Bird news from Nial Moores
In mild, spring-like weather (with a high of 12C) an excellent afternoon of local birding and the first hints of northward landbird migration. The first species of note was a single Eurasian Hoopoe feeding in a belt of pine and open grass among apartment blocks near the Birds Korea office. As this area has been visited several times during the winter, this is presumably a new-in spring migrant rather than an overwintering bird. Also present in apparently increased numbers were singing Coal Tit and several small groups of Goldcrest.
Along the harbour-front and hill-ridge, two Black Kite (one eating an unidentified fish in flight), two Eastern Buzzard and a Northern Goshawk were all of interest, while in the main park itself, at least 10 Eurasian Bullfinch were still present. These included several obvious rosacea males and one much greyer “griseiventris type”, with some hint of pink admixed in the central breast (and thus presumed to be a rosacea x griseiventris intergrade).
Near SK View, along the edge of open ground, single personata Black-faced Bunting, three Siberian Accentor, the long-staying Long-tailed Shrike still, and in one patch of cut grass a mixed feeding flock containing 6+ Grey-capped Greenfinch, 10 Yellow-throated Bunting and 150+ Vinous-throated Parrotbill – the latter species unusually feeding out in the open on the ground in two large nervous flocks, either side of the main path. The sea was much quieter than in recent weeks (with the Pacific Loon flock and alcids nowhere to be seen), with most notable instead being single Red-throated Loon and Northern Shoveler.
Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula rosacea x griseiventris, Photo © Nial Moores
Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula rosacea, Photo © Nial Moores
Male Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula rosacea, Photo © Nial Moores
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus, Photo © Nial Moores
Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella, Photo © Nial Moores
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach, Photo © Nial Moores
Grey-capped Greenfinch Carduelis sinica, Photo © Nial Moores
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops, Photo © Nial Moores