Busan, April 9-12

Bird News from Robin Newlin with (at times) Jason Loghry, Nial Moores, Ha Jung Mun, Seo Hae Min.

On the afternoon of the 9th, JL and I walked round parts of Taejongdae, a very attractive park, especially for such a large metropolitan area. Chilly winds from the northeast direction boded ill for migrants, and we found few birds, some of which were probably residents: some calling Pale Thrushes; scattered Japanese White-eyes; Great, Varied, Coal and Marsh Tits; Yellow-throated Buntings; Vinous-throated Parrotbills; Brown-eared Bulbuls; a Eurasian Wren; and a calling Pheasant. Highlight was discovered by JL: a Narcissus Flycatcher.

On the 10th I returned to Taejeongdae by myself. Winds continued cold and easterly, and the main ravine was almost birdless—some of the same species as the day before, with the addition of a few Goldcrests. However, behind Taejong Temple was a welcome sight: a confiding male Japanese Robin, which apparently flew in to inspect me while I attempted to photograph Japanese White-eyes. On the way out I saw one Eastern and two Grey-faced Buzzards.

On the 11th, JL,NM, HJM and SHM and RN all met up for the boat trip described by NM in a separate posting. Highlights include Grey Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew, Kentish Plover, about 900 Dunlin, 20+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 35 Great Knot, 7 Far Eastern Oystercatcher, 40+ Sanderling, 610 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Glaucous Gull, c. 100 Taimyr Gull Larus (heuglini) taimyrensis,  an interesting dark-saddled gullVega Gull, Mongolian Gull, Penduline Tit, Far Eastern Cisticola, Red-throated Pipit, Buff-bellied Pipit, Common Snipe,  Eastern Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, and White-tailed Eagle.

dunlin AP9F9008-001

Dunlin Calidris alpina  © Robin Newlin

On the 12, JL, HJM, SHM and I went to Taejongdae and Eulsukdo. Winds stayed stubbornly easterly, and Taejeongdae was relatively quiet; we nevertheless added some quality to the growing list: two Grey Thrushes, a Chinese Blackbird (SHM only), a Red-flanked Bluetail, and possibly up to three Japanese Robins: a female, a male (the same individual as two days previous?) and a likely different male.

The afternoon took us to Eulsukdo (thank you to JL for all the driving!) and several sites therein: highlights were a pair of Bull-headed Shrikes, a couple of Eurasian Kestrels, a few Dusky Thrushes, some Pallas’ Reed Buntings, a few Common Snipes, a couple of Stejneger’s Stonechats, 3 Garganeys, some Common Pochards, a few Common Teals, and several each of Mallard, Common Shelduck and Spot-billed Duck.

reed bunting AP9F9176

Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi © Robin Newlin

white-eye AP9F8678

Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus © Robin Newlin

fantail robin AP9F8738

jrobin AP9F8741

Japanese Robin Larvivora akahige © Robin Newlin

narcissus AP9F8651

Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina © Robin Newlin

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