Japan 160203 Boat tour Rausu - Flight to Tokyo

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

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© NF Photos 160203

Breakfast at 06.00 and ready to leave at 7.00h. I asked for help with my baggage because my legs was still wobbly from the cramp and I was on the second floor without a lift. Bus loaded with luggage and traveler´s and being waved of by the staff we headed for the harbor in Rausu. We were to board a boat for photographing eagles out on the ocean. And of course they brought breakfast for the eagles.

When we were out they stopped the boat and started to throw fish overboard. And soon enough we had eagles all over the place. Both kinds of sea eagles. But most of them were the Stellar´s Sea Eagle, the mighty bird. It is really a powerful bird. The rising sun was beautiful but who had time for that? There was eagles all around us. 

It was cold so the small heating pads was good to have in the boots and mittens. We moved the boat a little now and then so you have to be close to the fences for support. The floor too was slippery here and there. So, support was good. So, no crossing of floors if not necessary. 

From the beginning we were supposed to photograph eagles on ocean ice, but there was no ice so we were taken to the high pier instead. Looked kind of cool with all the birds on the top of the snowy pier. 

After about 2h we were done and was back on land boarding the bus that would take us down to Akan Tancho no Sato, the Crane sanctuary again. Due to the changes in plans we had time to visit the beautiful cranes again. We were there at 14.00h when they fed the birds with fish but today they landed the fish on the wrong place, so, not that much fuss among the eagles and cranes to our disappointment. But there was some fun with the fox.

lift off

  a fox payed a visit.

 A sea eagle steels the fish

After that we had to go to the airport for a trip back to Tokyo and the last night in Japan. Same hotel as before at the domestic part of the airport. We had time for dinner before takeoff at 20,10. Landed in Tokyo 22,00 just in time for bed. On the floor

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Japan 160202 Lake Furen and Steller's sea eagle

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

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© NF Photos 160202, Lake Furen, Notsuke peninsula and Washi-no-Yado, Hokkaido, Japan

Big birds today, lot´s of them.

We had a very early breakfast and left Rausu to go to Lake Furen where we should spend the day. It was a 2-3 h drive south and we had to be there at 9.00 o´clock as the feeding should start at that time. Of course I ha to enjoy myself during the ride. Image taken through a frosty window over a misty Pacific ocean.

The sun was shining when we arrived at the location and we had an incredible morning. 

After a little slow start with the Steller´s Sea Eagles rather far off waiting while other birds took the opportunity to get fish one by one the eagles took to the wings. And then the air was full of raptors. And we clicked like crazy. So much going on among all the birds. Steller's sea eagle, Sea eagles, kites and a few others. And they fly all around us. A once in a lifetime experience, unless you live there and feed them every day.  :)

Black Kite

Steller's sea eagle and Sea Eagle

A little sidenote, I think this was just a snack for the birds, it could not be enough to feed them all enough. But the place was just by the ocean, I could see it in the distance, so I guess the birds took dinner at the ocean. Or they would not have enough.

On our trip south we had stopped at a store to buy lunch and everyone eat when they were ready for it. 

In the afternoon we went back a little to visit the Notsuke peninsula. There was a Visitor Center but it was only limited open. Not much birds on the peninsula but we did see many deer´s. Women and childern on one side of the road. And the male on the other






There was some waterfowl and small birds but I´m afraid I did not pay much attention to them.

Sika deer

View of he abandoned harbor towards the mainland of Hokkaido. 

Then we headed back to the hotel and dinner.



AND, then, back to the place with the Blakiston's fish owl for another session. Three more hours in the cold, old, van. And open windows as soon as we heard the owl. This night we did see two of them. But not together. We saw the male and one of the young. 

This night I woke up with cramps in both legs. It hurt a lot and was a bit scary. The second time on this trip. First time was the second night. The cramp was also in my thighs so I felt like I had 8 different legs dangling around me. Unable to get to the floor to set them right. I tried to fix it with my hands and eventually I made it. But the muscles are hurting. I was able to get back to sleep for another 2 hours before it was time to go up again. 

