier from our home, and so decided to visit the swan park again some other day.

Mogami-gawa Swan Park

Mogami-gawa Swan Park

A pair of swans in Mogami River

The pair of swans in the river

The pair of swans in the river

Hubby and the pair of swans

While driving back home, we saw a small herd of swans in a rice field. Rice had already been harvested and only the stubble and/or fodder crop remained in the fields. The swans were feeding on waste rice grains left over after the harvest, as well as on insects and small invertebrates that inhabit rice fields. We stopped our car and had fun watching the swans in the field. We took a few photos of the birds.

A herd of swans in a rice field

A herd of swans in a rice field

Close up view of the herd of swans

Close up view of the herd of swans

After driving for another 10 minutes or so, we saw a very large herd of swans gathered in another rice field. Again we stopped our car and walked towards the rice field. We took several photos of the amazing view from afar.

A large herd of swans in a vast field

A large herd of swans in a vast field

I am walking towards the swans

The rice field was vast and we had to walk for about 5 minutes to get a better view of the large herd of swans.

View of the rice field and the herd of swans to our left

View of the rice field and the herd of swans in front of us

View of the rice field and the herd of swans to our right

As we neared the herd of swans, some of the birds started getting agitated. We did not wish to disturb the swans and so we decided not to go too near them. It was marvelous to see so many swans in the vast rice field. We took a few photos of the birds.

Close up view of the herd of swans

Close up view of the herd of swans

Close up view of the herd of swans

As we were walking back towards our car, we saw a small family of swans in a nearby field. We also saw several other swans spread their wings and take off to the sky. It was so wonderful to watch them.

A small family of swans

Swans flying in the air

Swans flying in the air