Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata) Mom and Baby relax poolside after a short altercation with a neighboring snow monkey Mom and baby. Both babies were play-fighting; one baby grabbed the other baby's tail, then fur started to fly! Thank Goodness the babies kissed in the end. Snow monkeys are terrestrial Old World Species native to Japan. Adult males can weigh up to 25 lbs; adult females as much as 19 lbs. After 10 minutes or so in the pool, Baby climbed on Mom's back and the two headed off into the mountainside.
Jigokudani-Yaen Snow Monkey Park, Nagano, Japan
Tags: Japan Nature Wild Animal Wildlife Winter Macaca fuscata Japanese Macaque Snow Monkey Snow Monkeys Mother and Baby Animals Family Peaceful Nagano Jigokudani-Yaen
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Grooming is a big part of Japanese Macaque/ Snow Monkey (Macaca fuscata) society. Here the individual on the left appears to be performing a Vulcan mind meld on his sleepy counterpart.
Jigokudani-Yaen Snow Monkey Park, Nagano, Japan
Tags: Japan Nature Wild Animal Wildlife Winter Macaca fuscata Jigokudani-Yaen Nagano Island of Honshu Vulcan Mind Meld relaxing spa
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Shy Ural Owl (Strix uralensis), a normally nocturnal owl, nested in a hollow tree trunk. This is the Ural Owl Dad. There were two exceedingly cute Juvenile Ural Owlettes about 200 feet or so from Dad's perch. Ural Owl Mom was about 10 feet from Dad. Mom hovered about and circled our band of intrepid photographers. Dad squawked at our group every once in a while, but he pretty much just glared at us the entire time we were there. Beautiful and protective birds.
Bihoro-touge, Island of Hokkaido, Japan
Tags: Japan Nature Wild Animal Wildlife Winter Strix uralensis Nikon D4 500 mm f/4 lens Hokkaido nocturnal bird protective parents Ural Owl Owl
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Gliding above the ground, this Eastern Marsh Harrier (MAYBE) didn't even beat its wings for several minutes. This is the first bird we saw upon entering the Shiretoko peninsula of Northern Hokkaido. We're not certain this is an Eastern Marsh Harrier. Perhaps a red kite? Or even a Japanese Sparrowhawk? Whatever it is, the bird was absolutely stunning.
Shiretoko Peninsula, Island of Hokkaido, Japan
Tags: Japan Nature Wild Animal Wildlife Winter Shiretoko Peninsula Island of Hokkaido Northern Japan effortless lift
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When you are a Raven, you don't mess with a White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), also known as the sea eagle and the white-tailed sea eagle. A close cousin of the Bald Eagle, the White-tailed Eagle is a large raptor, measuring up to 37 in (94 cm) in length with a wingspan of up to 8 ft (2.45 m). The raven had the fish first. But as soon as this white-tailed sea eagle saw the raven's bounty, it turned seemingly on a dime, dropped about 30 feet, and snatched the poor raven's fish from his talons. To add insult to injury, the white-tailed sea eagle was trash talking this poor raven every step of the way. That, or he was just squawking really loudly.
Akan International Crane Center, Island of Hokkaido, Japan
Tags: Japan Nature Wild Animal Wildlife Winter Haliaeetus albicilla Akan Island of Hokkaido Northern Japan bird of prey raptor
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