Sea lion in winter

I went to Ishikari to see Sea Lion with my friends at 30th Jan.

Last day, I watched football until 2:30, Japan won the prize of Asian cup!, I got up 6:00, so a little sleepy.

It was fallen snow last day, we wade through deep snow to open up a trail to the point of sea lion without snowshows .

It cost much time I expected, I hoped to obserb and to take photo of landing from sea, because they were nocturnal  and rest on rocky habitat of sea shore. But they already landed.

Stealer Sea......not Eagle

Stealer Sea Lions stay at sea of Japan coast in Hokkaido.
They come to Hokkaido to feed on fish from Kuril Islands, Aleutian islands, and Alaska etc in spring season.

Japanese eat a lot of fish, sea lions also eat huge amount of fish, so fisherman have trouble with Sea Lions.

The removal of Sea Lions is performed, although it is close extinction and protected in Russia and the US.

I went to two rest sites of them in Ishikari.

One individual rested in this spot.
Bended steel stick is ruin of fence to prevent sea lion landing, but it is too fragile for sea lions.

Another place was also a male stayed.

Coraborat with Slaty-backed Gull and Japanese Cormorant.

I went this place last year, there were over 40 individuals.

I saw landed Harlequin Ducks near the sea lion's cay.

 Black-tailed Gull.

All photos in Ishikari, Hokkaido. 4/Apr/2010.

Shiretoko Ship -Sea mammals-

On the Shiretoko Cruising,I saw two mammals: sea lion and whale.


Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus).



Giant beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii).
The island behind their is Kunashiri island.

All photos in Rausu, Hokkaido. 28/Nov/2009

Steller Sea Lion

Ishikari, Hokkaido, 4/may/2009

Steller Sea Lions come Hokkaido at spring.

They hunt herring at night and sleep on cay at daytime.
There were about 40 on the same cay, though some cays were found around here.

They were seemed to be very sleepy.