Steller's sea eagle


 Linking up with:  Sky Watch Friday    Wild Bird Wednesday   WATW

Japan on NF Photo  NF Birds around the world   

Labels:    Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, resa, travel, photo, bird, fågel, Japan,  Blakiston's fish owl, Hokkaido, jättehavsörn, lake Furen, Notsuke peninsula, Steller's sea eagle, Washi-no-Yado, ***************************************************************************

2/2:   Lake Furen, Notsuke Peninsula och Washi-no-Yado på kvällen. Natt i Rausu.   

Japan 160201 Lake Kussharo to the fishing village Rausu

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

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© NF Photos 160201, Hokkaido, Japan

Early morning as usual. Departure at 6.40, before breakfast,  for a morning session at the Whooper Svans at Lake Kussharo. The setting sun last night was in front of us. Now we had the rising sun behind us. And it looked completely different. We visited both places this time too and got a close encounter of the Falcated duck (praktand) as well.

At 8.30 we were back at the hotel for breakfast and to pack our belongings. We were now heading north. Well, after being waved off by the staff before we started.

The first stop was only 3 blocks away. We visited the  Kawayu eco center foot Onsen. Our guide told us it was an Onsen for footbath. Only your feet could be cleaned in that place. I had seen it from the buss when we drove back to the hotel and was now pleased to stop there. There was the cleaning area for the feet and a little further there was two "wigams", the kind of tents the native indian´s used. But I don´t know the purpose of them. The place was almost too beautiful in the strong morning sun and the water vapor from the hot spring.

Our next stop:

Io-zan Sulphur Springs

and I was not prepared for it! Just because I did not expect it. Silly me! I just love Sulphur hot springs. It is so wild and speaks to me in many ways.

Now we continued to the fishing village Rausu and we stopped at the harbor for a while before going to the hotel for an early dinner. One peculiar thing in the area was the fences of the side of the mountains. Probably built to avoid snow avalanche to the buildings. And now we started to see the largest eagle in the world. But more or them tomorrow.

A Stellar´s Eagle sitting on a branch in the tree next to the fences.

And a part of the harbor. We saw a lot of icy boats and some water fowl.

The hotel was a mix of both cultures. Some of us got rooms with floor bedding, others, like me got a room with normal beds. I even had two beds. And my own toilet while others had shared ones. But for showers we all used the Onsen in the basement.


And a little reflection in the bus window.

Blakiston´s fish owl

After the early dinner we took of for the last event for the day. We were to look for the Blakiston's fish owl. According to wikipedia this is the largest living species of owl in the world. The place we were going to was Washi-no-Yado who had a family of owls in the area. They usually come to fish in the evening.  The family who ran the place told us that the owls did never notice the fact that they were fed. Higher up in the stream they let live fish out and the owl catches them in a tiny pool that was lit up so visitors can see them. The present family was the male and two young ones. The female has died last summer so now they really wanted the male to find another female. 

Well, we heard the owl for almost two hours before it finally showed up. And everyone started to shoot. But the male did not last very long. After served himself with two fishes he left and no other owl appeared.  We were standing in an old shed and it was quite cold. After 2.5 hours we went back to the hotel. 

A shower in the Onsen and uploading today´s shots. And then to bed. A very soft bed with a very thick and heavy blanket.

Tomorrow we will see the large eagle up close. 

Whooper Svans at Lake Kussharo.

Linking up with:  Our World Tuesday    Travel Photo Thursday   Wild Bird Wednesday  GOOD FENCES

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Labels:    Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, resa, travel, photo, bird, fågel, Japan,  Blakiston's fish owl, Blakistons fiskuv, Falcated duck, fence, hot springs, Io-zan Sulphur Springs, kawayu eco center foot onsen, Ketupa blakistoni, Lake Kussharo, Rausu, staket, Sulphur, uv, Washi-no-Yado,   ****************************************************************

1/2:   Morgonen vid Lake Kussharo. Sedan transport norrut till Rausu. Washi-no-Yado på kvällen (uven). Natt i Rausu.

