02 Jun 2016

Steller's Sea Eagles up the Zhupanova River

A week into this expedition through the Commander Islands and Kuril Islands and we haven’t missed a landing, although this afternoon there is a low pressure system approaching from the south.  With that, the winds have picked up to about 25 kts from the easterly quarter.  

Yesterday we were on the Kamchatka Peninsula in a spectcaular fjord called Russkaya and the day before that we made a memorable zodiac cruise up the Zhupanova River to see the magnificent Stella’s Sea Eagle and we saw two nests much to the delight of those aboard.

This morning we made a landing at Altasova Island in the northern Kuril Islands.  This is a volcanic Island, as are all the Kuril Islands.  Alaid Volcano at 2339m asl on Altasova Island is the highest in the Kurils and it is currently active.  

Our next landing this afternoon is scheduled for Onekotan Island. We plan a landing at Nemo Beach with a walk to Black Lake.  This landing is on the west coast of the island, so we may yet be lucky even with the impending change of weather.

Steller's Sea Eagle

Photo from file: © Heritage Expeditions