First outing of 2023

Peregrine

Very heavy snow kept us indoors for the first 4 days of the year. It was snowing again this morning but we headed east where mysteriously everywhere was almost snowfree…

On this particular cape there were almost no birds except this Peregrine.

Peregrine

The local Steller’s flew by the port but I wasn’t really ready when it did.

Steller’s Sea Eagle

On the clifftop

Peregrine

One of the resident Peregrines out east today.

A quiet Monday: Eurasian Kestrel, Buff-bellied Pipit, Rustic Bunting were among the more interesting species but nothing especially noteworthy. No Waxwings or winter finches yet.

A few raptors were around.

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

I can’t get sharp BIFs pointing upwards at 700mm.

Several White-tailed Eagles were in the skies but I couldn’t find the local Steller’s anywhere.

Why do male Harlequins never come close like this female?

Harlequin Duck

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

Another wet Sunday

Peregrine

Still really mild. We were out east today: a few interesting things around but not great for photography. The above Peregrine posed nicely and there were also several White-tailed Eagle around, a lone Mountain Hawk-Eagle and 000’s of Black-legged Kittiwakes offshore.

Here’s a common local species: you can see it’s a male by the red flash on its head.

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker