A resident bird called grey heron (aosagi in Japanese) discovered in the pond in Zenpukuji Park in NISHIOGI. It was standing still at the top of a stake surrounded by water lilies for a long time.
The bird is the largest of all herons, 93cm (or about 37inches) in length, and is characterized by a long pointed yellow bill and a black crest.
In haiku, the grey heron is a summer season word. The well-known haiku poet, Matsuo Basho composed the following:
” hiru neburu aosagi no mi no toutosayo.”
A tentative translation can be, “what a divine figure the grey heron has with standing asleep motionlessly for a long time in the daytime!”
悠然と佇む鳥
西荻の善福寺公園・下の池のスイレンに囲まれた杭の上に悠然と佇む留鳥・青鷺(アオサギ)。
サギの仲間では最も大きく、全長93㎝。くちばしが黄色で、長くとがり、黒色の冠羽に特徴がある。
俳句の世界では、アオサギは夏の季語。俳聖・松尾芭蕉の句に次のものがある。
昼ねぶる 青鷺の身の たふとさよ