A grey Christmas Eve

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

It was a dark cold christmas eve….

We were east of town checking on the Steller’s Sea Eagle which takes up residence there every winter. It was there but sat on a tree on the mountainside doing nothing. A Mountain Hawk-Eagle put in a brief appearance at least.

The port was quiet but this Pelagic Cormorant popped up close.

Pelagic Cormorant

We stayed at a hotel on a nearby cape…

Peregrine

Pelagic Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

We were back in the same port one week later and most of the birds from last week were still around including this tame Pelagic Cormorant. This is the smallest of the 3 common cormorant species in Japan.

Pelagic Cormorant

Most interesting bird was an offshore White-billed Diver which was too far away for a photo. At Yakumo there were lots of Bewick’s and Whooper Swan, a flock of White-fronted Geese and a few Bean Geese too.