Bird News from Patrick Blake
A day off from work led to a great morning’s birding at Gwangjuho Lake, outside of East Gwangju. It was cool and mostly overcast, but the birds didn’t seem to notice. Highlights included two singing Japanese Bush Warblers, large flocks of Bramblings, Rustic and Yellow-throated Buntings, most of which were fully molted. The overwintering Long-billed Plover also made an appearance, and a half dozen each of both Naumann’s and Dusky Thrushes topped off the list.
See below for a full list of all the species sighted, 31 in total.
1. Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus; three males, four females
2. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
3. Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
4. Common Merganser Mergus merganser; a pair of birds
5. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
6. Eastern Great Egret Ardea alba modesta
7. Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus; not common at this site, this bird was first observed back in November-December and has been regular ever since
8. Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
9. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki
10. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major; a pair of birds – the male was drumming
11. Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus; the resident pair
12. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
13. Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus
14. Eurasian Magpie Pica pica; three separate pairs building nests
15. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
16. Eastern Great Tit Parus major
17. Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis
18. Japanese Bush Warbler Horornis diphone
19. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudacutus
20. Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinosuthora webbiana
21. Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
22. Pale Thrush Turdus pallidus
23. Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni
24. Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus
25. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus
26. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
27. White Wagtail Motacilla alba lugens
28. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
29. Chinese Grosbeak Eophona migratoria; 16 birds – a usual though sporadic winter visitor at the site
30. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica
31. Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans
Japanese Bush Warbler Horornis diphone © Patrick Blake
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinosuthora webbiana © Patrick Blake