1 februari

Vi inleder med mera sångsvansfotografering i Lake Kussharo innan frukost, i ett härligt morgonljus. Även praktand och östlig fläcknäbbsand fanns på plats. Efter frukost på hotellet besökte vi Io-zan Sulphur Springs, där svavlet bubblade och rök ur berget. Mäktigt att se och snyggt på bild!

Färden fortsatte sedan norrut, tills vi slutligen nådde upp till Shiretoko Peninsula och fiskebyn Rausu, där vi ska bo kommande två nätter. Vi inledde med ett besök i hamnen, där det fanns gott om fågel att fotografera. Över 20 örnar (havs- och jättehavsörn), strömänder, vittrutar, skiffertrutar och annat kul. Efter en tidig middag begav vi oss till Washi-no-Yado för att fotografera Blakistons fiskuv, världens största uggla. Det blev en spännande väntan, då vi hela tiden hörde hannen ropa i närheten. Men till slut kom den mäktiga ugglan och landade i den upplysta bäcken framför oss. En fantastiskt häftig avslutning på ännu en fin dag! 

Japan 160130 Red-crowned Crane day

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

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© NF Photos 160130 Otowa Bridge

This day was all about the Red-crowned Crane or Japanese crane as it is also called. 

We hardly slept before we had to wake up. The bus left at 04,00 in the morning and it was -18 degC. Brrrrr. That is cold. But our eminent local guide provided us with warming pads. We got three types, one for shoes, to warm the toes, one for the stomach to keep that part warm and then one for each hand. To keep fingers warm. And they worked. 

First we went to the Otowa Bridge at Setsuri River, Akan Tancho no Sato. A well known place for the crane to spend the night and every crane photographer visits. So did we. When we arrived it was still dark but we could see them in the distant still sleeping, standing in the water. As the morning light started the cranes started to move around and more people was gathering on the bridge. 

Around 8 we got back to the hotel for a late breakfast. Which was very nice at that time. Even if we had coffee in the bus we were really hungry for a meal. And this time we got half a western breakfast with toast and fried egg alongside some Japanese small dishes.  

Then we went back to the bridge for a couple of images in daylight and flying birds. They were now heading for Akan Tancho no Sato where they would be fed later on. We too went there to watch the event. There was more to see at that place. They had a museum too that told a lot of the cranes and the area.

This time we were given lunch tickets so everyone was free to eat when they wanted. Just before 14,00 as that was the time for feeding. 

A while before the feeding would start the raptors flew in. It was kites, sea eagles, Giant Sea eagles and some other birds. They too wanted some lunch. And every camera went warm from clicking when the action begun. Cranes and raptors all wanted the fish. Seeing the big eagles diving right into the cranes was cool and a bit scary at the same time. But they were all used to it. 

From there we went to another area with cranes, Tsurui Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary. It was very different from the first center. Much nicer nature and some other birds as well. We spent about an hour there and then left for the last spot this day. A place where the cranes was passing in the light if the setting sun on the way back to the bridge for the night. 

And then we went back to the hotel for dinner and another session in the Onsen. And because of the "warmers" none of us had been too cold during the day. 

Tomorrow we will head north. 

Linking up with Bird D´Pot      WATW     Sky Watch Friday ( last image)

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Labels:    Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, resa, travel, photo, bird, fågel, Japan,  Akan Tancho no Sato, Grus japonensis, Hokkaido, japan, Japanese crane, japanska trana, Otowa Bridge, Red-crowned Crane, Setsuri River, Tsurui Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary,
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30/1: Otowa Bridge innan frukost, trancentrat Akan Tancho no Sato, samt kvällen vid Tsurui Ito

Tancho Crane Sanctuary. Natt i Tsurui.

