Some adult Stellers Sea Eagles at Yakumo this afternoon. These (and most of the eagle BIF shots below) were taken in a 5 minute period when the blizzards stopped and the skies cleared briefly.
The day started off on a very cold windswept beach looking for Snow Buntings in a blizzard. This has been one of my bogey species in Japan, everyone else seems loads of 'em but until today not me (though I've seen them in the UK before).
There were 6 of them. They were difficult to approach and like I say the weather was just atrocious.
In amongst them were 4 Lapland Buntings, they were even shyer..........this was the best I could manage.
The eagles were up in the trees sitting out the blizzard.............this one was during a very temporary lull in the snow.
When the sun did break through several of the eagles took off..........this is an adult White Tailed Eagle.
Most of the birds my camera was chasing were Stellers though.........
The weather soon closed in again..............
And finally an immature of both species as the skies grew gloomier and gloomier.......
It was the first real heavy snow of the winter, it was just about possible to walk off road in Yakumo today but that'll probably be the last time until spring.
Not much else around, we had a look at the port in Oshamanbe, there were only Scaup, Black Necked Grebe and Goldeneye. Lots of Great Egrets everywhere too.
Liverpool won, now up to #6, will they get any higher?
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Great to see the Stellers. Only a long shot dream here. Maybe one at the end of January. The snow also looks better than rain.
ReplyDeleteFantastic Eagle shots Stu.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for joining my blog.In my garden I don't see the great variety of birds that you are able to photograph,lucky you!!These shots are fabulous.I have only ever seen rock buntings
ReplyDeletein my garden,and the eagles fly way too high for
me to capture.Great stuff!!!
Stunning shots.
ReplyDeleteMmmm Steller's! Excellent flight shots. Glad you got the Snow Buntings - I had 3 today at Musselburgh but on the concrete sea wall.
ReplyDeleteSuperb BIFs, Stu. I love the first Snow Bunting. What a neat looking bird! So you have snow! We have none of that here. But plenty of rain these days.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments..........
ReplyDeleteWell Gallcissa, I guess you could look for some Rain Buntings...........
Now that's what I call a Snow Bunting, in the snow. Funny how they have become really scarce in our area in recent years - now almost a twitchable bird. Great Steller's shots - stellar actually.
ReplyDelete