Bird News from Robin Newlin and (4’30-5’1) Im Kwang Wan, Jo Seong Sik, Kang Ji Hye and Park Im Ja
Saturday 4’30.
After a very early start from various points in Seoul and a good vegetarian breakfast near the Gunsan ferry,we took the 7:20 boat and arrived on the island in the late morning. Overall impression of “birdiness” was of reasonable variety although fairly small numbers. The variety, however, was classic Eocheong quality; it felt like meeting one old friend after another when visiting a favorite watering hole. Highlights included a Little Whimbrel, a Yellow-breasted Bunting, a Chestnut Bunting, a Tristram’s Bunting, a Yellow Bunting, a dozen Yellow-browed Buntings, and a bit more of Little and Black-faced Buntings. Also in the single theme: a Brown Thrush, an Eye-browed Thrush, a Taiga Flycatcher, a Narcissus Flycatcher, a Tricoloured Flycatcher, a Streaked Flycatcher, and a Mugimaki Flycatcher. A singularly attractive single was the male Citrine Wagtail at the reservoir, accompanied by several Yellow and White Wagtails. A half-dozen of Chinese Grosbeaks and some Bramblings near the school. Pipits were represented by Richard’s (one heard), Red-throated (one or two), Buff-bellied (three) and Olive-backed (several). The boardwalk was especially good for warblers, although again in somewhat small numbers: Yellow-browed, Pale-legged Leaf, Eastern Crowned, Pallas’ Leaf, Dusky and Korean Bush. Adding to the colour near the harbor: several Common Kingfishers, Grey Wagtails and Blue Rock Thrushes. Inland: Blue and White Flycatchers around every other corner, a couple of Chinese Pond Herons and a few Stejneger’s Stonechats. 2 Brown Shrikes. A White-shouldered Starling. Invisibly-persistently from the hills: a calling Northern Hawk Cuckoo.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus ©Robin Newlin
White-shouldered Starling Sturnus sinensis ©Robin Newlin
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ©Robin Newlin
Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina ©Robin Newlin
Sunday May 1.
High winds, especially in the in the afternoon: many birds stayed under cover. Species and numbers much as the day before. A group of Japanese White-eyes at the boardwalk along with small numbers of Yellow-browed and Dusky Warblers. I heard a Hoopoe. Saw or heard few Asian Brown and Streaked Flycatchers. Also along the boardwalk: a Wryneck and a few Brown, Eyebrowed and Pale Thrushes. I spent most of the afternoon waiting for the Citrine to wander close. The reservoir shrubs also held a Grey-backed Thrush, and a Chinese Pond Heron blew in with the wind.
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola ©Robin Newlin
Chinese Pond heron Ardeola bacchus ©Robin Newlin
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica ©Robin Newlin
Tricoloured Flycatcher Ficedua zanthopygia ©Robin Newlin
Blue and White Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelania ©Robin Newlin
Monday May 2.
Heavy clouds. A poor glimpse of a probable Siberian Thrush. A pair of Red-necked Stints and two Terek Sandpipers. A Pacific Golden Plover. A seeming increase in Asian Brown Flycatchers. Rain from late morning on.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschtschensis ©Robin Newlin
Tuesday May 3.
Rain and high winds through the morning. The afternoon had gradual clearing and some new shorebirds: a Black-winged Stilt and a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. The Chinese Grosbeak flock seems to be slowly increasing: about a dozen birds now. In the evening, a glimpsed Pintail Snipe and a heron heard very close by, perhaps a Japanese Night Heron. Several more Richard’s Pipits and a Blyth’s Pipit. More White-eyes: this time Chestnut Flanked, and the first Siskins of the trip.
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni ©Robin Newlin
Chinese Grosbeak Euphona migratoria ©Robin Newlin
Wednesday May 4.
Few new species. A Green Sandpiper. A small flock of Ashy Minivets. In the late afternoon, a sudden arrival of warblers (mostly Yellow-brows) and wagtails (Yellow, Grey and White). A female Paradise Flycatcher at the end of the boardwalk.
Thursday May 5.
I spent most of the morning with the bunting group: 2 Yellow, several Little and Yellow-browed and one each of Yellow-breasted and Chestnut. A little apart from this group appeared the trip’s highlight: a Red-headed Bunting, which eventually joined the main band. Also in the area, a Forest Wagtail, a Chinese Blackbird, a Tiger Shrike, and my season’s first (heard) Eurasian Cuckoo. The afternoon brought the boat from Gunsan and many birders, all of whom, after some anxious searching, were able to see the rare bunting, now loosely associating with 3 Yellow-breasted Buntings. Nearby, 5 Black Drongos seemed newly in.
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps ©Robin Newlin
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps ©Robin Newlin