30 januari

Heldag med fotografering av de underbart vackra japanska tranorna! Vi inledde morgonen vid Otowa Bridge över Setsuri River. Det är en klassisk lokal för fotografering, där tranorna står i den ångande floden, omgivna av en vacker rimfrost på träden. Vi fick en morgon med fina förhållanden och runt friska -20 grader. Ett par adulta jättehavsörnar passerade förbi, vilket inte direkt gjorde morgonen mindre angenäm. Under dagen flyttade vi oss till trancentrat Akan Tancho no Sato, för många timmars jättefin tranfotografering! Vackra svartvita japanska tranor blev den huvudsakliga fotomodellen, med oerhört bra fotolägen på tranor som dansar, trumpetar och födosöker! Den stora showen började dock klockan två, då man utfodrar med fisk. Som på beställning dök flera havsörnar, bruna glador och en adult jättehavsörn upp och stal fisken för tranorna. Makalöst bra fotolägen på örnarna, så minneskorten fylldes snabbt!

På eftermiddagen förflyttade vi oss till Tsurui Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary, för mera tranor. Kvällen avslutades nära Tsurui på en plats där tranorna passerade på väg mot sin övernattningsplats med den vackert rödfärgade kvällshimmeln i bakgrunden. Idag har det verkligen varit en magiskt bra dag, men mängder av fina bilder tagna! 

Japan 160129 Jigokudani Monkey Park - Tokyo - Hokkaido

Japan 160122-160204
Bird Photography trip

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© NF Photos 160129, Jigokudani Yaenkoen

Today I woke up early as usual. I had time to take a walk around the area to take a look at the hot water river. There is a waterfall as well. And everything is very beautiful. I did even see a Brown dipper searching for breakfast. 

After breakfast we headed up to the Monkey Park. On the way up I spotted 2 guys taking a bath in the outdoor Onsen. Probably hoping for a monkey to join in. But no one did.  We had 2 h today at the monkey park before we had to go back through the forest to the Onsen where the bus is waiting o pick us up. And today it was snowing.

Today we were going straight to Haneda airport in Tokyo for transfer to Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. After landing in Kushiro airport we had to go by bus another hour to our first hotel up north in Tsurui. Everyone wanted a very late dinner but I did not. I don´t really like to have dinner at 22.00 in the evening. Instead I took a shower in the Onsen and just enjoyed myself.  There was no shower in the room but the Onsen, hot spring water bath in the other end of the hall, was great. So nice after all the sitting in busses and airplanes today.

Uploaded the images and then "hit the sack" in a normal bed today. No sleeping on the floor this time. 

Useful links: 

Snow Monkey Park   Snow Monkey Live cam

The mountain lodge a snowy morning

In lack of monkey company you can always take a selfie.  Outdoor hotspring  onsen.

Monkey gathering

The walk back to civilization with different types of trees on both sides.

At the Haneda Airport in Tokyo it was raining. Taking from our plane window

Hmm.....


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NF Trees n Bushes
Saturdays critters

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29/1: Morgonen i Jigokudani Monkey Park, sedan vandring tillbaka och buss till Tokyo. Flyg Tokyo –

Kushiro på Hokkaido på kvällen, sedan buss till hotellet i Tsurui.

29 januari

Idag inledde vi dagen med ännu ett besök hos de badande makakerna vid Jigokudani Monkey Park. Där även en brun strömstare. Sedan lämnade vi lodgen och vandrade vi ner för berget, till bussen som väntade på oss. Därefter väntade en lång bussresa tillbaka till Tokyo.

På eftermiddagen tog vi sedan flyget norrut, till Kushiro på Hokkaido, där vi körde en timme norrut till vårt hotell för de kommande två nätterna i byn Tsurui (vilket betyder "där tranorna finns", p g a av alla japanska tranor). Nu väntar resans sista del, med riktigt kalla och arktiska förhållanden och fler fantastiskt fina fotomöjligheter! 

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