Red Crowned Crane Watching in Hokkaido

Those who wants to watch and take photo of Red Crowned Crane, Hokkaido is the place to visit especially during winter. Most people will visit Otowa Bridge in the pre-dawn hour as this is the known roosting place for Red crowned cranes. 

The next best place to visit is Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary where food source are secured and supplied by the sanctuary. Here, you may watch them up close and can be less than a meter or two at times. The photo above are taken at the sanctuary.

Since this is my 2nd trip there, I go other options. Trying to watch them out of these 2 popular spot.

I estimate the flight path of the cranes from Otowa bridge and just wait for them at the road side. True enough, I get what I wish for. A crane with the mountain as background. I purposely choose this photo with the cable line to show that this photo is indeed taken at the roadside.

You can also choose to include some tree instead of just plain blue sky.

I also spotted one and use the tree as the window for framing.

If you are lucky enough, you can even have a shot of the cranes having some intimate time of their own. So, just don't stick to those 2 popular spot, move around and you may find something different that may interest you.

Land of the Fox

My recent trip to Hokkaido during winter saw more foxes than I expected. I seen more Hokkaido Red Fox known as the Ezo Red Fox than I did 3 years ago.

This individual was spotted next to Otowo Bridge while I was there watching Red Crowned Crane.

This one was spotted on my way to Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary from Otowa Bridge.

Another one that run away before I could get a clear shot.

This one was found in Rausu on top of the tunnel.

This one also spotted in Rausu at night scavenging for food near the ryokan that I stayed.

This one was spotted at Notsuke peninsula trying to hunt for rodents under the snow.

The same individual after the failed hunt of rodents.

Also spotted at Notsuke peninsula, this one with left eye having a bad infection.

Also saw at Notsuke peninsula. It appeared that it is easier to spot a red fox here than other part of Hokkaido during winter. So, if you are looking to watch and photograph Ezo Red Fox, Notsuke Peninsula is the place you don't want to miss.

Frozen Beauty

I first visited Hokkaido 3 years ago during their winter and my trip was cut short due to the outbreak of COVID-19. I am finally back for more after 3 years to this part of the frozen world. 

The first thing I do when arrived at this snowy city is to play with snow for sure. For people from tropical country, we can only watch it in the movie or play with the artificial snow in the theme park.

My camera's hood started to cover with frost just minutes taken out from my camera bag.

Everything was covered with frost and was shining like diamond under the reflection of sunlight.

From tree branches to grass on the ground are all frosted over.

This is the most beautiful among all, the frosted wooden barrier.

It looks like many tiny glass Christmas tree growing on them.

The sea surface are covered with thick layer of ice too.

I usually saw this on the aircraft window, and now on our windscreen too.

Under sub-zero environment, my drinking water turn to ice too without the refrigerator after I left it in car.

I am sure I will be back for more to witness and enjoy this phenomenon that is impossible for people living in tropical country like me.