In Search of Whooper Swan

After my last post last post of my experience at Lake Kussharo, is getting harder to pen down the remaining of my journey t Hokkaido. Just too many distraction with movement control, lock down... due to COVID-19.

After Lake Kussharo, our next destination is to Notsuke Peninsula. That is another few hours away from where we stay. We did one more round to Lake Kussharo just before we set off to Notsuke Peninsula in search of Whooper Swan.

We spotted something a distance away on the frozen ice surface but I'm quite sure they are not Whooper Swan from their colour. They should be some kind of goose?

Saw a pair of not so common here but familiar faces, Grey heron. These 2 clearly has adapted well here and remain here in the cold winter.

As we drive closer to the part that are not frozen, saw big flock of Bean-Goose but I am not too sure just what species of bean-goose are they. 

No sign of Whooper swan but more goose flew in to join this big flock.

Yes. The Whooper swan came in and join this flock too.

More of them was spotted among the goose.

Started with one taking off.

More and more taking off I suspect they saw something coming, could be their predator? With such a big flock and their body size, what could have trigger their alarm? 

All of them take off together.

Left only one lonely Chinese egret near the edge of the lake.

While on our way back to our car, I saw this Steller's Sea Eagle for the very first time. Could this eagle that cause panic among the goose?