Everglades Birds and Alligators

The bird spreading its wings "0:16" is called Anhinga. I like the bird best in this video. I had not known the name before visiting the Everglades.
It is a dark-plumaged fish-eater and often swims with only the neck above water.
When swimming, the colored neck appears above water, the bird looks like a snake.

The Anhinga's feathers are not waterproofed by oils like those of ducks causing the bird to become barely buoyant. However, this allows it to dive easily and search for fish under the water.

When necessary, the Anhinga will dry out its wings and feathers.
It will perch for long time with its wings spread to allow the drying process.

Tennis Tournament in Igashira Park

From the left: It's me, Ms Tajima, Hiroto and Ms. Kaneda.

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Even though the result turned out to be regretful to me, I enjoyed playing tennis in the tennis tournament held in Igashira Park today.

It became rather warm and gentle day comparing to that of a year ago.
I took part in the same tournament exactly one year ago with Ms. Tajima. We could beat some teams but could not win the tournament again.

The tournaments were divided into three classes: there were an upper level class, a middle level class and a beginners’ level class.
Participants can decide their appropriate class by themselves according to the unwritten classification.
Beginners or players older than forty years old could participate in the beginners’ level class.

We participated in the beginners’ level class … but …

Anyway, I have to thank God for being able to have friends with whom I play tennis and for that I have been in the perfect physical condition, no pain at all in any part of my body, since a few months ago.

Thanks everyone, Ms. Tajima, Ms. Kaneda, Mr. Kosuge, Ms. Itoh, high school boy Hiroto and staff who ran the tournaments for sharing the wonderful day with me.
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Browsing on the Web; YouTube “Ken Tanaka”

I found an interesting series of YouTube videos few months ago. It has attracted me very much since then. The story goes like…
A man whose name is Ken Tanaka was born in Los Angeles in 1973. Later, a Japanese family in Shimane Prefecture adopted him. He has been brought up in Japan and is now looking for his real parents, Jonathan and Linda Smith in Los Angeles.
The videos are about his journey looking for his real parents and happenings around him.
How did I find it? Yes, I was brought up in Shimane same as Ken. One day I was looking for videos on YouTube with a search keyword “Shimane” and hit them.
There are 16 sets of videos, so far, and most of them are numbered. If you have time ,please watch them in order. I promise you can enjoy them.
URL follows,
http://www.youtube.com/user/helpmefindparents


When I was browsing on the web, a bird was looking at me. I took his picture.