Bird News from Bruce and Janet Eder with Nial Moores
November 18, Geum River and Seosan Lake A
The forecast heavy rain was replaced by occasional sunny spells and extremely mild, even warm, conditions (with a maximum of c. 21C). Near Iksan, another 5,000+ Rook were followed by 40,000 Baikal Teal at the Geum River. Not only was this flock much smaller than usual for the time of year, it was also on the only stretch of river largely unaffected by the noise, pomp and ceremony of the so-called Gunsan Bird Festival.
Below the barrage, large numbers of birds included 2 Smew, a couple of Saunders’s Gull and an unseasonal Yellow-browed Warbler. However, there was no sign of any Swan Goose – below the barrage or along the Janghang coast.
In the early afternoon, a couple of hours at Seosan Lake A, started with a pair of Mandarin Duck on a stream by the IC (most of which is now being dredged and concreted), and then – despite much ongoing construction here too – a rapid succession of highlights comprised of 120 Hooded Crane, a Lesser White-fronted Goose (and tens of thousands of other grey geese) and best of all an Oriental Stork.
November 17, Cheorwon and Han-Imjin
A fairly calm and mild dawn included good views of c 200 White-naped and 30 Red-crowned Cranes, several thousand Greater White-fronted Geese, and heard (but not seen) Pallas’s Rosefinch (2) and Long-tailed Rosefinch (3). Also present was a single adult male Dusky Thrush (still apparently surprisingly scarce this autumn), small numbers of Carrion Crow (5), Rook (40) and Daurian Jackdaw (4, including one fine pied bird), with Rustic Bunting (c. 250) the only numerous passerine.
Daurian Jackdaws Corvus dauuricus. Photo copyright Bruce Eder
Other species of note included 6 Cinereous Vulture (first noted in the area on 13th or 14th) and a Common Crane (apparently 5 present in the area), with belated news of two Siberian Crane apparently seen (but not photographed) on November 8th and 9th (via Park Chung-Han).
In the afternoon, a drive along the Han-Imjin failed to find any Swan Goose – with most grey geese located on mid-river islands east of Paju.
Common Crane (left) with White-naped Crane. Photo copyright Bruce Eder
November 16, Yeongjong Island and National Arboretum
In bright and warm conditions, birds of especial note at Yeonjong (where massive construction ongoing – e.g. adjacent to the former shorebird roost) included several Far Eastern Curlew and two Red-necked Stint still; c. 500 Falcated Duck; and most unexpected, three nominate Japanese White-eye (they are real migrants to parts of the ROK after all!). At the arboretum, where very few passerines (e.g. no thrushes) and more construction noise, highlights included three Solitary Snipe, and excellent scope views of White-backed Woodpecker in addition to the regular Varied Tit and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker.
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus. Photo copyright Bruce Eder
Varied Tit Poecile varia. Photo copyright Bruce Eder