Baekryeong Island, October 22nd-31st

Bird News from Nial Moores (with Mark Harris 22^nd-25^th and Ju Yong-Ki 31^st).

A total of 151 species recorded to date, with a good spread of what are generally considered to be irruptive species in the ROK (including Chinese Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Redpoll and Eurasian Bullfinch) though with still no Oriental Storks (a major focus of the current research), and no exceptional numbers or movements of more abundant species – despite some interesting weather.

• Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris. Increasing steadily, with 950 counted on the 29^th.
• Stejneger’s Scoter Melanitta stejnegeri.  At least 161 were present on the 22^nd.
• Merganser sp. Three female mergansers showing multiple features suggesting Scaly-sided Merganser flew west in strong winds and rain on the 25^th.  However, views were insufficient to make a confident identification.
• Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica. NT. The only record was of two on 29^th.
• Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia. Five were seen on 22^nd, with one remaining until at least the 29^th.

• Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus. One on 30^th. Although regular in spring, this is my first record in autumn on the island.
• Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes. VU. One was present on the Jincheon tidal flat at least until the 26^th.

• Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga. VU. Two on 22^nd (one of which was relentlessly harassed by two Large-billed Crows); one on 26^th; and one on 31st. All have been juveniles.

• Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus. One in Jincheon on 30th and one in Junghwadong on 31st.

• Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos. One on the 23^rd.
• Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius. First was one on 29^th.
• Water Rail sp. One was seen in flight and heard briefly in Yeonhwari on 23^rd, and one was heard in Jincheon on 29^th.
• Little Owl Athene noctua plumipes. One or two have been heard calling most nights; with one seen in the late evening on 28^th.
• Chinese Grey Shrike Lanius sphenocercus. Although  1-2 are regular on the island in October, this year there have been up to five present, with at least 2-3 still present in territory on 29^th-30^th.
• Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica. NT. An extremely scruffy individual was poorly photographed on 30^th.

• Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis. The highest day count has been 230 on the 23^rd (with flocks in multiple areas, including c. 175 in Junghwadong), with probably 300-500 present on the island in total.
• Japanese Bush Warbler Horornis diphone. One was heard on 22^nd. My first on this island.
• Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus. Apparently a decent irruption of this species is ongoing, with the highest day count so far 60 on the 22^nd.  

• Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythopleurus. Present on the island until the very end of the month in small numbers.

• Swinhoe’s White-eye Zosterops simplex. One seen on 22^nd, in the same area as the previous week. A group of c12 white-eyes seen poorly and heard in Dumujin on 27^th were thought most likely to be this species.
• Chinese Nuthatch Sitta villosa. Three singles were logged on the 22^nd.
• Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris. One was heard on 24^th.
• Red-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis. An adult male type was seen briefly in good light on 27^th.
• Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni. One on 23^rd, and then daily from 27^th with an estimated 110 on 28^th.

• Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus. Small flocks note almost daily from the 22nd, with an estimated 250 on 28^th.
• Bluethroat Luscinia svecica. Singles on 23^rd and 29^th.
• Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris. Six were on the “regular rocks” on 25^th.

• Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni. Disappointingly small numbers (considering the estimated 1,000 on 27^th October 2016), with the highest day count only 54 on 27^th.

• Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula. One on 28^th, at least 18 west on the 30^th, and a dozen or so west on the 31st.
• Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea. Three redpoll were heard and seen in flight on 27th. One showed an obviously paler rump band suggesting Arctic.
• Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra. Small numbers present on several dates, with the highest count 75 on the 27^th.
• Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos. Only two recorded during this period: singles on 22^nd and 27^th.
• Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola. CR. Two on 27^th was the only certain sighting.