Hwaseong Wetlands FNS, May 10th-14th

Bird News from Nial Moores (Director of Birds Korea) and Jung Hanchul (Gyeonggi KFEM and Birds Korea member).

While awaiting news on the proposed protected status of the tidal flats, highlights in among 32,000 shorebirds of 31 species counted in the Hwaseong Wetlands Flyway Network Site (FNS) from May 10th to 14th included single breeding plumage Long-billed Dowitcher and 19-21 Nordmann’s Greenshank, almost all in breeding plumage, good numbers of lingering ducks and geese, two breeding-plumaged White-winged Tern, a single Oriental Stork and a breeding colony of more than 100 pairs of Little Tern.

In addition, we counted 24,274 shorebirds at high tide within the Asan Bay Reclamation Area on May 13th.

Two different Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer 청다리도요사촌 © Nial Moores
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus 긴부리도요 © Nial Moores (with Common Greenshank on left)

The counts, conducted as part of the Hwaseong Wetlands Project (led by the EAAFP Secretariat and funded by Hwaseong City through the Hwaseong Environmental Foundation) also allowed us to witness the spectacular departure of more than 850 Bar-tailed Godwit and 35 Far Eastern Curlew on May 12th; to watch up to 55 Black-faced Spoonbill feed close by; and to enjoy seeing the shoreline of the Hwaseong Reclamation Lake carpeted in flocks of breeding-plumaged Dunlin and Great Knot. All absolutely stunning!

Sky full of shorebirds © Jung Hanchul
Reclamation Lake full of shorebirds…© Nial Moores
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor 저어새 © Nial Moores
Shorebirds at roost, Hwaseong Wetlands Reclamation Lake © Jung Hanchul

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.