Hwapo Wetland, June 21 – 22

Bird News from Jason Loghry

On both Saturday and Sunday, I spent a few hours at Hwapo. On Saturday, there was a light rain throughout the afternoon but it was light enough to enjoy a nice and quiet walk around the wetland. In the surrounding rice fields there were Grey Heron, Eastern Great Egret, Little Egret, and Cattle Egret along with a few Spot-billed Duck and Mandarin Duck. At the wetland, Black-naped Oriole were giving their usual cat-like calls, dipping back and forth through the leafy trees. A pair of Brown-eared Bulbul were busy feeding their young. On occasion, Common Cuckoo (3) were singing from both the hillside and the reeds, with one observed singing from a wire on Sunday. Oriental Dollarbird (3) were zipping around hawking insects late into the afternoon, occasionally breaking on a perch. The highlight of both days were the Yellow-rumped Flycatchers, with at least three pairs observed. On Saturday, as the rain drizzled down, I first heard and then found three juveniles at the same tree feeding, with an adult male watching over. Walking along the trail, I caught a glimpse of a female Yellow-rumped exiting a nest box. I had always wondered if the nest boxes around the park were ever used and if so, by what species. Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were singing on both days, and on Sunday I watched a male jet by in pursuit of a Grey-headed Woodpecker. I'm not sure what the Woodpecker had done, but he seemed to be in hot water. Other species seen include Eastern Great Tit, Daurian Redstart, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Large-billed Crow, Barn Swallow, Common Kestrel, Bull-headed Shrike, Oriental Turtle Dove, a large number of Eurasian Tree Sparrow (120+), Vinous-throated Parrotbill, and Oriental Reed Warbler. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the Oriental Stork that was reported at the wetland a week before.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta, © Jason Loghry

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis, © Jason Loghry

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis, © Jason Loghry

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis, © Jason Loghry

Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis, © Jason Loghry

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia, © Jason Loghry

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia, © Jason Loghry

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia, © Jason Loghry

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia, © Jason Loghry

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia, © Jason Loghry

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia, © Jason Loghry

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.