Hybrid duck and more

A Mallard*Northern Pintail hybrid stays in pond of Tomakomai Experimental Forest several years ago in winter.

Japanese Wagtail is a common species in Japan, but there is a few individuals in Hokkaido, Tomakomai Experimental forest is spot to see this species in Hokkaido.

Stellar's Sea Eagle, I think this is final observation in this season in Mukawa.

26th/Mar/2011.

Eagle and wind electricity

Many eagles are wintering in Hokkaido.

Young White-tailed Eagle.

There are many wind electricity in Hokkaido especially northern Hokkaido.

Several young White-tailed Eagles had hit the propeller recently but no Steller's Sea Eagle had hit it. It said that the both species fly different manner, the context are under studying.

Tomamae, Hokkaido. Jan/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.

End of the year in Eastern Hokkaido -Notuke-

I went to Eastern Hokkaido 30th and 31th Decenmber.

In 30th, I went to Notuke. There were many eagles around at short range.

White-tailed Eagle.

Steller's Sea Eagle.

White-tailed Eagle juvenile.

Steller's Sea Eagles fed on dead fish.

Eagles on the electric pole.

I found many adult Stellers' but small number of juvenile.
I suspected that reproduction of Steller's in reporoduction area (Russian far east) was not good condition.

 Common Redpole.
I saw flock of its containing ca. 15 individuals.

The purpose of coming to this place was Gyrfalcon which came sometime came this place, but there were none of it in this season.

The snow fell at near evening.

Slaty-backed Gull juvenile.

After sunset, I moved to the spot of Brlakiston's Fish Owl and waited to appear where.
We will be able to see of it for outing nest to feeding place flying above us about once at evening.
But it appeared other point waiting me, a Belgium saw flying away above him...

I was billeted in minshuku Furen which was famous among foreign birders for English speaking host.
This day, American and Belgium (the person seeing the owl) family stayed.

Eagle hot spot in Tokachi

There is a famous eagle watching site in Tokachi: Chiyoda enclosing bund.
Because there are many dead salmon around river, many eagles like White-tailed Eagle and Stellar Sea Eagle stay in winter.
Already, several tens of White-tailed and some Stellar has come.

We can observe their feeding and fighting to scramble of food.

Makubetu, Hokkaido. 28/Nov/2010.

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.

Raptors in Ishikari

It was snowy in Toubetu-town which was a raptor observation spot at 27/Mar.

A adult White-tailed Sea Eagle was mobbed by pair of Black Kite.

They relentlessly attack the eagle, did they make their nest around here?

And I found a female Merlin.

It was seemed to be relax. This photo is its yawing.

It started grooming.

Turn!!

All photos in Tobetu town, Hokkaido. 27/Mar/2010.

Eagles in Notuke

In the end of February, many eagles were in Notuke.

White-tailed Sea Eagle.

Stellar Sea Eagle.

Is raptors fever over?

I went Mukawa to see raptors but few raptors were seen at 7th February.
In this day, heavy snow was fallen yesterday and the strong wind blew.
I could only see a few common buzzards and a young White-tailed Eagle.
Where are Hen Harrier,  Rough-legged Buzzard, and Short-eared Owl?

I could see a male Long-tailed Rose Finch.

I gave up to see birds in Mukawa, and moved for Yuhutsu Moor in Tomakomai where took about 30 minutes by car.

On the way to Yuhutsu, I saw flock of crows, and two White-tailed Eagle were flying in the flock.

They were in battle for their prey (probably fish).

The focuses in these photos didn't match. (I used manual focus lens...)

Four Bramblings fed on small seeds on the ground.

Male.

Female.

 

All photos in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 7/Feb/2010.