Bird News from Spike Millington, 21 July 2013
Just back from travels in USA and Europe, I popped down to the University area in Songdo to check on the Black-winged Stilts. When I left in early June, one male Stilt had two females on nests on small islands in the ponds of the reclaimed land. I suspect one nest failed, but yesterday one juvenile bird indicated that the other nest had been successful. A quick look at the mudflats revealed quite a few waders, notably 250 Black-tailed Godwits, nearly all in summer plumage and 60 Eastern Oystercatchers. A group of 85 Black-faced Spoonbills were also present, along with about 300 Great Cormorants.
At high tide at Gojan with Judit Szabo, the Godwits were still present, along with c. 400 Terek Sandpipers, 200 Eastern Curlew, 50 Dunlin, 50 Grey Plover and a few Great Knots, Ruddy Turnstones and Whimbrels. The Tereks typically peak at this time and numbers will fall off rapidly soon. However, the Black-tailed Godwits will hang around until October, often feeding the “fresh!” water of Namdong Reservoir, where yesterday there were 70 Greenshanks and 20 Wood Sandpipers.