22nd February: Hokkaido – Nemuro Strait (Day 2)

Juvenile White-tailed Sea Eagle (Ojiro-washi)

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Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

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Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

We arose again before dawn to go out to the ice floes on the open sea to photograph Steller’s Sea Eagles.  However, the sea ice had gone and conditions were too rough.  We still had a voyage in the boat, but just in and around the harbour.  Since this wasn’t as productive as the previous day, I have included some more images from the previous morning.

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Mongolian Gull

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Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

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Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

Steller’s Sea Eagle is actually a very ancient species.  Some bones have been found dated around 30 million years ago that are very similar to the equivalent bones in these eagles.

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Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

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Glaucous Gull

Preceding images are from the previous day.  Following images are from the morning of the 22nd.

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Juvenile Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

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White-tailed Sea Eagle (Ojiro-washi)

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Juvenile White-tailed Sea Eagle (Ojiro-washi)

There were some eagles even in and around Rausu harbour, though not nearly as many as out in Nemuro-kaikyo Strait.

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Juvenile White-tailed Sea Eagle (Ojiro-washi)

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Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

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Steller’s Sea Eagle (O-washi)

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