We headed up to Shiretoko to try for Pine Grosbeaks at the top of the pass there. The weather was pretty nasty on the way…….here are 2 oft seen roadside birds on the way up there……….
And on the way north we came across some White-throated Needletails………..
There were 2 White-tailed Eagles at Onuma and they caused much panic and consternation among the wildfowl…………….
In addition to the geese. ducks and swans there were Little Grebe, Black, Grey-headed and Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Siskin, Dusky Thrush, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron and Great Egret.
Hakodate was very quiet. Black-necked Grebe at Kamiiso, my first Osprey of the year at Moheji and a White-tailed Eagle at Shiriuchi were the only noteworthy species.
At least spring is well on its way……………
I was surprised there were still some eagles around at Oshamanbe at the weekend: 4 White-taileds and 1 Steller’s.
I keep saying it but surely they’ll be gone next time.
As you can see Sunday was a beauriful spring day.
The adult Steller’s Sea Eagle was still at Esan on Monday but it didn’t co-operate for any photos. The above subadult flew over, a different individual maybe passing through on its way north. The White-tailed Eagle below was one of at least 6 in the area…………
This surely must be my last eagle post of the winter……………
White-tailed Eagles were everywhere this weekend, some of them presimably just passing through on their way north. This one was at the cape in Esan.
Now is the season for finding Eagles all over the place as they head north. These 2 White-tailed Eagles and the Steller’s below were all sitting around next to the river in the middle of Oshamanbe.
The eagles have dispersed and only a handful remain at Yakumo. This White-tailed eagle was perched right outside someone’s bedroom window near Oshamanbe………….
The tree that held the adult Steller’s Sea Eagle eating a duck was also temporary home to 4 other eagles. Another 2 Steller’s (one immature) and 2 adult White-taileds.
These were midstream. There were about a dozen eagles on a small stretch of river……….
This Steller’s Sea Eagle was eating a duck I think, it’s very rare to see them eating anything other than salmon in Yakumo. Shame about the branches………….
Several other eagles were hanging around the same tree hoping for some scraps………..
Upstream at Yakumo the eagles have started to disperse as the salmon carcasses begin to dwindle…………
And most of those upstream appear to be White-tailed Eagle, and soon few of either species will remain. The most sought-after bird in this location for local photographers is Crested Kingfisher and although I see them every time I visit during the eagle season I have yet to take a single decent photo of one. Ever.
