Pied skimmer

　As we enter mid-September, temperatures have begun to drop in Kyoto. Whilst the once-loud chirping of the Black giant cicadas has now fallen silent, the Pied skimmers are still a common sight along the riverbanks.

　As shown in the photograph, the males have a white abdomen, whilst the females and younger individuals are yellow; they can be seen until around October.

　They are widely distributed across Japan, South Korea, China and as far as Vietnam, and were once a species not found in cold regions such as Hokkaido. However, in recent years, there has been a sharp increase in sightings in Hokkaido, and it is thought that global warming may be the cause.