Cruise in Tomakomai

I organized cruise in Tomakomai last Sunday.

The weather was not so good, strong wind postponed the cruise on Saturday and swayed on Sunday.

I observed interesting action of Rhinoceros Auklet: two individuals stretched their neck each other, I thought it was their display. No one knew the display of it in crew, it was strange behavior.

Brünnich's Guillemot also was seen two individual-flock as like pair.
But they doesn't bleed in Japan. Are they no-bleeding pairs?

Pacific diver was seen not only at short range but heard its voice. It was my first time to listen its voice.

Short-tailed Shearwater.

Phalaropes are main target in this season, confer this and this entries last year.
We hoped tens thousands of Phalaropes, but only hundreds of them stayed around this area. And Red Phalarope was absent. I think timing of migration delayed compared to annual.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 15th/May/2011.

Morning

I went birding only morning last Saturday.

Red Squirrel.

Summer visitors came to Sapporo.
In this time, I only took photo of only Short-tailed Bush Warbler.

Surprisingly, Brown-eared Bulbul caught a cicada. I was aware cicadas already emerged they will sing in a few days. Summer is comming, though it is still cold.

Carrion Crow.

Sapporo, Hokkaido. 14th/May/2011.

Sea line between island

On the ferry to island, I searched sea birds of course.

 Many Rhinoceros Auklets were observed in this sea area because vast number of them bleeding in Teuri island, confer old entry.

Spectacled Guillemot. They bleeds in Teuri island.

White-billed Diver, it was my friend's lifer. He found this individual with exciting.

4th and 5th/May/2011.

Teuri island

There were not so many migration birds in Teuri island,too.

At first, Spotted Seals and Japanese Cormorants.

Many Gold Crest and vast Dusky Thrush (I didn't take photo) were observed....

 Northern Wryneck sang several place.

Latham's Snipe bleeds in this island.

This was only my lifer: Greater Short-toed Lark with a subspecies of White Wagtail ocularis.

Teuri island, Hokkaido. 3th and 4th/May/2011.

Yagishiri

I went to Yagishiri and Teuri island to see birds migration.

Unfortunately, migration was later than usual, not many birds were observed.

Generally, I went to only Teuri island, changing of pace, I was forward to Yagishiri island before arriving Teuri in one day, the ferry was twice in a day.

Slaty-backed Gull.

Red-flanked Bluetail was only migration bird taken photos in Yagishiri island.....

Hole out site of Spotted Seal...

Corydalis ambigua

Yagishiri island, Hokkaido. 4th/May/2011.

Dolphin and whale

I attended nature cruise in Rausu,

Flock of Dall's Porpoise

Minke Whale

Migration of Short-tailed Shearwater began in this area, several ten thousands of this shearwater will assemble within several weeks.

Rausu, Hokkaido. 30th/Apr/2011.

The biggest owl

I observed Blakiston's Fish Owl at "Washinoyado" which was famous inn for watching this owl.

Now, the pare coming this site was in incubation period, so a male individual came to observation site twice a day.

Rausu, Hokkaido. 29th/Apr/2011.

Nemuro to see Red -faced summer plumage

I went to Nemuro at 29th April to attend sea bired cruise, but strong wind abandoned.

Instead of that, I had one more fun: flock of Red-faced Cormorant assembled for preparing bleeding at Nosappu cape the edged of Nemuro peninsula.

Arriving the spot a young individual stayed the spot.

After observation, I moved to other place to see other sea birds, but I didn't feel satisfication.
Returning to the spot, a adult stayed the same place with a Japanese Cormorant!

After observation, I moved to Rausu to see the biggest owl...

Diver

I went to Shakotan with my friends who went fishing, I attend his trip.

While they were fishing, I searched sea birds from shore.
I watched Black-throated Diver, Pacific Diver, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Steller's Sea Lion.

Flock of Black-throated Diver, one individual turned into summer plumage.

Shakotan, Hokkaido. 24th/Apr/2011.