Bird News from Mike Friel
Small birds – unless nesting – are quite unpredictable in their movements. However, the Yellow-bellied Tits near Majin always seem to come quickly on a sunny day when I add some hot water to their forest pool at 1.00 pm! Today there were half a dozen, both immature and adult, and they stayed longer than before, allowing for many photographs. Some only drank, while others had a good bath. Later I heard the unmistakable cries of cranes and caught glimpses through the trees of a large flock flying north, probably along the Namgang river. By the location and the volume of noise I assumed that they were White-naped Cranes migrating from Junam; unfortunately the dense forest precluded proper visibility or any photos. I estimate the number to have been over 50. Later I got nice views of a Marsh Tit and a compliant, if fractious, Red-flanked Bluetail, which circled me as long as I stayed near its seed source.
Yellow-bellied Tit Pardaliparus venustulus © Mike Friel
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris © Mike Friel
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus© Mike Friel