Dr Nial Moores, National Director of Birds Korea / 새와 생명의 터
Another week of Birds Korea survey of birds and additional biodiversity in the Yeoncheon Imjin River Biosphere Reserve supported by Yeoncheon County. This survey period also included a meeting on the 8th in the CCZ to discuss the possible restoration of crane habitat; and a morning of survey on the 10th of c. 250ha of forest just across the county border in Cheorwon, aimed at reducing information gaps on forest bird distribution. As during previous surveys in the summer months, much of our research focus continues to be on the nationally Vulnerable Long-billed Plover, on the globally Vulnerable Fairy Pitta, on raptors (many of which are National Natural Monuments) and on other nationally threatened species.
This time, survey was led each day by NM and Hantan-Imjin Area Representative Baek Seung-Kwang, with lots of much-appreciated support from other Birds Korea members (Kim Haemin on 3rd, 5th and 6th; Kim Jeong-In, on 3rd; Kim Hee-A on 3rd and 5th; and Birds Korea Yeoncheon’s Lee Su-Young on 8th, joined by Dr Park Shinyeong who volunteered for our Long-billed Plover survey last year), and also from members of a Seoul-based online Birdwatching Cafe (Kim Seon-U, Choi So Hyun and Jang Youjin – all on 3rd). In Cheorwon, our survey was guided by Kim Myeong Ha, and was joined by Kim Hae Kyung, both Birds Korea members. Many thanks to all!
While the count data still need some cleaning and analysis, notable observations in Yeoncheon County included:
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons 쇠기러기. One below the Gunnam Dam, Imjin River, on 5th.
Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris 큰기러기. One with two Taiga Bean Geese at Baekhak, Imjin River, on 8th.
Eastern Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis middendorffii 큰부리큰기러기. Two at Baekhak, Imjin River, on 8th.
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata 원앙. Only ten seen, at a total of three locations (two of which were within the CCZ).
Hazel Grouse Tetrastes bonasia 들꿩. One was seen in hill forest at very close quarters with four tiny chicks on 5th. Three of the chicks were quick to get into deeper cover; one took rather more persuasion from their mum!
Northern Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx hyperythrus 매사촌. As in previous years, only one territory was found – this in the same forest valley as in previous years.
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 뻐꾸기. Perhaps because we spent more time in open habitats, this was the most-observed cuckoo with a total of 35 birds heard vocalising. This compares with 22-26 during our earlier shorter surveys in June and July.
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus 벙어리뻐꾸기. A total of 26 were heard vocalising, almost all in c.400 ha of hill forest. This is more or less similar to the number recorded in previous, shorter surveys (e.g., 23 over five dates in June 2022 and 29 over six dates in June 2023).
Long-billed Plover Thinornis placidus 흰목물떼새. A total of 49 were found, including four young chicks and four well-grown juveniles. One bird sitting on a nest was also seen; and two were heard only – with constant calling at this time of year typically associated with adults that have young nearby. This compares well with our survey in July 2025, which found a total of 28 individuals, including 6-8 young.
This April and May, it appears that (happily) there was rather less dredging along the three main rivers than last year, allowing some pairs to breed. However, perhaps because of rather low water levels this year, disturbance by recreational fishers was quite severe along both the Chatancheon and the Imjin Rivers. For example, we saw cars drive across the Imjin River from the Paju side on to islands used by breeding plovers on the Yeoncheon side at Baekhak; and fishers walk out on to shingle islands below Horogoru.
Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius 꼬마물떼새. A total of 61 were found, including 3 young chicks and four juveniles. Almost half of these (29) were on very large shingle bank, where several birds were trying to nest.
Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris 괭이갈매기. Probably 12 were seen in total, all along the Imjin River.
Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus 한국재갈매기. One was at Horogoru on 7th.
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus 흰날개해오라기. One was near the Pilsung Bridge in the CCZ on 8th. Although small numbers breed in adjacent Cheorwon County, this was our first record of the species in Yeoncheon (and was a much-expected but still hugely enjoyable species #250 for our bird checklist in the county).
Eastern Cattle Egret Ardea coromanda 황로. Typically rather scarce in Yeoncheon, 39 in rice-fields in Baekhak on 8th was our highest single count in the County to date.
Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus 벌매. A scarce summer visitor and presumably a rather commoner migrant through Yeoncheon. We only found three individuals this year, including one in the southwest of the county.
Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis 붉은배새매. We found a total of 25, almost all of which were adult males (with one Second Calendar-year male shown in the image below); 22 of which were within the CCZ. Happily, this total compares well with previous surveys.
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 흰꼬리수리. This species is fairly widespread in winter but is a very rare breeding species in the ROK (1-3 pairs at most annually, with confirmed breeding on Heuksan Island in the far southwest, and breeding strongly suspected in Yeoncheon in recent years). An adult was seen in steady, high flight on 9th.
Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus 왕새매. We found a total of 21, almost all of which were within the CCZ. This compares well with previous shorter breeding surveys (14 over five dates in June 2022; 12 over five dates in June 2024; and ten over seven dates in July 2025).
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 후투티. Although a fairly common nesting species elsewhere in Gyeonggi Province, one in the CCZ on 4th was our first summer record in the County.
Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda 호반새. In all, we counted 24. This compares with e.g., 18 heard over five dates of survey in early June 2022. Forest adjacent to rice-fields in the CCZ and stands of older forest adjacent or near to rivers and streams outside of the CCZ are the preferred main habitat types. As the species is highly vocal; can be heard 1km or more away; and appears to be almost absent from extensive closed canopy hill forest outside of the CCZ, we estimated in 2025 that 30-40 territories were likely held in Yeoncheon. Based on this year’s survey, with concentrations of calling birds heard in several additional areas, that estimate will likely to be revised to c. 50-75 territories in this year’s report. As with so many other landbird species, the absence of a large-scale national breeding bird survey and especially of a robust national population estimate prevents a fuller assessment of the County’s importance to this spectacularly-colored, very shy summer visitor.
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata 청호반새. One was heard and seen in the CCZ on 4th. We also visited a well-known nesting site of this globally Vulnerable species near to Baekhak on 7th, which now appears to have been “lost” to an ongoing road-widening project. We did not have time to visit another site where we heard two last year.
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus canicapillus 아물쇠딱다구리. While apparently recovering in number in several parts of the ROK (thanks to forest restoration efforts started in the 1960s and 1970s), this species appears to be very local in Yeoncheon County. This survey a family group of five was found at Samicheon, returning to a group of dead trees where we found the species last November.
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 새호리기. A total of nine were seen during the surveys.
Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha 팔색조. A total of 13 singing birds were recorded in about 400ha of forest which were surveyed this year, with five of these in a previously unsurveyed area in the southwest of the county; and the remainder at a well-surveyed site, which we only part-covered this year (with five also heard in immediately adjacent forest in Cheorwon on 10th). Our estimate of c. 100 pairs of this globally Vulnerable in Yeoncheon County continues to seem reasonable.
Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus 할미새사촌. Generally considered to be a common migrant and a rare summer visitor to the ROK. A total of 12 were recorded, at six different locations (most of which were within the CCZ), indicating widespread breeding.
Black Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata 긴꼬리딱새. Five or six were heard during the survey, with most of these toward the southwest of the county.
Tiger Shrike Lanius tigrinus 칡때까치. The commonest shrike in the County, with 30 individuals recorded during the survey.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 노랑때까치. After decades of decline driven in part by agricultural intensification, now a rare breeding species in the ROK (and a common breeder just over the inner border in the DPRK). Only one was seen: a male confusus in the CCZ on the 4th.
Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis 검은이마직박구리. The rapid increase of this species continues. A total of eight were recorded at four different locations.
Grey-backed Thrush Turdus hortulorum 되지빠귀. Easily the most numerous breeding thrush in the county – and now nationally too – with 89 recorded during the survey in approximately 400ha of forest, including a few very young juveniles. In Cheorwon, 57 were counted along a trail through approximately 150ha of forest.
Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana 큰유리새. The second commonest flycatcher breeding in the County, with 39 birds heard in total.
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia 흰눈썹황금새. The commonest breeding flycatcher in the County, with 59 birds heard and seen in total.
Amur Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri 검은딱새. Following perhaps decades of decline, the reedbeds and grassy areas within the CCZ and next to wetlands in the inner border area of Korea now provide the last remaining stronghold for breeding stonechats in the ROK. A total of only 17 were heard or seen during this survey. This compares very poorly with 37 counted in more or less the same areas between June 2nd and 5th 2022, and 29 counted between May 30th and June 6th 2024. This represents a decline of 54% in only five years. If this decline is not confined to Yeoncheon alone, then the breeding population of this species should be assessed as nationally Endangered.
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus 물레새. On 7th, one was heard singing at the confluence of the Samicheon and Imjin rivers; and one was seen foraging in the river within the Samicheon CCZ. These are only the second and third records of this species in Yeoncheon.
In addition, mammals seen in Yeoncheon during the survey included Red Squirrel, multiple globally Vulnerable Korean Water Deer, two Racoon Dog (one of which was suffering from mange-like symptoms) and a single Amur Leopard Cat, while three small Amur Soft-shelled Turtle and several snakes and amphibians, including Seoul / Golden Pond Frog, were also recorded. Details of these will be included in our end-of-the-year report to the County.
Other highlights during the same period was the success of Birds Korea Yeoncheon’s open-to-all monthly or seasonal birdwatching visit to Samicheon on 7th; and seeing a second sign introducing the Scaly-sided Merganser (part-funded by a small grant to Birds Korea through the EAAFP).
Our next main survey period in Yeoncheon will be in late September and early October, during which time we aim to count migrating raptors, and will likely try to survey Long-billed Plover again (for the fourth time this year!). If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Birds Korea!