Mountain birds and Hawk

After cruising (1, 2), I went to Kucchan for camping with my friends.

At the night, we drank and talked. I saw Eurasian Woodcock flying and calling and heard song of White's Thrush and Ural Owl.

Next morning, I saw Narcissus Flycatcher and Siberian Blue Robin, but I couldn't take a photo of them.

When I left camp site, I saw a Oriental Honey Buzzard.

Crop image. The wing finger is 6 (Mountain Hawk Eagle is 7).

After going to hot spring I went to Bifue-no-taki (fall) at Tomakomai.

In this area, I heard many song of Siberian Blue Robin and Japanese Robin.
But bush and leave hided them.

27th/Jun/2010.

Black foot

In this cruise, the high light was Black-footed Albatross.

I recognized over 20 Black-footed Albatrosses.

I threw squid for the albatross, they came to boat and new individuals came.
In total 6 individuals battled for the foods.

"More foods please!!"

I saw two Laysan Albatrosses.

In this cruise, it was a little high wave, three people had seasickness.

Tomakomai cruising -Sooty-

I organized Tomakomai Cruise 26th/Jun.

Comparing last month cruise, Divers, Phalaropes, and Ducks disappeared and Rhinoceros Auklet was decrease, 4 individuals were seen.
 
Short-tailed Shearwater replaced Sooty Shearwater.

They were seen at about 30-40km offshore from land.

I will mention about a bird lower right in this photo.

Grey-headed Bunting breeding

A pair of Grey-head Bunting breed in Ishikari.

Male claimed their territory.

Female carried worms for their chicks.

Stonechat.

All photos in Ishikari. 20/Jun/2010.

TOEF

Facilities of Tomakomai Experimental Forest set bird house on the wall. Russet Sparrow has its nest in this box.

The parents are busy for feeding to their chicks.

Black-faced Bunting breeds in Hokkaido.
When I lived in Tokyo, I recognized this species was winter visitor.

I walked around trail of Tomakomai Experimental Forest after birding of Yuhutu, and found a spot of sighting for Japanese Grey-thrush at short range.

They sang on the top of tree.

All photos in Tomakomai. 19/Jun/2010.

Brown Shrike

I went to Yuhutu to see Brown Shrike, a rare species in Japan, lived in shrub and grass land habitat.

I observed its grooming.

This area I see its is planed for construction of a new road which is not necessary I think. It is possible for their disappearing after construction.
The road will complete in several year...

Turtle Dove is a summer bird in Hokkaido.

These photos in Tomakomai (Brown Shrike) and Mukawa (Tutle Dove). 19/Jun/2010.

Chicks of Ural Owl

My friend told me the place of Ural Owl's breeding site after three chicks fledging.
The day I was told about the thing was 7th, but I couldn't go there.
They will disappear after several day, thus it is the best to go immediately. Though  I wanted to go there, the job inhibit me.
At 11th, I went to the place.

Two individuals of them stayed this place yet.
It is first time to see chick of Ural Owl. They were so cute!

They were dozing, repeated close and open eyes.

Several days later, I went this place again. But they disappeared.
I pray for healthy growth of them.

Photos in Tomakomai, 11/Jun/2010.

After cruise in Tokachi

After birding cruise, I went to a birding spot in Tokachi.

A family of Japanese Crane breeds in this spot, two chicks walked with their parents.

Back of Long-tailed Rosefinch.

Lanceolated Warbler is a grasshopper warbler, so it is difficult to see because it hides in grass like Minddendorff's Grasshopper Warbler. And the breeding habitat is more restricted than other Grasshopper Warbler in Hokkaido.

This was my first time to observe it though I've ever heard its song.

This spot is one of Yellow-breasted Bunting sighting area. Yellow-breasted Bunting which breed in only Hokkaido in Japan is a endangered species. Recently, it shows drastic decrease and disappearing many area.
I've ever seen this bunting just for a moment of its flying several years ago in Sarobetu which is a famous Yellow-breasted Bunting spot in northern Hokkaido.

Fortunately I could see a male individual.

I hope it successes breeding in this season.

Assemblage of Albatross

On this boat, Laysan Albatross came close to us!

When they noticed feeding of Fulmar, they came running on the water surface.

They fought to get cods which we threw away.

It was very exiting.


Unfortunately, a Black-footed Albatross flew away near the boat, but it didn't parch on the water at close range.

Assemblage feeding

Suddenly the captain began fishing, many cods were caught.
Then he cut the fish and srew away to the sea.

Fullmars assemblated and began to eat them, so we can observe them in front of us.

In a short time, the captain caught many cods and a salmon which we cooked it later, yummy.

And this ones came front of us.