In February, the Notsuke Peninsula had an ice storm. When air temperatures drop below freezing and the ice rain, water droplets are super-cooled and ice can form on impact with the surface like trees. This ice from the freezing rain will cover and harden any exposed surfaces to make a clear ice called glaze ice. On the sunny days, when the sunlight reflects off the glaze ice, it can be so beautiful.
Glaze ice on the branches of the trees.
It is like being in an art gallery.
The branches covered in glaze ice.
An Ezo sika deer in the early morning ice.
The winter sika deer are looking so soft with their hair puffed out. Especially their fluffy white butt is so cute.
A herd of Sika deer on the Notsuke Peninsula covered with the freezing rain.
After dusk, the herd of male sika deer appeared in the field of snow and ice. It was a beautiful sunset, and I stayed there to watch until it got dark.
Photo & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Feb 2016 , Notsuke Peninsula, Hokkaido
*Contact us, Saiyu Travel for more information about wildlife and bird watching in Hokkaido. We can make various arrangements for your trip. We have a guesthouse, Shiretoko Serai, in Rausu, Shiretoko Peninsula.
Tags: Shiretoko peninsula, Wildlife of Hokkaido, Shiretoko, Wildlife of Japan, glaze ice, Wildlife Photography tour in Japan, Sika deer, Wildlife tour in Japan, Notsuke, 雨氷, Hokkaido Sika Deer, 知床, Ezo Sika Deer, Wildlife in Japan, Notsuke Peninsula, Wildlife in, 野付半島, Rausu
