Author Archives: Bernhard Seliger

Common Redshank – Tringa tetanus - 붉은발도요 (© Bernhard Seliger)

Waders in Songdo (Incheon), May 14, 2025

Dr. Bernhard Seliger and Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi, Hanns-Seidel-Foundation and Birds Korea

Before an important meeting with the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership, where we are partners, an early morning walk along the tidal flat (high tide was at 6 a.m., and we arrived a little later) and good views of a variety of shorebirds, including Ruddy Turnstones, Bar-Tailed Godwits, Far Eastern Oystercatchers, Common Redshank (only one), Common Greenshank, Siberian Sandplover, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Great Knots, Whimbrels and a couple of Blackfaced Spoonbills, thousands of Red-necked Stints, Dunlins, and Terek Sandpipers, plus diverse egrets, herons and gulls.

At the small pond near the Eco-Ville high rises nice views of a Striated Heron and an Oriental Reed Warbler.

Later, at Namdong reservoir, lots of Blackfaced Spoonbills, and a variety of ducks and other waterbirds: some Ruddy Shelducks, Northern Shovelers, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Common Pochards, Green-winged Teals, Coots, Little Moorhens, Little Grebes. Also, three Black-winged Stilts and four Common Sandpiper.

All in all, a perfect way to prepare for our meeting on the East Asian Australasian Flyway! And thanks to the hospitality of EAAFP, we had not only great talks, but also a great lunch!

You can find the complete list of birds on ebird:

Birds on the tidal flat: https://ebird.org/checklist/S242373944

Birds in Namdong Reservoir: https://ebird.org/checklist/S242373917

(Help with ID from Dr. Nial Moores is – as always – gratefully acknowledged.)

Common RedshankTringa tetanus –  붉은발도요  (© Bernhard Seliger)

Blackfaced Spoonbill – Platalea minor – 저어새. Because of the yellowish bill-tip, first thought it was a Eurasian… (© Bernhard Seliger)

Siberian Sandplover – Anarhynchus mongolus – 몽골왕눈물떼새. Now an endangered species. (© Bernhard Seliger)

Ruddy Turnstone – Arenaria interpres – 꼬까도요. Now a near threatened species. (© Bernhard Seliger)

Red-necked stints – Calidris ruficollis – 좀도요. Now a near threatened species. All in all, there were several thousands of them.  (© Bernhard Seliger)

Kentish Plover – Anarhynchus alexandrinus – 흰물떼새 (© Bernhard Seliger)

Grey Plover – Pluvialis squatarola – 개꿩. Now a vulnerable species. (© Bernhard Seliger)

Shorebirds and apartment complexes at Songdo, Gojang Tidal Flat. Here, industry, housing, and birds are so close together… let us hope, the fragile balance between them can be preserved. (© Bernhard Seliger)