In case you aren't familiar with this species, they are native to northeast Asia, especially in Kamchatka Peninsula and northern Japan so to have one make it all the way to Maine is pretty amazing. They are on average the heaviest eagle species and pretty rate, estimates have them at between 4000-5000 (depending on which source you read).
This particular bird has been seen in Alaska, Canada, South Texas and now in New England. The latest location (Boothbay Harbor Maine) is about a 2.5 hour drive from our house so we decided to take a drive up early this morning and hope to see it. When we were about an 1.5 hours away we got a report that it had settled in a tree with good viewing, never believing it would still be there but it was!
It was a COLD day, 7 degrees F with wind chills 15 below. There were two locations to see the bird, the first directly across the inlet which was closer but you had to shoot through gaps in the branches. After I got some shots there I walked down the street to a bridge that was crossing the inlet hoping it would fly that way but 2.5 hours later it turned around on the branch and flew in the opposite direction. I still feel extremely lucky even though I stood in 15 below weather for 2.5 hours with shots I could have gotten in the first 10 min
Wow, the Steller’s sea eagle made it over the North America! You captured that guy really well, John! My encounter with that eagle species was on waters off Hokkaido in the winter, like 10 years ago.
Great shots! I was wondering how long before an FMer posted some photos of this guy. Been hoping to get up there myself, but just haven't been able to make the time.
msalvetti wrote:
Great shots! I was wondering how long before an FMer posted some photos of this guy. Been hoping to get up there myself, but just haven't been able to make the time.
msalvetti wrote:
Thanks, did that last week. I had to disable notifications, there were so many messages it was blowing up my phone. Will keep an eye on it.
Mark
Same here, only worth it fir the days you’ll be there.
