Participants who join my annual Hokkaido birding photography tour cast off on a chartered ship for an up-close and personal encounter with the magnificent Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) on pack-ice, the Stellar’s Sea Eagle’s natural feeding winter habitat, migrating down from the Kamchatka peninsula to chase prey and make trouble for this raptor cousins the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla).  The Steller's Sea Eagle is one of the largest and most fierce diurnal birds on Earth. These Eagles are huge, on average the heaviest raptor on our planet, weighing up to 10 kg (22 pounds). They are also tall measuring up to 94cm (3 ft), with a huge wingspan of up to 250 cm (8.2ft). Their plumage is blackish brown black all over except on the shoulders, rump, tail thighs and forehead which are white. Their enormous yellow bill is wickedly hooked.  The eagles are masters at fishing, and it’s incredible to watch as they swoop down and catch fish in their talons.  Whether on the deck of a chartered ship or riding in a zodiac boat, I will put you right in front on the Steller’s sea eagles, and White-tailed eagles, for that once in a lifetime photo experience.  On  my annual Hokkaido group photo tour, we are scheduled to go out on boats three times, where we spot hundreds of raptors on pack ice, which I mentioned before is their natural habitat for fishing and sleep during the winter months.  Durning rough weather, the pack ice sinks, and the raptor come ashore until the pack ice resurfaces. 

Steller’s Sea Eagles prefer a diet of trout, salmon or other fish but will eat sea lion or land species when fishing is slow. The Steller's Sea Eagle is protected by law and is designated as a National Treasure in Japan, and is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List of Endangered species.  With an estimate of 5,000 remaining in the wild, and the majority visit Japan annually.