Tag Archives: Socheong Island

Socheong Island, October 24-25

Bird News from Subhojit Chakladar

Back to Socheong after a period of 3 years for a weekend trip. Though the weather and winds looked interesting with pre-dawn rain, there was a not a cloud to be seen by the time I arrived on the island. The wind picked up instead driving birds into cover! There has been quite a few new roads since my last visit. Walking towards the North Point, I flushed a Japanese Quail (almost stepped on it). Walking toward the lighthouse, several Yellow-browed and Pallas’ Leaf Warblers and a single Amur Falcon were encountered. Great and Coal Tits were present in good numbers. At the 2nd village, a party of 7 Long-tailed Tits (white headed caudatus) were seen. The lighthouse gully was very quiet. The only bird of note were 2 female Chestnut Buntings and a few Yellow-browed Buntings.

On 25th, I woke pre dawn and walked towards the lighthouse once again. The only bird on the way was an unidentified (most probably Oriental Scops, given the size) owl seen flying across the road, as my flashlight scanned the trees. At the lighthouse gully itself, there was movement of Bramblings, Meadow Buntings, Tits, Goldcrests and a few Dusky Thrush in the sky. The best bird was a Red-breasted Flycatcher, which gave prolong views. There were a noisy group of Light-vented Bulbuls. Overhead raptor action included a trickle of Eastern Buzzards, a couple of Japanese Sparrowhawk and an Osprey. Walking back towards the village, a few Eurasian Sparrowhawks and Grey-faced Buzzards joined the circling raptors. Near the village, a group of noisy Dusky Warblers in an overgrown meadow alerted of their presence. Right before leaving, a small sized kettle formed over the harbor with a few Black Kites and Oriental Honey Buzzards joining the raptors mentioned above.

Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus caudatus

Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus caudatus

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ficedula parva

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ficedula parva