Suncheon, May 7
Bird News from Matt Poll On May 6th I spotted a pair of Chestnut-cheeked Starlings that appeared to be nest-building in a metal telephone pole. As I was on a moving bus at the time, I returned to the rural … read more
Author Archives: Matt Poll
Suncheon Area, April 14 – May 5
Bird News from Matt Poll A peaceful bit of coastal reedbeds near the Suncheon Bay park becomes a bit less peaceful every week, with construction creeping in from two sides, and a noticeable increase in noisy bike-tour groups in the … read more
Suncheon Area, March 14 – April 8
Bird News from Matt Poll On March 14th Jason Loghry came to town, and we visited a small temple in the hills near Jirisan. We found three gorgeous Hill Pigeons roosting in the temple eaves, two Brown Dippers, and a … read more
Developers buying up Korean islands?
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-17/philippine-billionaire-razon-to-buy-korean-island-in-casino-push?cmpid=yhoo In a country where developers seem to have a cringe-worthy disregard for the environmental consequences of their relentless large-scale projects, is this another troubling sign of things to come? When there is no viable peninsular land left to develop … read more
A Month in Suncheon, February 12-March 12
Bird News from Matt Poll My first trip to Suncheon Bay was in the chilly early morning gloom of February 16th, with several visiting English birders. We initially spent a couple of hours in the quiet reedy area towards the … read more
Seogwipo, Jeju, June 1
Bird News from Matt Poll At a relatively undisturbed (yet) spot near town, three individual Fairy Pittas (or maybe two pairs) called from the treetops, mostly unseen. One of them had a strange three-note call, instead of the more familiar … read more
Hado-ri, Jeju, May 7
Bird News from Matt Poll At Hado, a gorgeous Pied Avocet fed in the company of three Black-winged Stilts, and 33 Black-tailed Godwits. I got long, if distant looks as it fed by swimming and upending repeatedly. Also at Hado, and nearby Ojo-ri, were … read more
Jeju, April 26 – May 2
Bird News from Matt Poll It’s been a dynamic week on Jeju, with 85 species of birds observed. The mostly quiet week was punctuated by several busy and very birdy days midweek, right after heavy rain and SSW winds. On … read more
Jeju: Mara-do April 11, Seogwipo April 12 – 13
Bird news from Matt Poll with Heloise Stankard Mara-do: 1. Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris 2. Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus; two from the ferry 3. Pacific Swift Apus Pacificus 4. Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 5. Great Tit Parus major 6. Far … read more
Mara-do and southwest coast, Jeju, April 6
Bird news from Matt Poll Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas; one seen from the ferry Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica; two groups of roughly 10 seen heading towards Jeju Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius; 11 from the ferry between Mara and Gapa Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris Pacific Swift Apus Pacificus … read more