Part 2: Songdo Namdong reservoir, Sorae Wetland and Michulho parc
Birds news from Bernhard Seliger (Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea and Birds Korea lifetime member)
The second (afternoon) leg of the World Migratory Bird Race of Hanns Seidel Team Korea brought together Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi, Felix Glenk and me from HSF with Vivian Fu from EAAFP, James Banfill and Eman. Starting at Namdong reservoir and looking at the young Black-faced Spoonbills was a great start. Sorae wetland was insofar a disappointment, as the high tide in the afternoon turned out to be rather low, with birds spread far and wide between. Also, the combination of intense wind and yellow dust made views here really difficult. Finally, Michulho park, thanks to the great guidance by Vivian Fu, brought lovely views of some smaller migrants.
Notable were…
… at Namdong estuary
- 107 Blackfaced Spoonbills
- 6 Ruddy Shelducks
- Still 7 Northern Shovelers
…at Sorae wetland
- At least 7.000 shorebirds, among them most abundant by far Dunlin (at least 4.500)
- Around 450 Far Eastern Curlew
- Hundreds of Mongolian (Lesser Sand) plovers, Grey plovers, Kentish plovers, Red-necked stints, and dozens of Little Ringed-plovers and Whimbrels, as well as Ruddy turnstones and Far-Eastern Oystercatcher
- A highlight was certainly, along the road, a Northern Boobook
…in Michulho park
- Single Blue-and-White Flycatchers and Mugimaki Flycatchers
- Tristram’s bunting
- 2 Chinese Pond herons
All in all a great, but very relaxed, birding afternoon in pleasant company. Two of our team were new to birding – bringing more people to appreciate the beauty and value of birds and habitats is one of the goals of the World Migratory Bird race, and the World Migratory Bird Day. It was great to see the next day that also our colleagues in the Northern part of the country did commemorate the day. Hopefully, soon we can bird together again!
