Cruise in midwinter

I organized Tomakomai cruise in February.
This cruise was held under weak wind although winter tended to be rough around these sea area in general.

But there was less appearance of sea birds as much as we expected.

Though there was a number of Least Auk, one of main target of this cruise,  other auks we expected (Crested Auklet and Long-billed Murrelet) were not seen.

Black-throated Diver.

Fur seal.

Black Scoters before riding on boat.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 19th/Feb/2012.

Murrelets

Five auks were observed around Tomakomai sea area organized cruise at 17th December.

Ancient Murrelet,

Long-billed Murrelet,

Least Auklet,

Brünnich's Guillemot, and Rhinoceros Auklet (no photo).

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 17th/Dec/2011.

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.

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.

Tomakomai Cruise -injured far seal-

I found a Fur Seal.

It was curious to see at the boat, but it was injured by fishery mesh putting on its neck.

I worried about its feature.

By the way, I forgot to upload Brünnich's Guillemot.

Tomakomai Cruise

I organized cruising boat in Tomakomai at 20th February.

As soon as the cruise started, a Spectacled Guillemot appeared.

I felt it was good omen, but good birds didn't appeared around this sea area. So I was forward to off shore.

I found a sea area where a numbers of Least Auklets were staying, I counted in total about 50 individuals in this area, but they were too shy flying away at far distance to take photo. I tried to approach them, as a result, I got closer enough to observe.

I think Laysan Albatross is a summer visitor in this sea area, but some of them are staying in this season.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 20th/Feb/2011.

Souya

I heard female Steller's Eider which was very rare species in Japan was at fishery port in Wakkanai city, I had time to go to Northern Hokkaido.

As soon as I arrived port, I found the target at long distance with Long-tailed Duck and female Velvet Scotter. I observed it through scope, it was near shore. I tried to approach and success to take photo at short range. It was not so shy I expected because it didn't dive into water or flew away for escaping.

A Common Guillemot was also in this port.

Wakkanai, Hokkaido. 5/Feb/2011.

Tomakomai Cruise

I organized cruise in Tomakomai at 15th January.
It was very waving day, so it was difficult to find birds.

Brünnich's Guillemot.

A number of Laysan Albatrosses were seen, though they were seen in summer as usual.

Some Least Auklets were seen. An individual were at very short range beside me, unfortunately I didn't see it...

A White-tailed Eagle flew above my boat.