Bird news from Robin Newlin and Im Kwang Wan
We visited 2 places: Hwaseong in the morning and Wangsukcheon at Guri in the afternoon. Hwaseong was cold and relatively quiet: it seems that many of the wintering geese and waterfowl have departed. Various raptors in small numbers: Marsh and Hen Harriers, a few Eastern Buzzards, a Goshawk, and a few Kestrels. A fly-over of 5 Ruddy Shelduck, and small numbers of White-fronted and Bean Geese, a few Common Pochards, Smew, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallards and Spot-billed Ducks. Several Skylarks and scattered Common Reed Buntings.
Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicus
In the afternoon we stopped off at the stream at Namyangu Park,where a Baer’s Pochard had been reported a few days before. What looked (to our eyes, at least) to be a pure-type male was swimming then resting with companions in the near distance on mid-stream rocks.
Other birds included Coots, Eurasian Teal, Gadwall, Spot-billed Ducks, Tufted Ducks, Common Pochards and Mallards.
Gadwall Anas strepera, Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri, and Common Pochard Aythiya ferina
Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri
Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri