![](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20221205-DSC_0497-2-1024x682.jpg)
オオワシ幼鳥 / Juvenile Steller’s Sea Eagle
Upon receiving news of the appearance of a Steller’s Sea Eagle in Houhoku (north western area), Yamaguchi Prefecture, I immediately went to see it. It was more than 10 days before I went there, and the information did not seem to have spread widely yet, so I left it alone without posting it on my Instagram. It seems that people are coming from far away, and I wonder what is going on with the information network of the birders.
Coincidentally, I am planning a photography trip to East Hokkaido just this year. I had a feeling that I would be able to shoot enough Steller’s Sea Eagles and such in a little while. However, the opportunity to observe it in Yamaguchi Prefecture rarely presents itself, so I decided to take my first shot.
Fortunately, the weather was fine, and as soon as I arrived, I spotted a huge figure perched on a telephone pole. It was a juvenile, but it was several times larger than the Black Kite flying around it. I joined the other birders who had arrived earlier to take pictures. It didn’t move from the pole at all.
![電柱に止まりこちらを振り向くオオワシの幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle perches on a telephone pole and looks back at us.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0049.jpg)
![青空をバックに翼を広げて飛翔するオオワシ。 A Steller's sea eagle in flight with its wings spread against a blue sky.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0059.jpg)
![青空をバックに翼を広げて飛翔するオオワシ。 A Steller's sea eagle in flight with its wings spread against a blue sky.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0060.jpg)
![飛びながらこちらを見下ろすトビ。 A Black kite looks down at us while flying.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0077.jpg)
![カラスに追い回されるオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle being chased by a crow.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0086.jpg)
![カラスと並んで飛ぶオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle flies alongside a crow.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0090-強化.jpg)
![埠頭を歩くオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle walking along the pier.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0116.jpg)
![埠頭を歩くオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle walking along the pier.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0118.jpg)
![埠頭を歩くオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle walking along the pier.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0117.jpg)
![正面を向き、首を伸ばしてこちらを見るオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle faces forward and stretches its neck to look at us.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0124.jpg)
![体を正面に向けてこちらに向かって飛び立つオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle flies toward us with its body facing forward.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0128.jpg)
![地面に並んだ魚を飛びながら足で掴むオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle grabs a line of fish on the ground with its feet while flying.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0129.jpg)
![魚を取って飛び去ろうとするオオワシ幼鳥。 A juvenile Steller's sea eagle about to take a fish and fly away.](https://narakiphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221120-DSC_0132.jpg)
It was worthwhile to see a variety of actions in a relatively short period of time. I guess that only inexperienced juvenile birds come to western Japan like this, but I wonder if it learns where it is and settles down (or comes back). In any case, I hope it will overwinter well.
I was able to get a nice squid as a souvenir at the roadside station, and I ate it as sashimi or simmered, and it was also excellent. I will go back again.