September at Yasugawa (野洲川) begins gently as the hot, lazy days of summer continue. Great egrets and grey herons stand patiently in and along the river.
As the river rises in early September, we see fewer egrets at popular summer locations such under the Shinkansen (新幹線) bridge.
Many egrets gather at the dam between Yasu City and Moriyama City.
Some pursue fish in the river below the dam.
Some perch on the dam and hunt for small aquatic animals.
Some hunt in nearby fields, eating grasshoppers and other insects. Sometimes they find larger prey.
Fall weather begins in early October. Many birds begin to migrate to warmer locations, while some egrets and herons remain at Yasugawa.