Bird News from Tim Edelsten
Again at Eungbong, but the main attraction – the Ferruginous Duck – has left. There remains an assortment of waterfowl, which seem a bit different to previous years, including the following:
- Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons. One lost-looking juvenile is the first I have seen here.
- Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea. Eight. This is the first winter that they’ve appeared here.
- Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata. 129 counted. In unusually high numbers here this year.
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. (Photographed).
- Eurasian Teal Anas crecca. (Photographed).
- Common Pochard Aythya ferina. 1400 at the mouth of the stream.
- Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula. 800 at the confluence-avoiding the area which was dredged last year.
- Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis. Three: another apparent first record for this site.
- Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus. 11 where the stream meets the Han. Another species I’ve never seen here previously.
- Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. There were 5-600 here on the 1st. An unprecedented number for this site.
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. One 1Y bird. Rarely recorded in the Seoul city area.
- Eurasian Coot Fulica atra. Three -a scarce record for this particular site.
- Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos. One.
- Vega Gull Larus vegae. One contrasting clearly with the 20 or so Mongolian Gulls. Unusual to see one so far inland.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, © Tim Edelsten
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca, © Tim Edelsten