April cruise

I organized Tomakomai cruise, my first time held in April. Though I could not expect species observed in this time, it became good cruise.

Ancient Murrelet.




Hudreds of Short-tailed Shearwaters migrated to east.

Summer plumage of Long tail duck which is difficult to see in Hokkaido.

Flock of Velver Scoter. I could observe them at short range. Scoters are very timid, run away as soon as the boat approaches. Was it mating?

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 22th/Apr/2012.

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.

Shearwaters

Buller's Shearwater was one of main target of this cruise.

It was often sleeping.

"I'm sleepy"

Flesh-footed Shearwater.

Another target was Red-legged Kittiwake. Although we searched flock of Kittiwake one by one, no one contained...

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 29th/Oct/2011.

Coast

Red-throated Loon stays around Tomakomai coast. We observed 100± of them.

Velvet Scotters were also observed over 100.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 29th/Oct/2011.

young Black foot

I think this individual is a juvenile, because plumage is black luster and no wear compared with other individuals.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 29th/Oct/2011.

Skua gang

Pomarine Skua attack Black-regged Kittiwake around Tomakomai sea area in October.

Five Pomarines attacked one Kittiwake... Further, Streak Shearwater aimed its drop.

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. 29/Oct/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.

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.

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.

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.