Bird News by Patrick Blake and Andreas Kim
A group of nine eager participants searched Gangjin Bay and Haenam County for waterfowl and raptors. Highlights included c. 350-400 Whooper Swans at the Bay, a variety of passerines including Chinese Penduline Tit and Common Reed Bunting, with smaller numbers of buntings like Black-faced, Yellow-throated, and Meadow Bunting.
A thorough search of Gocheonnam Lake in Haenam County yielded c. 200-300 Greater White-fronted Geese with Tundra Bean Geese mixed in. The lake contained large numbers of Eurasian Wigeon and Eastern Spot-billed Duck.
A special thank you goes to Prof. Robin Newlin, for leading a wonderful outing (and for his interesting GIC Talk in Gwangju the day before). Transportation (and a wonderful lunch) was provided by Pedro Kim.
A complete list of our sightings (55 species) for the day is below.
Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons; included a heavily-barred individual, likely of the “Siberian” A. a. albifrons subspecies
Lesser White-fronted Goose (presumed) Anser erythopus; three found hiding in a large flock of greater white-fronted geese
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Gadwall Anas strepera
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Common Teal Anas crecca
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicus
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Eurasian Coot Fulica ater
– Unidentified Crane (?); a large dark-colored bird was observed briefly in flight; neck was extended during flight, with slight bend in the neck. The bird disappeared, and a careful search of the surrounding field only revealed a Grey Heron. The group was split on the true identity of the bird, with some believing Grey Heron and others believing a Crane on unknown species.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hyperleucos
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Vega Gull Larus vegae
Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus
Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
Eastern Great Tit Parus minor
Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudacutus
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinosuthora webbiana
White-cheeked Starling Spodipsar cineraceus
Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens
Grey-capped Greenfinch Chloris sinica
Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides
Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans
Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala
Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus © Patrick Blake
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor © Patrick Blake
Eurasian Coot Fulica ater © Patrick Blake
Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus © Patrick Blake
White Cheeked Starling Spodiopsar cineraceus © Andreas Kim