Steller's Sea Eagles, eastern Hokkaido

The Steller's Sea Eagle is one of the greatest birds of the World. When Jo and I were in Hokkaido in the 1990s they were not at all hard to find and we got magnificent views of plenty of birds, especially in the east of the island (though they are also in the west, pretty near Sapporo). But those were the days before digital cameras, and we didn't have the equipment to do any justice to photos of them. Times have changed, and Steller's Sea Eagles are still easy to encounter (possibly less localised around Rausu and the eastern Shiretoko coast than they used to be), and with a combination of great light, close birds and even some discarded fish, the photographic opportunities are grea (even before February's big freeze). Here are a few of my best efforts of action shots. Doubtless there will be more to follow... I love 'em! Incidentally, the juvenile in snow was taken at sunset in a blizzard, near the Blakiston's Fish Owl stream just outside Rausu, Shiretoko.

Red Fox, eastern Hokkaido

We saw plenty of Red Foxes hunting by daylight in eastern Hokkaido. There was also abundant evidence in the form of tracks in the snow, of many more. They seem cuter, cleaner, fluffier and bolder than UK foxes. This particular individual was hanging around one of the east coast fishing harbours where we were trying to photograph sea ducks and gulls. It didn't seem at all bothered by us as it nosed around and occasionally pounced into the snow.

Some White-tailed Eagles, eastern Hokkaido

In the UK we think of White-tailed Eagles as 'barn door' birds, looking huge in the sky or perched. They are, of course, huge, but they are dwarfed by Steller's Sea Eagles, especially in the bill department!. They are still majestic and impressive birds. Most of these shots were taken on the snowy, frozen Lake Furen, where the ice-fisherman discard some of their catch of flatfish for the eagle and kites. Then it is a bit of a talon and bill bun fight! More later.

Steller's Sea Eagle, Notsuke, Hokkaido

Blakiston's Fish Owl, Rausu, Hokkaido

Here is a fishing sequence of a male Blakiston's Fish Owl from the wonderful floodlit stream area overlooked by the Rausu hide. BFO was a species that we failed to see back in 1996-1997, when I spent a year or so on Hokkaido, as a JSPS exchange research fellow at Hokkaido University, Sapporo. So, I really wanted to catch up on this brilliant bird, the world's largest (at least by weight) owl.

Red-crowned Cranes, eastern Hokkaido, Japan (part 2)