Bird news from Leslie Hurteau
Spring migration started slowly in March down in Jeju Island, with waders showing up on coastal areas and in wetlands and reservoirs. Waders such as Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, and Great Knots began to show up along coastal areas. Yongsu Reservoir on the west coast in particular was quite busy by the end of March with most of the winter ducks remaining as it filled up with waders making short stopovers during their migration.
Fields on the south west of Jeju slowly became quite bustling, with Buff-bellied and Red-throated Pipits accompanying the resident Eurasian Skylarks. Around late March, a large group of Oriental Plovers showed up (approximately 14 individuals!) and rested for a few days with Oriental Pratincoles and Pacific Golden Plovers. Shortly after, Amur Stonechats showed up in the fields, and Grey Thrushes, Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, and Asian Brown Flycatchers in the coastal forests.
Soon other migrants began showing up, such as Eastern Crowned Warblers and Ashy Minivets in the forests, and Cattle, Intermediate, and Chinese Egrets moving in on the coasts. Black-faced, Tristram’s, Little, and Yellow-browed Buntings grew in numbers on Mara Island. On the coastal fields, Little Curlew, Whimbrels, and Mongolian Short-toed Larks began to arrive as well. Now that we are in the middle of spring migration, it will be interesting to see what rarities may show up throughout May.
