Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan Dec. 30, 2025

In Japan"s colder months, there"s a morning moment when stillness breaks—not with wind or footsteps, but with a bright, rolling call that sweeps across the water. Whooper swans have touched down. One loud whoop—and winter suddenly feels awake. These birds migrate from Siberia and the Russian Far East, choosing Japan as their seasonal home because its lakes offer what long-distance travellers crave: open water, steady food and a safe place to rest. One of their favourite destinations is Kotoku Pond in the Kantō region on Japan"s largest island.

© Martin Bailey/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

This snow will never melt
Dec. 30, 2023Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
Dec. 30, 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb. 5, 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
Sep. 15, 2024Ouimet Canyon in the Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park
Jan. 26, 2026Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
‘The hills have a power to soothe and heal which is their very own.’
A pink moon over Arizona
Turtle-y nice day for a swim
Oct. 5, 2023World Teachers Day
Aug. 25, 2025Colony of northern gannets in Quebec
Nov. 23, 2023Teide National Park, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Apr. 24, 2024The white trilliums in Ontario, Canada
Mar. 20, 2024Cave Dale and Peveril Castle, England
Dec. 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
May 24, 2025European Day of Parks
Jul. 8, 2025Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
Dec. 6, 2024Finnish Independence Day
Its puffling season!
Step back in time...
Sep. 28, 2025Town of Pienza in Tuscany, Italy
Oct. 10, 2024Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
Dec. 2, 2024Moose, Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
Dec. 14, 2023Boreal owl
Reddy for winter
May 13, 2025Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Jun. 14, 2024Peggys Point Lighthouse
A grand view
Oct. 7, 2023Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
Sep. 14, 2023Przewalskis horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia
Apr. 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
Mar. 27, 2024World Theatre Day