www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

The splitters strike again Essex Great Crane shots and the volcanic vents shot is eerily appealing, quite surreal looking in a way:D

Have a goodun

Wurzel

You sure get to some obscure places, Mark!!

Thanks for sharing those images and I look forward to seeing more. Where is next on your globe-trotting agenda?

Thanks everyone, yes we had seen some fantastic stuff so far. The holiday bank is running low, David!

The next day, we headed down to the coast. Stopping at Shibetsu, we found the harbour mostly frozen, but any clear areas had a good selection of ducks and gulls. Red breasted mergansers and goosanders were in good numbers, as well as scaups and tufted ducks. These are scaups. A nice flock of goldeneyes were also here. We then headed along the coast, arriving at the small fishing town of Rousu in time for an early afternoon boat trip out of the harbour. When fish began to be thrown from the boat, we were soon surrounded by slaty back gulls. We had already seen some eagles from the road, but soon, the first white-tailed eagles started to circle down, and were soon snatching the fish from the water and ice, right in front of us.what a spectacular sight! These are very impressive birds-the fourth largest eagles in the world, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet, the white tails of the adults glistening against the blue sky. Yet the white tails here are dominated, by the presence of an even bigger relative, and that’s what we will be looking at next.

I am eagerly awaiting the 'bigger relative' Essex I've seen a pair in captivity and 'big as a Barn door' doesn't even come into it, more like a Barn

Have a goodun

Wurzel

We had seen a few around in the last couple days, but it was around Rousu that we got really close to the mighty Stellers white tailed sea eagles. These really are huge birds- the largest eagle in the world, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet, and with a beak and tallons to match. They breed in Kamchatka, and spend the winter in Korea and north Japan, with concentrations in eastern Hokkaido. To see dozens of these magnificent birds in and around the town is a sight that will live long in the memory. They, together with the white tails have been coming here for many years but nowadays, they take advantage of fish thrown out for them from fishing boats. This, in turn, attracts many birdwatchers and admirers, in the deep mid winter, to Rousu. For years it has been a dream of mine to come here and see these eagles. Now it’s a dream come true!

To start, they circled our boat with the white tails. But soon they were landing on the ice, and feeding on the fish close to our boat. Here are a stellers and a white tail, perched, in order of rank.

Even in the pictures you can tell just how MASSIVE those eagles are, I can only imagine the incredible sight of them in the air!

Words can hardly describe how splendid both eagles were, Bugboy!

Back in the harbour, a flock of harlequin ducks had arrived, my first ever! While the eagles watched on from the harbour wall, waiting for fish, not ducks. Here are the two eagle species together. A great way to finish the day.

We had a marvellous time with the eagles in Rousu. So, next day, it was time to head out at dawn, to watch the sunrise over the mountains, and to take another boat trip further out to sea. The pack ice had arrived, and this set the scene for what was to prove a truly memorable encounter. Lots of pictures to come!

Wow! Those Eagles are awesome, great shots Essex.

Those Eagles were as I suspected And Harlequin Ducks

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Fantastic shots essex, I really envy your journey looking forward to your next shots Goldie

Thanks everyone. This place was in the process of blowing my mind. And there’s more to come!

So, we went on our boat trip, heading out to sea, and into the sea ice. What can I say? It was awesome. There were eagles. Hundreds of them. Unlike the previous day, stellers sea eagles outnumbered white tailed, but, as the fish began to be thrown from the boat, both put on a spectacular show. Some of the dedicated photographers, with their expensive lenses, must have got some fantastic images. But for me, it was about trying to capture the scene, and about the memories. So I’ll stop waffling and let the pictures do the talking!

In case that wasn’t enough, here are some more!

Absolutely brilliant shots Essex, stunning

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel. After our boat trip, we headed out a nearby long peninsula. To be fair, this was fairly quiet compared to the eagles, but there were plenty of sea ducks, especially black scoters. Meanwhile, mammals put on a good show, with lots of sika deer, and several foxes, with their thick winter coats. Back in Rousu harbour, the harlequin ducks were still present. Here is one taking a dive. While a large group of pelagic cormorants had assembled. On the harbour wall, gulls were resting. Here is a glaucous wing gull, with some colour on it’s wingtips. And this is glaucous gull, like I saw in Cornwall the other week. A juv is just visible to the right. A stream behind the hotel held brown dipper.

Next day, we were leaving Rousu, but there was still time for a look behind the hotel. Both marsh and willow tit are found in Hokkaido. This was considered to be a marsh tit. The lovely little Pygmy woodpecker was also here. In Rousu harbour, the eagles were present again. This is stellers sea eagle adult and juvenile. Here is an adult white tailed eagle. And this is a young white tailed. In the ice-free areas, goosanders and mergansers were present. We then headed back to shibetsu, where lunch was taken. But there was still time to have a look around the harbour, where sea duck were found, watched over by another stellers sea eagle. They show remarkably little fear of humans, and allow a close approach. Much to my pleasure! .

At their size I'm not surprised they show no fear of humans More mouthwatering species/shots Essex I am surprised they haven't sub-species'd the Marah Tit as it looks much, much more grey than our 'version'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Those Stellers Sea Eagles are beyond impressive, Mark. Must have been a thrill of a lifetime to have them so close to you in such numbers?

The supporting cast isn't to be sniffed at either. I can see why you made this trip for sure.

Just been catching up on your trip to Japan Mark, some great birds and other wildlife in your photos but those Stellers Sea Eagles really are something special...great stuff

Cheers,

Neil.

Hi Wurzel, stellers sea eagles breed in Kamchatka. I don’t know if there’s any raptor persecution there, but Siberian tigers live nearby and they have definitely become the victims of hunters. So the eagles lack of fear was a surprise. To be fair, the marsh tit may look pale due to the reflection of the snow on the ground, though they do look slightly different to ours.

David, white tailed eagles are truly impressive, even with the distant views I’ve had before. So to see these and the even bigger species, so close as well, was absolutely spectacular. And will live with me for the foreseeable future, as will the other stuff we saw!

Thanks Neil, yes those stellers sea eagles, as well as the white tails, really were something else. The cranes were pretty awesome, too!