Daily Archives: 25/10/2021

Left and right of Han river estuary

September 22, 2021 and September 27, 2021

Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi (Hanns Seidel Foundation and Birds Korea lifetime member)

On September 22nd, a short post-Chuseok birding morning in Paju, near the book city and around the rice fields siding Gongneungchon, brought nice late views of Black-faced Spoonbills. In the late morning the human disturbance became quite great and, though there were a few waders along Gongneungchon, they were either flying off or hiding due to many cyclists and other passers-by. Beside nice views of feeding Black-faced Spoonbills, also nice views of a Dark-sided Flycatcher.

On September 27th, a very special day for me, since for the first time since the start of annual Hangang boat surveys (or rather, outings) organized by Gimpo City, I was allowed (as a foreigner) to participate, together with eminent Korean specialists in various fields. Bird-wise, the two hours in the boat were less interesting, however, everywhere groups of geese flew across the river, often also to North Korean territory. A group of 13 Black-faced spoonbills could be seen from far under Odusan hill. The afternoon, we checked the Siam wetland site and counted around 4000 geese, with 1000 additionally roosting on a sandbank on the North Korean side. A (not directly bird-related) highlight was the visit to Aegibong observatory, an oversized new observatory really close to North Korea.

The complete list (as complete as it gets in e-bird) for the Paju morning (September 22) can be found herehttps://ebird.org/checklist/S96626406 and here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S96626612.

The complete checklist for Siam Wetland (September 27) can be found here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S96491450.

Black-faced Spoonbills Platalea minor and a Grey Heron Ardea Cinerea © Bernhard Seliger
Little Egret Egretta garzetta © Bernhard Seliger
Common Moorhen © Bernhard Seliger
Juvenile Dark-sided Flycatcher© Bernhard Seliger
Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus © Bernhard Seliger
Common kingfisher Alcedo atthis © Bernhard Seliger
Geese flying across Han river to the North Korean side. © Bernhard Seliger