GUIDED BIRDWATCHING TOUR
We'll drive you around Ishigaki Island to wherever the birds are showing best that day. Observation is mostly from inside the vehicle, and we keep it to a maximum of 3 guests so everyone can take their time.
昨年は1羽だけでしたが、今年はペアでやってきました。
A male Blakiston's Fish Owl. The left eye is injured.
The female Blakiston's Fish Owl. After receiving a fish from the male as a courtship feeding, she flew off immediately.
When the sun rose, a crow caught a fish. It's one size larger than the crows on Ishigaki Island. ^^;
朝方はマイナス15℃まで冷え込みました。石垣島を出発する時は、20℃以上あったのでものすごい温度差。^^;
そんな寒いところでも小さな鳥たちは元気に飛び回っていました。
A male Great Spotted Woodpecker.
A Eurasian Treecreeper turned up while I was watching the Ural Owl.
A Long-tailed Tit also appeared, but I was shooting from directly below… ^^;
Eurasian Jay.
虹別のエゾフクロウ。他に、標茶、中標津、釧路など4カ所を回りましたがどこも留守。^^;
Ural Owl at Nizubetsu.
There was just one. I'd love to see a pair side by side someday.
今回はキタキツネをたくさん見ました。
It leapt and caught a mouse.
I also saw two Red Foxes together a few times.
Hokkaido Sika Deer were everywhere. There were especially large numbers around Lake Furen.
Sika Deer at sunset.
鶴居村、阿寒町でタンチョウ。
It was bitterly cold….
Big, aren't they.
A White-tailed Eagle came to steal food from the Red-crowned Cranes.
Black Kites also came after the food, but the sheer presence of the White-tailed Eagles seemed to keep them from getting much.
It looks like the avian flu has died down — this time, the swans were no longer being chased off by snowmobiles.
5時ごろ出港し、晴天にも恵まれ日の出とオオワシ、オジロワシが見られました!!
Just before sunrise. The eagles are already up and about on the drift ice.
It's not a Crested Serpent Eagle, but is this the kind of scenery that inspired the song "Washi nu Tuidushi"?
Steller's Sea Eagle at dawn.
A juvenile Steller's Sea Eagle with the Shiretoko mountain range behind it.
White-tailed Eagle.
A close-up of a White-tailed Eagle. What a dignified look.
White-tailed Eagle standing on drift ice.
Steller's Sea Eagle flying toward me. Everything about it is enormous. ^^;
Juvenile White-tailed Eagle.
Two Steller's Sea Eagles in battle. Quite fierce.
Juvenile Steller's Sea Eagle and adult Steller's Sea Eagle. It ended with just a minor skirmish.
Enormous. ^^;
Rugged. ^^;
White-tailed Eagle flying toward me.
Wingspan about 2 metres.
Head-on, the face has a surprisingly endearing quality. ^^
Steller's Sea Eagle body-slamming a White-tailed Eagle.
Steller's Sea Eagle landing on the ice.
Aerial combat between Steller's Sea Eagles. Talons fully extended.