Dr. Bernhard Seliger and Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi (Birds Korea, Hanns-Seidel-Foundation) with Minjae Baek (EAAFP Communication Officer)
A great re-union with Minjae Baek, now communication officer at the EAAFP, for a day-long survey of Han River Estuary, from Munsusan area to Yudo to Siam wetland. The snow was already gone in most places, the weather unfortunately hazy with slight rain in the morning.
Dominating birds in winter are the geese, with almost 4000 Great White-fronted Geese and 3000 Tundra Bean Geese plus dozens of Taiga Bean Geese. No Swan geese in the spot where they were found in December in previous years. Maybe the short, but thick snow cover made them fly further South? Along the river coast, several hundred Spot-billed Ducks and Mallards, plus smaller groups of Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, and in a small stream a single female Tufted Duck and a male Smew. Two White-tailed Eagles, one of them juvenile, were seen on Yudo islet, other raptors included Common Kestrel, Eastern Buzzard and a Peregrine Falcon. Other notable birds include a Chinese Grey Shrike, a single Whooper Swan and four Eurasian Spoonbills, and an assortment of smaller winter birds, including Eurasian Skylarks, Rustic Buntings, a Long-tailed Rosefinch and residents like Yellow-throated Buntings – some already singing – and Varied tits.
You can find the complete lists at:
Munsusan/ Yudo área: https://ebird.org/checklist/S204340996
Jogang-Ri: https://ebird.org/checklist/S204341000
Siam wetland: https://ebird.org/checklist/S204340999
