Ezo Salamander

I found adult Ezo Salamder in egg site.

They make assemblage and wait their better half, at night females come to this assemblage and lay eggs which is a couple of egg capsule.

I picked up an individual to photo.

All photos in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 17(first) and 24(the other)/Apr.

Egg laying of frog and salamander

Amphibians' breeding season in Hokkaido started!!

Ezo Brown Frog (Rana pirica) call for females.

Their eggs.

There were many Ezo Salamanders(Hynobius retardatus)' eggs.

Unfortunately I couldn't see Adults.

Oriental Greenfinch.

All photos in Shakotan, Hokkaido. 11/Apr/2010.

Spotted Seal

I went to spot of spotted seal's hall out site.
Unfortunately there was no hall-out-individual, but I saw an individual in the sea.

Breathing pose.

It seemed to be very relaxed.

All photos in Syakotan, Hokkaido. 11/Apr/2010.

Velvet

A lot of Velvet Scoter stay around Tomakomai, but they are too far from land to see by binocular, they can be recognized by scope.

Fortunately, I could see a flock of Velvet Scoter at a short distance in Yufutu coast.

I was satisfied to see them and then I had trouble; my car stacked by harbor sand.
I went too forward to take photo of them by car.
A fisher man helped me...

Little Ringed Plover was seen in Mukawa, it was my first record in this season.
The season of shorebirds started.

10/Apr/2010

Stealer Sea......not Eagle

Stealer Sea Lions stay at sea of Japan coast in Hokkaido.
They come to Hokkaido to feed on fish from Kuril Islands, Aleutian islands, and Alaska etc in spring season.

Japanese eat a lot of fish, sea lions also eat huge amount of fish, so fisherman have trouble with Sea Lions.

The removal of Sea Lions is performed, although it is close extinction and protected in Russia and the US.

I went to two rest sites of them in Ishikari.

One individual rested in this spot.
Bended steel stick is ruin of fence to prevent sea lion landing, but it is too fragile for sea lions.

Another place was also a male stayed.

Coraborat with Slaty-backed Gull and Japanese Cormorant.

I went this place last year, there were over 40 individuals.

I saw landed Harlequin Ducks near the sea lion's cay.

 Black-tailed Gull.

All photos in Ishikari, Hokkaido. 4/Apr/2010.

Saunder's Gull

I saw Saunder's Gull at Osatu-numa.
This is a rare species in Japan and endangered extinction.
It is very rare case to be seen in Hokkaido.

This individual ate an object close to me, but the focus....

Photos in Chitose, Hokkaido. 3/Apr/2010.

Tomakomai to Osatu

A pair of Smew was at pond in Tomakomai Experimental Forest.

In the morning, I walked around trail in the forest.
Eurasian Nuthatches approached to me.
This photo doesn't mistake direction.

Move to Osatu-numa...

The number of Whooper Swan have a peak of migration.

Photos in Tomakomai (photo no.1-2) and Chitose (3-5), Hokkaido. 29/Mar/2010 (1-3), 3/Apr/2010 (4-5).